DVD hard drive recorder's!!!

[razza_273]

Hi
I am looking to purchase a DVD recorder with hard drive built in. I have a limited budget (don't we all) and have been browsing this forum and it seems all have flaws & faults to varying degrees! I have been looking at either the Sony RDRGX510 (80GB) or Panasonic DMR-EH50 (80GB) drives. The Sony can be bought for a shade over £300 whilst the Panasonic can be picked up for £230.
Are any of these two ok, which is best and should I be considering anything else? I only use Lite-On DVD/CD recorders in my pc and they have excellent reviews but I have seen mixed reviews regarding their DVD recorders.
I am obviously wanting to record programmes to the hard drive and archieve them to DVD-R if I wish to keep them. Other than that all I may want to do is input my 10 year old camcorder into it (8mm) non digital. This last point is probably the least important on my priority list as I can edit video on my pc.
Thanks in advance.

[finally]

Bump,

I would like to know the answers to these questions too!

1 thing i want to know too which i cant seem to find is what format are TV programs captured in? MPG? also can you burn a DVD-r as a data disc?

Not meaning to hijack your thread!!

[finally]

No help on this one..??

[rhegedus]

Have you read the reviews?

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders.php?DVDname=&hd=1&hdsize=80GB&&hits=25&Submit=Se...derby=Comments

I have a Pioneer DVR5100HS, and it's done everythng I've asked of it. The onlt problem is getting reliable -RW media

Here are some of my screen grabs:

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=862386#862386

If I were buying a new HD/DVR combo, I'd probably get one that supports bot + and - RW.

[D_arkTrooper]

I bought the Panasonic DMR-EH50 recorder just over a week ago and am really happy with it.Recording one program while watching another (previously recorded) is great as is the ability to allow a Sky or digi box to control the recorder and not have to faff about doing timer setups.

Only minor downside (for me) is the lack of DVD+ recording (only because I have LOT of DVD+RW`s).DVD-RAM compatibilty more than makes up for it tho.

Well worth the money.

[handyguy]

I agree, there isn't much new in this area & we covered it at https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders pretty well, so those Panasonics with HD do these things well.

[energy80s]

Hi
I am looking to purchase a DVD recorder with hard drive built in. I have a limited budget (don't we all) and have been browsing this forum and it seems all have flaws & faults to varying degrees! I have been looking at either the Sony RDRGX510 (80GB) or Panasonic DMR-EH50 (80GB) drives. The Sony can be bought for a shade over £300 whilst the Panasonic can be picked up for £230.
Are any of these two ok, which is best and should I be considering anything else? I only use Lite-On DVD/CD recorders in my pc and they have excellent reviews but I have seen mixed reviews regarding their DVD recorders.
I am obviously wanting to record programmes to the hard drive and archieve them to DVD-R if I wish to keep them. Other than that all I may want to do is input my 10 year old camcorder into it (8mm) non digital. This last point is probably the least important on my priority list as I can edit video on my pc.
Thanks in advance.

Ok, I've taken the headstaggers and just bought a Pioneer 433 DVR/HDR. It appears to have 32 video recording modes as well as letting you set the blacks/whites/sharpness levels and Y/C noise reduction levels. I plan on testing all of thse modes over the next few days and I'll post here any relevant comments.

[finally]

What format are the recordings captured in?

Can you burn a 'data disc' or somthin like it?

And what about the copy protection i am reading lots about, will it negate the HD captur function?

[Frobozz]

What format are the recordings captured in?

Can you burn a 'data disc' or somthin like it?

And what about the copy protection i am reading lots about, will it negate the HD captur function?

All standalone DVD recorders encode MPEG 2 format. They do not capture HD video. They will record SD video from an HD source via the S video input, just the same as does a VHS recorder. I haven't been prevented from copying any TV programs with my DVD recorder. There can be copy-once programs that require recording in VR mode. I don't understand why you're asking about data discs. DVD recorders burn to either DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW or DVD-RAM depending on the model.

I suggest you download a DVD recorder manual and read through it to understand better what these recorders can do.

[handyguy]

My Panasonic can also record in MPG4 =ASF, with lots of quality settings......

[finally]

when i say a data disc i mean burning the captured programs in there raw format Mpeg or whatever - rather than converting to DVD vob files etc...

[Frobozz]

when i say a data disc i mean burning the captured programs in there raw format Mpeg or whatever - rather than converting to DVD vob files etc...

No current DVD recorder will do that. There is video mode and VR mode. Video mode is authored to a VIDEO_TS folder the same as any other video DVD. VR mode is different and generally playable only on the DVD recorder although there are computer applications that can extract the MPEGs from VR mode discs just as they can from video mode discs.

[energy80s]

Power DVD will play VR mode discs on a PC.

[finally]

ok, Thanks for replys, its no biggy to rip a DVD anyway just thought it would be handy

I am now in the market for one, but man there are shitloads!!

looking at a Sony DVD Recorder RDR-HX510 with 80GB Hard Drive at £299, its seems pricey but from what i have read you get what you pay for..... i.e lite on players are ... poor.

[LCSHG]

[You get what you pay for]

In way to Many Cases,--- That is not True
In the case of Sony it most certainly is not True
The Sony prodicts are Way Over priced and are basicly Junk

[energy80s]

ok, Thanks for replys, its no biggy to rip a DVD anyway just thought it would be handy

I am now in the market for one, but man there are shitloads!!

looking at a Sony DVD Recorder RDR-HX510 with 80GB Hard Drive at £299, its seems pricey but from what i have read you get what you pay for..... i.e lite on players are ... poor.

Check out the Pioneer 433 from Richer Sounds for £250. So far I've been very impressed with it - will hopefully post some captures from it here later this week. The Liteon at £200 from Argos does more "fun" stuff and will play raw MPEGS (the Pioneer won't) but then how reliable is it likely to be?

[finally]

[You get what you pay for]

In way to Many Cases,--- That is not True
In the case of Sony it most certainly is not True
The Sony prodicts are Way Over priced and are basicly Junk

Ooo i read some reviews and what not regarding the sony, Gets lots of good comments and the DVD authoring mode is apparently second to none....

I see on the reviews on this site though the pioneer models reign supreme..

hmmmmm decisions...