Has anyone tried the Sansui DVD recorder/VCR combo.

[tommyoz]

I saw this item model #VRDVD-4005 by Sansui in the sears paper this past weekend. It listed @ $399.00 and can record from TV & VCR onto DVD-R and DVD-RW format. It's a stand alone unit and sounds like a great idea to be able to record from VCR directly to DVD. This will take away all those steps of having to capture to your computer and encode.
Does anyone know about this?

[Gil T Pleasure]

Link to Sears website.

[carla]

Yes, I have the same question. I read the information from the Sears link and it states its DVD-V. What is a DVD-V.

I'm looking for something that would take VHS tapes and copy onto DVDs. What format would this dvd player copy (mpeg,mov etc.)
Thanks,
Carla

[tommyoz]

DVD-V is DVD Video, all players play this. This DVD player/recorder and VHS records DVD-R and DVD-RW media only.

[donpedro]

Just for fun... Here is Japanese web http://www.sansui-jpn.co.jp/ no info there

and from India http://www.sansui-india.com/ also nothing

[nova828]

Not exactly true...I've had this unit for about 2 weeks now and it records on both DVD-R and DVD-RW. So far I've had no problems with it, its recorded everything with no errors, and I have been using it alot! Great picture quality, even on LP mode I get back the same quality I put into it, even on DVDs. It dubs both ways, assuming no copy protection. The only way it could be improved is with a built-in hard drive, but for 400 bucks, not a bad deal at all!

[tommyoz]

nova828,
My bad, I was reffering to the dash (-) media and forgot to include DVD-RW. It has been changed.

I have a question for you. When you record to DVD from VHS can you record and pause or do you have to have all the material ready and record it all in one shot? Also, what does it record on the DVD? are they AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders?

[nova828]

During the dubbing funtion, either way, you cannot press pause, but you can stop it anytime and restart. The best way to add chapter marks, if thats what your trying to do, is to either set the auto chapter mode to 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes or off, or you can go in later and add marks to the spot you want to. (on a DVD-RW only) There is also a funtion that allows you to skip a scene during playback, good way to get rid of commercials. As far as your second question, I have no idea. You must be more of an advanced user than I am, I don't even know what a TS folder is! I couldn't find anything about it in the manual, is there a way I can find out?

[overloaded_ide]

Ya put the disk in a computer DVD rom drive and look at the disk with windows explorer and see whats on it. I think that should work

VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders are the dvd structure that the player looks for to play the disk. Normaly the AUDIO_TS is empty and all files are in the VIDEO_TS folder.

I'm pretty sure if the recorder is burnng DVDs then it would follow the standard format at least that far

[nova828]

Doh! Ill be no help then, all I have for a computer is an i-mac that barley plays CDs let alone burned DVDs. A real computer with a DVD burner is my next major purchase as soon as I pay my credit cards off, or at least down a bit

[Bridge]

nova828

I have a couple of questions. I got the Sansui as a gift for somone because it has the VCR w/ it. I REALLY wanted to get the Panasonic e50. I think I might have made a mistake.

1) What speeds does it record in? The Panasonic records in 5 quality levels (EP, LP, SP, etc) but it also has the super high quality XP mode. I don't think Sansui offers the XP mode. I talked to someone at the store and they had no idea what mode it records let a lone if you can choose SP or XP mode. How recording modes does it have? Also, does it do XP high quality mode like the Panasonic?

2) What does the picture quality look like? If I was to record a show off of television and record it on the best quality setting of the Sansui would I be able to tell it was NOT coming right from TV? The person I talked to when I got it said that it was good quality but later (after I got it) told me that Panasonic and Phillps have a better picture and richer color. What I'm asking is, is the best quality setting on the Sansui good enough to equal the quality of watching something live from TV. I've always been looking for something that can record and have the EXACT same quality as broadcast TV. Will the Sansui DVD record that good or would the Panasonic have been better for that?

[eyequit]

I looked at that one at Sears too, but I already own a VCR so why did I want to buy another one? Never would use the vcr again once I transferred my tapes. Saw a Cyberhome at Wal-mart and bought it for $294+tax. Hooked up my vcr to it and very happy with the quality of the DVD's. Haven't done a final DVD yet, still just playing with RW's on it waiting on my DVD+R's to arrive. Edit features are ok, just feel really good getting my home movies preserved. Both do have a good return policy but settled for the cheapest. Don't feel like I went wrong, but would have bought one even cheaper if I saw it. Didn't want to mess with mail-in rebates.

[MysticE]

.... Saw a Cyberhome at Wal-mart and bought it for $294+tax. Hooked up my vcr to it and very happy with the quality of the DVD's. Haven't done a final DVD yet, still just playing with RW's on it waiting on my DVD+R's to arrive. Edit features are ok, just feel really good getting my home movies preserved. Both do have a good return policy but settled for the cheapest. Don't feel like I went wrong, but would have bought one even cheaper if I saw it. Didn't want to mess with mail-in rebates.

I'd spend $40 more and get a quality brand name unit (if you are planning to give it a lot of use). Something that will last and provide the best possible picture (yes there is a difference).

[nova828]

The Sansui does do the XP mode. It has 4 picture quality settings, XP, SP, LP, and SLP. Im not sure what the 5th one is that the Panasonic has. I am very impressed with the quality myself. I use the LP mode to record almost everything, and it looks exactly like the picture going into it, even on digital cable on 32 inch TV. The only time I notice a difference is when recording from a DVD, and even then all I can see is a very faint reddish hue on the black, and thats only if I really look for it, so the only time I record in SP is when taping a DVD that is in widescreen. I never use XP since SP already has the same quality as the original source.

[Bridge]

That's good to know. Thanks for all of the info. The XP and SP mode is suppose to be the best quality on the Panasonic so I'm glad that this one offers those settings. So, now it's just a personal thing on what looks good to each person. I don't have a Panasonic so I can't compare what the Sansuni looks like to the Pan. It's also good to know that what records looks to you like what you see on TV. That's what we want right? Something that looks as good as broadcast TV quality and such. So you would say that the quality is good enough that it wouldn't do any good taking it back and getting something like a Panasonic e50 in the hopes that the quality is A LOT better than the Sansuni?

On a personal note I personally can't wait for the Panasonic with the hard drive to come down in price. I've been looking to get a hard drive/dvd burner for years and years now.

[nova828]

I wouldn't take it back, but then again I've never tried the Panasonic so I don't know what im missing. But it seems to me that the picture quality could not possibly get better, since in every mode but SLP im getting back the exact same picture I put in. Maybe the Panasonic has some feature that improves picture quality? I suppose its possible, but having the duel-decks was the selling point for me. Even though I already had a VCR, its alot eaiser to transfer VHS to DVD's without having to buy extra wires and pluging and unpluging things all the time. The price, 399.99 is less than most DVD recorders too without a VCR built in!

I could care less about hard drives myself, a personal preference I guess. Just something else to go wrong with only minimal additional benifits (as far a I understand anyway)Like I don't need "time slip" that hard drives allow, as I don't think Ive ever wanted to watch something from the beginning while it was still recording. I can wait until its over. Are there other reasons to have a hard drive that im missing?

[donpedro]

I could care less about hard drives myself, a personal preference I guess. Just something else to go wrong with only minimal additional benifits (as far a I understand anyway)Like I don't need "time slip" that hard drives allow, as I don't think Ive ever wanted to watch something from the beginning while it was still recording. I can wait until its over. Are there other reasons to have a hard drive that im missing?

I am a big fan of an hard drive even I don't have one. I can som out with couple of reason why to have it.

1. instead of recording on tapes and always trying to find out where did I recorded it, you can just record to HD and find it right awat without rewinding tapes back and forward

2. when you go on vacation and you want to record a lot, you can fit much more on HD

3. you don't have to record on DVD right away. you will record on DVD only what you like to keep

4. you can edit out staf that you don't like and it will not use space on DVD so you can fit more on one DVD

5. and lastly... about time slip... did you ever watched some good movie in TV and phone started to ring ? or somebody knocked on the door, or you needed to go to the bathroom not just for a quick stop ?

[tommyoz]

DonPedro,

4. you can edit out stuff that you don't like and it will not use space on DVD so you can fit more on one DVD

You can do this right on the HD/DVDR? or do you have to transfer it over to your computer to do this?

Another question for anyone who might know. I'm really not familiar with stand alone dvd recorders so I apologize if my questions are off beat. Meaning that when CD recorders came out there were differences in CDR media. Ones that will only work in stand alones and ones that were only for computer burning. Is this the same with DVDR media? Is the recordable DVD media for the stand alone recorders the same as for DVD burning on the computer?

Thanks

[thoots]

Another question for anyone who might know. Is the recordable DVD media for the stand alone recorders the same as for DVD burning on the computer?

Yes. The DVD-R's or DVD+R's, etc. that you see in the stores will work in either computer or stand-alone recorders. There is no equivalent to what exists in the CD world. No worries -- buy 'em and burn 'em!

thoots

[donpedro]

4. you can edit out stuff that you don't like and it will not use space on DVD so you can fit more on one DVD

You can do this right on the HD/DVDR? or do you have to transfer it over to your computer to do this?

Yes. You can do that directly on DVD Recorder with Hard Drive. (I think that there is exception. Some recorder with TiVo. Some kind of copyright issue.)

[Davesnothere]

I bought one about three weeks ago. It will play any DVD I've thrown at it, including DVD+R/Ws I've made on the PC. The manual claims Very Bad Things might happen if you try them! I burn DVD+Rs with Nero in strict UDF/ISO format (no cheats). I haven't tried VCDs and don't plan to.

I've recorded in SP and LP modes so far, and yes, I can tell the difference. Stuff in LP mode will fuzz slighly along edges, especially when in motion. Stuff in SP mode is indistinguishable from the original broadcast. I trade cartoons on the Termite Terrace Trading Post and this machine has revolutionized trading. I've been using the Sansui to dub tapes recorded in SP to DVD-RW, then editing the DVD dub on the PC to produce a DVD with menus and the blank screens and junk cut out. I send along a copy of the DVD(made on an HP DVD writer) to the one who sent the tape and burn a copy for myself. I also record cartoons I need from the satellite to DVD-RW, then cut what I need out and save to the hard drive, erase the DVD-RW and start over. So far, the only tapes I've dubbed on the Sansui have been ones recorded in SP. It doesn't play my old tapes in SLP from my old Philips very well.

I haven't tried recording to DVD+R yet, I doubt it'll work. I might try a DVD+RW if anything.

[sparkafatty]

I saw the sears ad for this unit last week and came here to see what folks were saying. After coming here and reading comments i decided to buy a unit and get a christmas gift reciept. That way i could try it for a couple weeks and take it back after christmas if i didn't like it. Here are my thoughts... I will be grading on a 5 fatty scale

For $400 i was quite impressed. I did a variety of burns and was quite happy with them.

I did a direct tv (digital picture) burn to a dvd. I recorded a variety of things from a portion of a game on espn, a vid on mtv and something off comedy central. In the top quality mode XP (1 hour per dvd) the quality was perfect ro so damn close to it the human eye couldn't really detect it.
In sp mode (2 hours per disc) the quality was very good. Not really that much of a drop off. I would not have a problem recording an important program in that mode, like when my LSU Tigers play in the Sugar Bowl.
GRADE 4.8 Fatties

I also did a vhs to dvd dub a couple different ways.

First i did some super8 home video stuff from the early 60's i had transfered to vhs. Not the best quality to begin with as you might expect. i dubed in xp mode and got quality that was equal or maybe a tad better than the original, if thats possible. GRADE 5 Fatties

I also did a vhs dub using a retail movie, new, never played before. A Pete Maravich video. I dubed in XP mode as the vid was only 55 minutes. Quality out equaled quality in. Very impressive. GRADE 4.5 Fatties

I read thru the manual and there are some great editing features. It burnds dvd-r which is great too. Ease of set up and inital grades out at 4.9 Fatties. Simple to follow even while sampling a fatty.

I really like the vhs/dvd combo too.

The only negative i can see is the lack of a hard drive.

Overall i think the sansui is a GREAT deal and would fit the most users needs. Overall Grade 4.5 fatties

This sansui sold me on this new type of toy. I will be returning it to sears after a bit more burning BUT i will definetly be purchasing a different unit with a hard drive. I will wait and see if prices drop between now and christmas as predicted in a trade article i read. I will make a purchase between christmas and new years no matter if the prices drop or not.

[jasta]

On this model, how would you make a DVD copy of a VHS tape, if the tape is copy protected?

Thanks

[donpedro]

On this model, how would you make a DVD copy of a VHS tape, if the tape is copy protected?

Thanks

You will have to use another VCR and "clarifyer".

[mike1061]

Check out this link.
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=192261
This is to a guide for a still more expensive Panisonic. But it will edit out comercials, and any part of the VHS tape you want. It appers to work very well, because it has a hard drive. You record from TV or VHS, then edit out anything, then burn the disk. The VHS/DVD combos do not work as well.
Thanks Mike.

[shatner]

I picked up the Sansui yesterday from Sears and have to agree with everyone that it is a really good machine. I'd like everyone to know that although this has "Sansui" as the brand, I tend to think "Pioneer" applies to it more. The IDE DVD Recorder in it is a Pioneer A06 (actually capable of writing to DVD-/+ R/W, although this unit only supports -R/W writing). The remote is *very* similar to other Pioneer DVD Player/Recorder remotes I have seen. Finally, the menu system seems like a simplified version of the ones currently seen in Pioneer Home DVD Recorders.

Just thought I'd share that info. I really do like it and haven't had any issues with it thus far.

[hudsonf]

I bought one Saturday and I'm very happy with it so far.I have copied some vhs videos that I had trouble copying with my ATI 8500 AIW Radeon Card and they came out great. Sear also had another dvd recorder that did +R and +RW for the same price. Think it was a appex brand.

[jasta]

What if the VHS tape has copy protection? Could you hook up some type of external device?

[tommyoz]

Well, I just purchased one. After all the positive feeedback from you guys I felt it's worth a try. Thanks for the responces. I'll post back and give my thoughts as well. I'm off work untill January 5th. Lots of time to play.

Merry Christmas

[hudsonf]

I would think you could use the output of an external player to the input of a TBC or what ever you have then from the output of that box to the input of the Sansui dvd-recorder then choose your input source in the Sansui.

What if the VHS tape has copy protection? Could you hook up some type of external device?