The liteon lvw-1107hc1 - first impressions and a few questions

[yoda313]

Well I decided not to buy a new mobo/case. The choices and options were driving me crazy. I would decide on one thing and something else would negate the choice. So I opted instead to use my xbox trade in money to buy the Liteon lvw-1107hc1 at Bestbuy this morning for a $100.

It's got divx support, dv firewire input, rf input, av input, and supports + and - r and rw discs. So far it looks great. I haven't tested the divx playback just yet and I don't have a dv camera to test the firewire, but its great to have it since I don't have a firewire card.

One question I have is about the timer recording function. I set a test run for five minutes. It turned on a minute or so early to prep the disc I guess and then recorded for five minutes and shut off. The one thing I don't like is it turned on through the tv itself. Normally when a vcr does timed recording the tv playback is uneffected. It just sits and records and you can watch another channel on the tv while the vcr records the channel you programmed. How can you do that with a dvd recorder? I want to be able to do a timed recording on the dvd recorder and watch a seperate channel on the tv, do I need to press the tv button on the dvd recorder remote or is it simpler than that even?

I also have yet to test the recording from a vcr but I should suspect that that should be quite satisfactory (though I do have the ability to record through my hdtv capture card but this would be more convenient and I might do it more often). Plus I've read about hacks for it so I may explore those in the future. Also should I try updating the firmware now before I get too comfortable?

[vhelp]

Why did you go for a DVD Recorder, (Liteon LVW-1107HC1) in the first
place ?? I didn't know (read) that you needed one.

Also should I try updating the firmware now before I get too comfortable?

I would wait till you are certain you found just-cause to use the hack.
( hack.. some call it firmware, also )
If the hack offers more for you that you know you will use, then give it a whirl.
I have the iLO unit, but still have not resorted to the hack, though I have considered
it.. I'm just not feeling it, you know.

..
I want to be able to do a timed recording on the dvd recorder and watch a seperate channel on the tv, do I need to press the tv button on the dvd recorder remote or is it simpler than that even?

regarding the tv thing..

On my Pioneer DVR-220-S units' remote, there is a area blocked
off for TV-only control. I think its for controlling one's tv's Vol and Chan,
but it has to be configured. I didn't realize it till now, when I was trying
to *help* answer some of your questions But, I seem to have misplaced my
Inst Manual. Guess I'm trying to say, that on your remote, you might have
something similar. Otherwise..

You can always go the old tried and true way.. on the remote, press the (TV/VCR)
button to get the TV focus. Then, just change the channels of the tv set. Well,
at least this is how I do it, when I'm in the same bind as you are.

ooh.. this is for Universal Remots. I'm using one for my VCR / TV set, and
it has this button, (TV/VCR) which I always seem to use these days.

-vhelp 3956

[yoda313]

I didn't know (read) that you needed one.

Well I just don't use my capture card very often for tape dubbing. I figured this would inspire me to do more. Also it plays divx and has a built in firewire cable should I upgrade to dv.

On my Pioneer DVR-220-S units' remote, there is a area blocked
off for TV-only control.

That's what I'm trying to locate. I'm sure its there. If not I'll try finding a a/b switch laying around somewhere. I have a av cable switch but it doesn't have rf inputs. I'll find something that works. Thanks for the suggestions.

[vhelp]

yoda313, fwiw..

My tipicle home theater setup (not really a theater) is:

** VCR: JVC S-VHS HR-S3910U
** Analog *noisy* Cable -to- VCR
** GE 20" tv (15-20 + years old, Coax inputs only) hooked up to VCR output
** .
** Hisense USDigital HDTV Receiver is loosly in the middle (somewhere)
** .
** ADS DVD Xpress (Rev 2)
** Pioneer DVR-220-S
** other gadgets..

I use my HDTV Receiver for external-standalone captures, when it envolves
CHN 7 (ABC) because that is the only major chan that comes in. Chan's
NBC, CBS, UPN, WB, FOX, all don't come in at this time on my HDTV.

My MAIN setup:

Now, on my VCR's remote, there is (TV/VCR) button at the top. When I do
any tape recordings, and I want to watch something else, I will press
this button to give me control of my TV set's channels, because as you
all know, you can't change your VCR's channel while its in record. That
is quite obvious. But, the VCR alows pass-through, to TV set, and the
(TV/VCR) button is the control.

Now, I said earlier, that I use a Universal Control, (UC) and how I use that
same button. It turns out, that the UC is not magical this in area, but rather
is just key-mapped to the VCR's functions. Weather I press the UC or the
VCR's remotes', the same function will be called up, and in this case, the
TV/VCR pass-through control.

My Pioneer's remote controls has a block off area for TV control. I told
you this earlier. Its just a matter of me finding my manual and learning
how to activate this. I realize, that this is just a matter of "programming"
the remote to communicate w/ my VCR

So, my suggestion for you would be to lookup in your manual for Remotes
and Reprogramming. Then, see if your unit offers a TV/VCR pass-through.
If it does, then you will have no trouble figuring it out. But if doesn't,
then it just means your unit does not have TV/VCR pass-through

Sorry for going on this long.

-vhelp 3957

[GreatSinatraFan]

Yoda,

My wife gave me a Lite-On 1102-HC1 for Christmas, and I love it.. it really does do everything..I 've no problem with it at all..

Regarding updateing new firmware.;yeah.. go ahead, it can't hurt.. just do everything according to instructions.. you'll be fine.

Regarding the use of Mr. Wizards Macrovision Hack.. sorry, but the hack will NOT work with any of the current Lite-On 1xxxx series models.. the hack will only work with a certain brand name of Chipset- (I've forgotten which brand name).. and these DVD Recorders do NOT use this required chipset.

Soo, the only way that anyone can avoid Macrovision is to use one of the black boxes that are available. These Lite-On machines are VERY sensitive to FALSE Macrovision; so.. it MAY decide that your old videotapes are "Copy Protected"; therefore, it cannot record these videotapes.

That said; this current Lite-On series is extremely good. It does have an on board TV tuner.. but that tuner is MONO.. it WILL record in STEREO if you hook up a stereo VCR to it. I've used this on board mono tuner ONCE.. but since it won't record in stereo.. what's the point..? It WILL record in 2 channel AC3 stereo if you have it hooked up to a stereo tuner.

IT DOES read Divx files, (and xvid files too) really well. I've not had any problem playing Mp3 files with it as well. For 100 dollars or less; This Lite-On 1xxxx Series does a super job !~ I'm really happy with it. !

[yoda313]

That said; this current Lite-On series is extremely good. It does have an on board TV tuner.. but that tuner is MONO.. it WILL record in STEREO if you hook up a stereo VCR to it. I've used this on board mono tuner ONCE.. but since it won't record in stereo.. what's the point..? It WILL record in 2 channel AC3 stereo if you have it hooked up to a stereo tuner.

What????!!!!?!?!?!?

I had assumed if it records in stereo it would record EVERYTHING in stereo!?! So you're saying it will only do it if you record off of stereo av inputs from a vcr??????

EDIT

It appears my 1107 model does have a stereo rf tuner:



That was taken from a rip using dvddecrypter. The show was a syndicated repeat of Stargate this afternoon on our local fox affiliate (whom I'm positive broadcasts everything in stereo). I was using the internal tuner and not the vcr.

[Seeker47]

One question I have is about the timer recording function. I set a test run for five minutes. It turned on a minute or so early to prep the disc I guess and then recorded for five minutes and shut off. The one thing I don't like is it turned on through the tv itself. Normally when a vcr does timed recording the tv playback is uneffected. It just sits and records and you can watch another channel on the tv while the vcr records the channel you programmed. How can you do that with a dvd recorder? I want to be able to do a timed recording on the dvd recorder and watch a seperate channel on the tv, do I need to press the tv button on the dvd recorder remote or is it simpler than that even?

Much of this will depend on the setup of your system. For example, I have a digital cable box, which is essential for receiving all 3-digit channels and for whatever channel the DVR is to record; it can only be set to access one channel at a time. The DVR is sort of the "2nd. traffic cop", after the cable box. Because I have split the cable feed to also go directly into the TV (any 2-digit channels -- therefore no premium or scrambled channels like Showtime, for which the cable box is required), I can watch something else like CNN or ESPN while the movie on Showtime is being recorded. Or the tv need not be on at all, while a program is being recorded. There are usually a number of ways to hook things up, what with multiple inputs / outputs, switchers, etc.

[yoda313]

Well one thing I figured out was that my old tv doesn't have av input jacks just a coax in. So I use a rf converter. I have the rf out and av out to the rf converter and that goes to the coax in on the tv.

I tried a timed recording test. It forced the tv to show the dvd players (by switching manually to channel 3 to watch the tv otherwise the channels were blurred from the signal from the dvd recorder). SO what I tried was to manually unplug the av cables from the dvd recorder to the rf converter and boom, I was able to watch the tv normally without disturbing the timed recording. So I think that is my bottleneck. I think I need a a/b rf switch box so I can go from normal antenna to dvd recorder in.

[lenti_75]

YEAH. the old lite-on series used to record mono from tuner......I don;t know if they fixed this.

[Bodyslide]

I recall on another forum, that the Lite-on 1107 was the first one to get a stereo tuner. I'll see if I can find the review....

[A_51]

Yoda, sory to jump in a little late. I have the exact same unit, I bought it at best buy. Actually the first unit I bougt was a Ciberhome ( what a piece of crap ) but I ended up changing it before a month. This unit is exellent. I have tried all ready the dvix & mpeg4 features and they work fine. Thow I rarely use them, I do my recordings to regular DVD. Timed recording exellent. This unit is been used for time shifting. As far as audio I get stereo all the time and is AC3 wich is more compatible than MP2 like cibercrap. Like you allready figuered out, the antena conection is a passtrow so you can record one channel and watch another. Unless you have your set up with a RF converter but that has notting to do with your unit but with your TV.
Must of the time I record on 3 hr mode I have read that bellow that is not advisable for quality.

[GreatSinatraFan]

Yoda,

All I know is that the Lite-On 1101-HC1 has a MONO tuner. That's a fact. But the guys over at the AVS Forum say that this is a major fault of the entire Lite-On 1xxxx series. I'll gladly be surprised if the Lite-On 1107 has a Stereo tuner. If that IS indeed the situation.. that's great ~! It'd be worthwhile to check these new Lite-On DVD Recorders out then.

But, to comment on the original question.. I have no problem recording one channel, and watching another channel at the same time. I use the VCR's turner to record ONE channel, then push the Video/Tv button on the tv remote control to watch any other channel on the tv itself. No problem. .. that is, until Comcast in the Dallas area decides to impliment the infamous Broadcast Flag. We may not be able to time shift our tv shows then.

[A_51]

Time shift with brocast flag. I waven't try it but I read on a post that the work around on that is to hook up your VCR, turn it on the channel you want to record and feed that signal from the VCRs out to you DVR RCA.

Like I said before I haven't tryed yet but it worth a try.

[FulciLives]

I just wanted to point out that just because a RF tuner input recording shows up as 2 channel AC-3 does not mean the RF tuner is a STEREO tuner.

Even if the RF tuner input was mono the resulting AC-3 would still be 2 channel as that is "standard". I've only ever come across a few 1.0 AC-3 DVD discs and all were very early production DVD discs (from the early days of DVD Video). Just about all DVD discs with mono sound are still encoded as 2.0 AC-3 audio.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[vhelp]

fulci,

Is there a way ( for yoda313 ) to check this out for himself, (and report back)
so that we can put issue with this baby to bed ??

I was thinking that the best way might be to include an already MONO source,
like the iLO 04 for instance. Then, compare it with Yoda and whatever else
there is necessary. I dont' know.. I'm just throwing ideas around

Cheers,

-vhelp 3959

[FulciLives]

fulci,

Is there a way ( for yoda313 ) to check this out for himself, (and report back)
so that we can put issue with this baby to bed ??

I was thinking that the best way might be to include an already MONO source,
like the iLO 04 for instance. Then, compare it with Yoda and whatever else
there is necessary. I dont' know.. I'm just throwing ideas around

Cheers,

-vhelp 3959

Well he could record something that he knows for sure is broadcast in stereo through the RF Tuner ... like any number of prime time TV shows ... like LOST or CSI or LAW AND ORDER etc. then play it back and "listen" for a STEREO effect ... or play it on a computer and check the audio levels etc.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[yoda313]

Hey everybody. Thanks for all the advice and tips.

I did go buy a $6 rf coax ab switch. That did the trick. Since I hooked up my antennae in to the dvd recorder and fed the rf out to the vcr in I was able to hook the rf out from the vcr to the one input jack on the ab switch and then take the output from rf converter which has the dvd player output and connect that to the ab switch as well. Now I can play and record on the vcr and play and record on the dvd recorder. However I can't do both at the same time with my current rigging. What I can do now is actually set a timed recording and the watch another program on tv at the same time without it overiding the standard tv. I have the "pure feed" from the vcr to the tv ab switch on setting 1 and the rf converter with the dvd content on setting 2. When the dvd records I switch to setting 1 to watch regular tv and switch back to setting 2 when I want to watch dvds. A bit of a hassle but it works just fine.



As far as the mono/stereo issue what I can do is post a audio sample from "2 fast and 2 furious" tonight. I'll record a few minutes and then post the sample online. That will no doubt be in stereo (airing on the local fox ota channel tonight). Then we can judge for ourselves. However I won't be able to post the results until tomorrow evening after work.


EDIT - no need to I forgot I recorded an episode of stargate yesterday. Here is a sample of the end credit theme music:

http://www.yoda313.com/video/stargateendpart.mp3

What program do you suggest to analyze this sample to ensure it really is stereo? I can still go ahead and record some of that movie so we can get a different sample.

EDIT 2 - sorry I posted the wrong sample - this is the correct sample - I ripped the dvd with dvd decrypter and converted the vob to wav with besweet then converted the wav to mp3 with audacity (just a portion of it).

[FulciLives]

Looking at your STARGATE MP3 sample it appears to be MONO to me.

When viewing The RIGHT and LEFT channels they are very nearly identical. I did this with SoundForge but this can be done with any decent audio program such as GoldWave or Audacity, etc.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[yoda313]

What would you suggest to counteract this? I have a stereo vcr right next to it. How should I reconnect it? Or should I only record by using the av input from the vcr and manually setting the channel on the vcr and then record that on the dvd recorder to get a stereo recording?

This would greatly increase the complexity of my recordings. I like this player a lot but one of my goals is to get a high quality stereo dvd recording.

What about those $100 cyberhome dvd recorders? Do they have +r models? I have a 100 +r discs that I'd like to use for this. If I have to route the dvd recorder through the vcr and back again I don't think it will be worth it for me to keep it.

Are there dvd recorders in the $100-$130 range with stereo rf tuners????

I'm still going to record the fast and furious movie and post a sample of that for second try.

[FulciLives]

... Or should I only record by using the av input from the vcr and manually setting the channel on the vcr and then record that on the dvd recorder to get a stereo recording?

That would be the only way I can see to work around it since you would be using the VCR as a tuner ... assuming it is a Hi-Fi Stereo VCR ... the tuner will be Stereo ... then as you say you use the stereo audio out and the composite video out of the VCR to the LiteOne DVD Recorder.

Perhaps more testing should be done first but that STARGATE sample is MONO ... at least I'm pretty sure of that ... perhaps someone else should double check me.

The cheapest well working stand alone/set top DVD recorder I would consider would be the Toshiba DR-4 ... if you can still find it ... or the Toshiba DR-5 which is the new replacement for the DR-4 model.

Using PRICEGRABBER.COM I was able to find the DR-4 for $153.00 plus shipping and I was able to find the DR-5 for $165.00 plus shipping.

However some people have indicated that the DR-4 can be bought for cheap if you look on eBay ... also BEST BUY was selling them for dirt cheap but I would imagine that most BEST BUY stores are out-of-stock by now on the DR-4 as it is no longer listed on the BEST BUY website and the DR-5 is the replacement and has been out for a couple of months now give or take.

Now there is a new slightly cheaper Toshiba ... the D-RW2 ... which can be bought on-line for as low as $123.00 plus shipping ... this unit is also sold at BEST BUY for more than $123.00 but that would at least allow you to try it out with the ability to return it if it turns out to be crap.

I mean the DR-4 and DR-5 have gotten good reviews but I know nothing about this D-RW2 and at least one person I know (though don't know if he can be trusted) said that it wasn't even made by Toshiba but was a Funai model (they make cheap models under various names ... for instance they make a cheap Magnavox DVD recorder that is sold at WALMART). If the D-RW2 is made by Funai (with just the Toshiba name slapped on it) then it is worthless. I guess you can go to BEST BUY and check it out ... see if they have one out-of-the-box ... check the unit (stickers on back) and the box itself to see if you see the name FUNAI on it anywhere.

The Cyberhome is worthless and is to be avoided as is the Magnavox sold at WALMART for $100 or so.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Epicurus8a]

Good luck with the Liteon! I'll be interested to find out your thoughts on this machine. BTW, check for a PM at Garibaldi's.

[yoda313]

Hi everybody.

Ok I did record the last half hour of 2 fast 2 furious on the local fox station last night. Here is a minute sample of it:

http://www.yoda313.com/video/2fast2furious.mp3

It seems to have some variation between the left and the right but not a whole lot. And it reads as stereo in audacity. However I think it was fulcilives that mentioned that is just the header information stamped on it by the dvd recorder regardless of the source material.

I'll take a look at that toshiba model you menitoned fulci. I think 150 is the highest I can go on the trade in if I have to exchange this. Does that toshiba have a firewire in and divx playback??? Is it - and + r?

[yoda313]

Well just thought I'd give an update. I got an email from their tech support. They said it definitetly DOES NOT have a stereo rf tuner.

Thats a bit of a bummer given the excellent quality and features of this recorder. However I decided not to exchange this. For the price it does everything I want including - and + r, divx playback, and firewire in.

I figure for a $100 its a small price to pay for having to use the stereo vcr as a tuner for shows I want in stereo. Everything else about the player is great.

Plus thanks to help from epicurus I'll be using it to do realtime recordings off my hdtv capture card. I'll just dub it over to the dvd recorder. Sure I'll lose the anamorphic unless I reflag it with ifoedit, and I'll lose the 5.1 surround sound. But realtime dubbing is a great way instead of the painstaking 6 hour job I do now. Of course for the stuff I really want to preserve I'll still do it the traditional way but for fluff and non 5.1 programs I'll do the realtime dub and save a lot of headaches.

[vhelp]

.. I'll just dub it over to the dvd recorder. Sure I'll lose the anamorphic unless I reflag it with ifoedit, and I'll lose the 5.1 surround sound.

Yeah, yoda, I think you confused me here.

You *should* be able to record (from) your HDTV in Anamorphic mode, and retain it.
I don't understand why people say they loose the anamorphic this way

What I'm trying to say here, is that when I set up to capture from my HDTV Receiver,
and the source is widescreen (anamorphic) I still have the anamorphic picture. Not
letterboxed or anthing.. just pure anamorphic. I did this with one of my captures,
and still using Composite for the input/output source.

Why can't you retain anamorphic ??

-vhelp 3961

[yoda313]

I don't know I was told this. I don't have a hdtv set and the only way I could verify would be with powerdvd and the configuration tab. That would be great if I can keep anamorphic and lose just the 5.1 through dubbing.

[vhelp]

well, just set your LVW-1107-HC1 to Anamorphic 16:9 view (don't know the
settings offhand here -- is probably 16:9 output setting) and press record.

All dvd recorders have a Letterbox and Anamorphic view. Sometimes, it's
labeled 16:9, but this is suppose to be same as Anamorphic.

On my HDTV Reciever, I have a setup that first allows me to change to what-
ever color space I prefer, ie.. composite/s-video 480i vs. component 480i,
after that setup, I then get a 4:3 vs. 16:9 setup.

If I set to 4:3, then everything there-on is treated as Letterbox inside
this 4:3 container. Otherwise, if 16:9 set, then all is treated as an
anamorphic, inside this 16:9 container. And params reflect each containers
own params, etc.

Maybe you could try a different test. Setup your recorder to 16:9 view
(or whatever setup it speaks) and find a source that you know is true
anamorphic. You'll know, because you wont have any boarders, if true 16:9
1.78 AR. Then, proceed to record it. If you wanna go an extra mile, then
proceed to capture it with your analog capture card, or even your hardware
mpeg card, or your hauppauge card.

-vhelp 3964

[vhelp]

My suspecion goes towards users and members here not setting up their units
properly for true 16:9 anamorphic view.

Below is how I setup my dvd recorder unit (my HDTV Receiver is a little different)
and your's should be the same..

Have a look on your LVW-1107-HC1 unit under its settings/config for an area
(Playback, for instance) that changes Aspect Ratio views. It sometimes
looks (similarily) like this:

Playback
|
|___ TV Screen Size
                   |
                   |__ 4:3 (letter box)
                   |__ 4:3 (pan & scan)
                   |__ 16:9

You want to change view to 16:9, as this will be your deciding factor for
Anamorphic output. Any dvd titles you play that are true 16:9 (1.78AR) will
have *no* boarders.

But, if you have any dvd titles that are 16:9 (1.85AR or 2.35AR) will have
some boarders, which they should, but will be anamorphic, or tall skinny
people.

Once you know you have the correct Anamormphic setup, you can either record
to your unit's HDD or Opticle r/rw 's or proceed to capture this anamorphic
output. That's it.

No more on-going talk about how it is not possible to record or capture Anamorphic
outputed video. ( if you *ever* hear of such talk, send them over here )

-vhelp 3965

[FulciLives]

The truth of the situation is that most of the cable TV boxes out there will only output 16x9 WS when you have it set to output HDTV via component cables (or DVI/HDMI).

Again these boxes will not output 16x9 WS when set to use the composite or S-Video cables ... since these cables only do 480i ... and 480i output (even over component) will force the box to resize 16x9 WS to a 4:3 Letterboxed image.

I am sure that there are some cable TV boxes that do NOT act this way but it seems most do what I just described.

Not sure about satellite TV boxes but I've heard it often is the same situation.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[yoda313]

Just an update here.

I couldn't quite get the widescreen recording to work right on the hdtv captures off my pc. However the letterboxed output looked just fine.

I recorded TOY STORY 2 tonight through my av input off of my stereo vcr. I used the vcr tuner and programed the dvd recorder to record it. Worked perfectly. It looks great recorded in SP 2 hour mode.

Now what I've done is ripped it to my pc using dvd decrypter. I set it to no chapters and no file splitting to give me one large vob. I opened the vob in mpg2cut2 and chopped out the commercials. I plopped the mpg into tda and I'm burning my new disc with chapter cuts and new menus (basic stuff nothing fancy).

I love this. Now if I had spent a little more and gotten a dvd recorder with a harddrive I could have done this editing on the unit itself but this isn't too much of a hassle. Just 10 or 20 minutes to rip the disc and another 10 or 20 minutes to chop the comercials and author the disc, plus time to burn the disc. But its pretty automated so not too much trouble to get it going.

Oh and by the way it DID record in stereo perfectly off of the vcr input jacks. So this will work out great. Though I'll only be doing stereo recording for movies and sci fi tv shows as its a bit of an extra hassle. But things like sitcoms, home improvement shows and news I don't need in stereo so I'll probably just record those with the mono internal tuner.

This unit is a really good dvd recorder and I love its dual format abiltiy to record + and - r discs. Saves the hassle of "commiting" to one or the other.

Thanks for all the tips and advice.