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  1. For the past several months, I have been using a Sony VRD-MC5 (see attached image) as a backup video recording device, but now I am looking for something else.. something more flexible and reliable (I have yet to have a single bad burn, but still).

    What I am looking for is a larger unit (I assume) that will capture video onto a built-in hard drive (hardware MPEG-2 encoder?). I then should be able to trim the footage a bit, maybe split clips and finally burn the selected clips to a blank DVD(-+)R(W).

    My source is a live video feed that carries on-screen timecode on both the firewire cable or analog connectors (left/right audio and s-video). The feed is mostly talking heads.

    If possible, I must be able to select the compression or quality.. presets are fine. (In order to cram more or less footage per DVD). For example, SP, EP, etc

    I am looking for something reliable that will allow me to capture dozens or hundreds of hours before having to empty the hard drive.

    A firewire input would be excellent, but analog connectors (or even hdmi) will do.

    Any of the pros in this area have any suggestions? Thanks!
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  2. I forgot to say: I will be using an external display to monitor the output from the HDD recorder, so there's no need for a built-in display like the one on the Sony VRD-MC5.

    Also, this unit is to be used several times a week, for hours at a time, so reliability is a must.
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  3. Member
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    I would suggest the Magnavox 2160a or newer 513. They meet all your requirements except the firewire input, S-video is as good as newer DVDRs get. The only recorders to have firewire input that I'm aware of would be DVHS.

    If you want a more commercial type of recorder than a international Panasonic or even Pioneer(from places like B&H Photo or WorldImport.com) would be a good choice. The international recorders don't have a US tuner but make excellent recordings from line input. They generally start ~$250 for a floor model to ~$400+ new. Expect the Maggy to be about half the cost but not quite the build quality but better than most anything else other than the internationals.
    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=940657 Great Maggy thread.
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    If you can find one, RJ-TECH made a model RJ-2000VRX and it does have firewire. In the US it came with a 250GB WD HDD. I am a proud owner of such a model.
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  5. Originally Posted by jjeff View Post
    I would suggest the Magnavox 2160a or newer 513. They meet all your requirements except the firewire input
    That isn't completely correct: the Magnavox twins do have a Firewire/DV input connector under the front panel flap. The question for subc is whether their consumer-level functionality would suit his purposes. The Firewire input on DVD recorders will usually only work with a camcorder connected, they have some sort of detection system that locks out inputs from Firewire computer and switchboard signals. The connection is also not bidirectional: input only, no digital out. That said, each recorder is unique and many will actually do more than what their instruction manuals indicate is possible.

    I am personally very partial to the "old-school" Pioneer and Panasonic models, and used to recommend the import models to anyone who planned on heavy duty use. However, after living with my own Magnavox as backup to my Pioneers, I have to say there's really no reason to choose anything else unless you have a pre-existing bias toward Pioneer or Panasonic based on previous use and familiarity. The Magnavox seems superficially less rugged than a Pioneer or Panasonic, but that is merely skin-deep. Over the past three years they have had a sterling reliability record, and (unlike Panasonic or Pioneer) the Magnavox includes onboard diagnostic and service modes that allow user-replaceable HDD and burner. Nearly any generic HDD can be used if the original wears out, and Funai (the mfr of Magnavox) sells replacement burners at very reasonable cost (approx $70), although in three years I have not heard of a Maggie burner failure so far.

    Finally, for price/performance the Magnavox can't be beat. The 160GB H2160 sells new for $198, much less than half the price of an import Panasonic or Pioneer (and those imports do not even have ATSC tuners for North American DTV broadcasts). Over the long term, it makes more sense to buy three Magnavox H2160s instead of one import Pioneer/Panasonic (one to use, two as backups). Again I am partial to the imports, because I've had Pioneers since 2004 and their operation is a little more elegant: Pioneer and Panasonic are very nice decks. Just not "250% more expensive nice", not these days anyway.

    BTW the $269 Magnavox MDR513 is identical to the H2160 but with a larger 320GB hdd.
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  6. Thanks for the suggestions.

    I am indeed looking for something rugged and more "industrial", but orsetto is correct on his assessment and I would rather take 2 magnavoxes than 1 Panasonic (although I do trust Panasonic for this).

    It's a shame that wally world doesn't have the unit available for ordering online (they do have the more expensive model it appears). I'll keep my eyes peeled and get me a pair of these magnavox boxes for my project.

    I don't care much about tuners or programming options, since my source would always be a live feed from a camera (analog inputs or the firewire from something like a Panasonic GS500).

    Thanks!
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  7. I forgot to ask..

    Let's say I get me some Magnavox H2160MW9 boxes, and that I end up using a camera with AV-out that only records in high definition (for example, the Panasonic TM700), once I connect the camcorder to the HDD recorder using the AV cables..

    Will the video be downsized automatically?
    Will my image be letterboxed? anamorphic? Is it possible to obtain an SD image (4:3) from a camcorder that only shoots HD (1080p) ?
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  8. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    I picked up a 2160 as future insurance (since I've come to consider DVDR to be a must-have), but so far have not taken it out of the box, only flipped through the manual. I'm a bit disappointed that it does not offer DL disc recording . . . but then, it seems that feature may have been unique to the few Pio models from the 640 on, until they reached the end of the line at the 560 / 650 (or whatever it was) ? I hope that I will find the editing functionality to be at least satisfactory.
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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  9. I'm not familiar with the current slate of "HD" video cameras at all, so can only go by the details in your question. If you are saying your camera only records in HD and only outputs in HD, then no, you're screwed: there is no consumer recorder with disc capability that can cope with pure HD input. None of these DVD/HDD machines can accept HD input of any kind, and downscale it on the fly. Your camera must be set to do this on its own for passthru via its analog or DVD outputs, which the DVD recorder can then handle. There is also the issue of 16:9, which almost no DVD recorders will process accurately. Best you can hope for is your camera ouputs HD downscaled to standard definition using the standard anamorphic squeeze format, which the DVD recorder will dutifully record. From that point on, the recordings would always have to be played on a modern flat screen which has controls that stretch the squeezed recordings back out to 16:9. If played on an "old-school" 4:3 television, your HD-camera-sourced recordings will appear squeezed since stretching is not possible on a 4:3 display. Other possibilities are camera dependent: it might output downscaled 16:9 HD as 4:3 letterboxed SD, which is playable on all screens but wastes the available space on modern wide displays. Or you might be able to choose a cropped 4:3 downscaled output from the camera.

    To seeker 47: the Magnavox is a nifty recorder and an incredible bargain, but its quite an adjustment for someone used to operating Pioneers. The remote control has a narrow reception range, you cannot select custom thumbnails for the HDD navigator, selecting thumbnails for the finalized DVDs is an utterly frustrating experience too easy to screw up, and the editing interface for section delete, chapter edit and title naming is from hunger. In terms of interface, the Magnavox is akin to Windows 2.1 while Pioneer is like Apple Mac OS9. Again, this difference is much more disturbing to long-time users of other brands or those who do extensive TV show archiving, and allowances must be made for price and practicality: the elegant Pioneer recorders are almost completely sold out worldwide, they cost close to $600 when you do find one, and Pioneer is out of business now. In terms of what is actually for sale in North America, the Magnavox interface is equal to or better than anything else out there and is in fact the only DVD/HDD recorder you can easily buy, period. Regarding it not having DL media capability, its something everyone eventually has to accept. DL media was never worth the plastic its molded from, the only reliable source is Verbatim + R DL, and Verbatim began dismantling its traditional factories a couple months ago in favor of subcontractors using their ordinary junk media production lines. So DL on DVD recorders is pretty much a dead horse in any case.

    The Magnavox H2160 has just recently been discontinued after three years, which is why the price dropped to $198 and Wal*Mart is sold out. You can check the jandr website for like new refurbs at $159, but they are rarely available. The new Magnavox MDR513H is the same recorder with a larger 320GB hdd, selling for $269-298 online which until a couple months ago was the normal Wal*Mart and Target Online price for the older model.
    Last edited by orsetto; 30th Jul 2010 at 16:15.
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