Replacing Antiquated Recording Equipment

[minko]

I'm trying to upgrade our company's existing A/V equipment that we have been using for the last twenty years to record Board & Business Meetings. We currently utilize two cameras and two stereo mic sets as our recording sources to two separate but identical A/V recording setups. I don't see the cameras and mics being replaced anytime soon - so each video/audio is:

Panasonic NTSC Camera (4:3) with Composite Video Output and 2 Channel Line-Level Audio (Yellow-White-Red RCA).

Description Of A/V Flow

Currently the two channels of audio are routed to a Marantz Cassette deck and recorded on Cassette A until full then on Cassette B until full then back to Cassette A Etc....

The audio output of the Marantz is routed to a Time-Lapse VCR and mated with the video of the Camera. The TL-VCR is set to 2 Hour Mode (versus Time Lapse)

The audio and video from the TL-VCR (With Time/Date Stamp) is routed to a monitor for observing.

A/V Reproduction And Audio Minutes

Reproduction of the Video Tape(s) is made using a DVD Recorder. This requires that the VHS Tape(s) be played back in real-time and copied to DVD +R's. Then the DVDs must be copied on with a PC running Roxio Disc Copy. Copies are given to several company executives and usually to visiting CEOs, etc..

Minutes of the meetingsare are often transcribed as well. So, we copy the Audio Cassettes to CD using a stand alone recorder (80 minutes maximum). These CDs can then be copied using the same Roxio Disc Copy program.

What I Want

Video - I want to replace the TL-VCR and Cassette Deck with a DVD Recorder with Hard Drive. I must be able to keep the Time/Date Stamp feature on the final video. If the meeting goes 1 hour I want this burned to one DVD. If the meeting goes 4 hours, I still want this burned to one DVD.

Audio - I want to be able to "strip-out" or record separately a digital audio file (.wav?) of the same meeting (1 to 4 hours).

Reliable equipment dedicated to these functions.

What I Don't Want

I don't want to have to reproduce the video or audio in Real Time anymore.

A PC driven system. Blue Screens of Death in the middle of a Board Meeting equals my head on a chopping block.

What I Hope For

Less than $1,000 per setup.

Other

I've looked at the PioneerDVR-640H-S and the Panasonic DMR-EH75VS models. They look like good candidates except I don't think they support Time/Date Stamping and they don't appear to have any option for stripping out the audio.

Any advice for these requirements?

[lordsmurf]

Avoid a BSOD 100% guaranteed (well, close to it) by using well-supported hardware on a clean Windows XP system that is not at all connected to the Internet. BSOD is almost always a user error, compacted with Internet-acquired crapware.

Roxio is a mistake. If you want copies, use something with the PXENGINE, like Sonic RecordNow. And only use Verbatim (Mitsubishi) DVD-R media.

Hard drive recorder? Look at nothing but the best, a Toshiba XS35 deck. You can still find those somewhat easily. I know the Best Buy near me has a dozen of them.

The $1000 is limited, but can be done, tight squeeze.

[minko]

Avoid a BSOD 100% guaranteed (well, close to it) by using well-supported hardware on a clean Windows XP system that is not at all connected to the Internet. BSOD is almost always a user error, compacted with Internet-acquired crapware.

Roxio is a mistake. If you want copies, use something with the PXENGINE, like Sonic RecordNow. And only use Verbatim (Mitsubishi) DVD-R media.

Hard drive recorder? Look at nothing but the best, a Toshiba XS35 deck. You can still find those somewhat easily. I know the Best Buy near me has a dozen of them.

The $1000 is limited, but can be done, tight squeeze.

Thanks for the input Lordsmurf.

I looked around the net for the Toshiba XS35 deck you cited. It seems this unit is probably in the sub $400.00 range. I'm not sure that I was entirely clear, but at $"1000.00 per setup", I meant $1000.00 for recording station #1 and $1000.00 for recording station #2 ($2000.00 Total).

If the Toshiba is really the best at $400.00, then great! That would leave about $1200.00 to achieve Time Date Stamping on the video recording plus digital audio recording equipment plus the Sonic Software plus cabling.

If not $400.00 for the Toshiba, then perhaps you meant another Toshiba in the same family that costs more?

Time Date Issue - I really didn't want to add an in-line device if possible, but if I have to, does anyone have suggestions for that device?

Digital Audio Issue - Does anyone have suggestions for recording entire sessions to a digital format (.WAV?) that can be burned to single Data CD?

[lordsmurf]

The next machine up would have been a JVC pro deck for $1400. So that Toshiba is a good second place, and yes, it's $400.

If you can swing more money, let me know, we'll talk again.

Sima has some easy "on screen" type devices for editing. There are more. Maybe call a local college, cable operator or tv station, see if they have suggestions (they should, this is standard gear). ...... but ONLY for this "insert time / on screen" device ......... do not ask them about DVD recorders, they'll probably suggest a bunch of crap -or- something supremely overpriced.

They make all kinds of digital audio recorders. Look at frys.com, and I've seen what you ask for in stores.