advice for a new dvd recorder

[cd090580]

Hi,

My philips dvdr70 has failed. Seems to be the drive motor (I don't ear the motor spinning) and always displaying "Opening - Blocked - Closing" message when I try to open the tray. I opened the device and thus the motor is not spinning anymore.

So, what brand/model would you recommend me which is not too expensive ?

I just need one which is able to record SECAM signal as well as PAL. The SECAM is not mandatory for the tuner input but only for the AV input (analog for french stations not available on DVB FTA and digital satellite receiver (PAL)).

Thanks.

[DereX888]

Most important to decide which brand/model you may want is the information on your recording habits. I mean i.e. do you record tv broadcast for "archival" purposes, do you record it with commercials or do you prefer to edit your recordings before outputting to disc, or do you i.e. record tv for "later viewing" and quality or editing possibility doesn't matter, or do you i.e. use recorder to transfer old analog stuff to discs, or... see, each one of the purposes may probably yield different answer

[jman98]

There's no such thing as SECAM in DVD format, so nothing you buy will record in that format. What that means for you in terms of being able to record such broadcasts, I have no idea. Perhaps someone from France can provide some input on that, or you might look for a French language video forum. Surely there are such forums as the French are pretty tech savvy people and I would assume that they have French language video forums somewhere. Again, I have no idea if you can easily record SECAM broadcasts into PAL DVD format, but I definitely know that you can't record SECAM as SECAM DVD format because there is no such thing.

[DereX888]

doh, SECAM DVD - no such thing.
All french DVDs are PAL, I doubt there is any SECAM broadcast left in France?

/edit/
For "AV input in SECAM" as the OP said (The SECAM is not mandatory for the tuner input but only for the AV input ), I guess he meant to record from old SECAM VHS tapes, not broadcast. But AFAIK almost all VCR (at least all latest/recent) while they play SECAM tapes, they do output in PAL. And in all years I'm playing with videoconversions, AFAIR I have encountered only *once* a tape recorded in SECAM (ME-SECAM exactly, from middle east) and the standard PAL vcr didn't have any problem to play it, with outgoing signal in PAL.

[hech54]

I just need one which is able to record SECAM signal as well as PAL. The SECAM is not mandatory for the tuner input but only for the AV input (analog for french stations not available on DVB FTA and digital satellite receiver (PAL)).

Thanks.

Those older Philips machines were VERY good at recording anything you stick to it(as is my old DVDR985). They would even record an NTSC signal via the cinch/AV inputs (and vise versa - my NTSC recorder records PAL via cinch).
SECAM is a mystery to me.

[handyguy]

'I opened the device and thus the motor is not spinning anymore. '

Open it up & give it (disk platten) a little push. I did that one time. Of course, unplug it first.

[INFRATOM]

if you opened it check to see if the belt is snapped or out of place. maybe you can repair it by changing the drive belt.

[lordsmurf]

What is your budget?
What do you record? ("everything" is not an answer)
What features are required beyond recording to a disc?

[cd090580]

My budget is about 150 € (+/- 220 $).
I mainly record Tv show and music videos either from analog satellite (channel from france in SECAM) and digital satellite (in PAL).
I do all the editing on my PC.

I'd like to replace it by a model with a HDD, easier to record all night videos (just need simple edit, like cutting most of videos I don't need, no need to be frame accurate). Then burning it to a dvd+/-rw and do the perfect cut/edit and author with the PC.

[StuR]

My experiance (UK PAL) of Philips says avoid, so JVC of Toshiba HDD combi,
pretty sure the JVC MH300 has a secam version, otherwise a Toshiba XS version.
MH300 has fine edittng tools, good enough... divide- chops up multiple shows, delete section- cuts ad's. This function causes 1/4-1/2sec freeze at edits, if it's not good enough then PC could cut this freeze frame in future, OK for me though.
Picture very good good digital goes to 2hr20+ fine,
plays +, only - record, to dub a disk to HD it must be - recordered origonally not +.

[mats.hogberg]

Take a look at the Samsung HR757 - Really satisfied with it so far. (My first DVD recorder, so I don't have much to compare to, but...).
PixMania has it for around € 150 less than some bricknmortar shops in my neighbourhood...

/Mats

[lordsmurf]

The newest Philips from summer 2007 are unlike older machines. I don't know what you have over there right now. What sorts of choices are you seeing in your country? And maybe we can give feedback that way.

[hech54]

Apon the advise of Smurf...I might consider a brand new Philips(in the future)...but as of right now I would NOT buy another one. I got lucky with mine....and I know it.
It still works actually...but it is dying...and I'm gutted. It really does record anything "video" and zero dropouts...no matter how crappy the incoming signal is.

[cd090580]

I'm looking in the user guides availables from the manufacturers to select a list of recorders which accept SECAM input (and of course convert to pal).

For now I only see philips telling in thir user guide that secam is accepted. For other models I don't see anything about it but I think it's implemented in all pal models ????

[DereX888]

I'm looking in the user guides availables from the manufacturers to select a list of recorders which accept SECAM input (and of course convert to pal).

For now I only see philips telling in thir user guide that secam is accepted. For other models I don't see anything about it but I think it's implemented in all pal models ????

I would think so, since all former SECAM countries are in the PAL DVD regions.

But there is always chance of some odd brand, manufacturer or just model, that will not have such feature.
Until someone confirms it, your guess is as good as anyone elses.
OTOH I would think that the SECAM>PAL conversion (on the inputs) should be simply mandatory in all models sold in the former SECAM countries. That ought to be a 'no-brainer' but then - many other obvious things in the world aren't either, so...

[Seeker47]

Take a look at the Samsung HR757 - Really satisfied with it so far. (My first DVD recorder, so I don't have much to compare to, but...).
/Mats

I'm wondering a few things about this one, starting with whether it is a European (only) model ? And how it may compare to this Philips:
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic341172.html
If it is available in the U.S., who sells it ? Haven't seen this model anywhere, and only infrequently any Samsungs, period.

The size of the HDD -- or even just having a HDD -- would put it in rarefied company. I don't know what sort of quality we should expect from Samsung -- at least for something other than a cell phone or a microwave oven. I looked at the review here, but Mats' is the only one so far. If the features list is accurate, this one can burn DL, which up until now I think only the Pio 640 offered. What about High Speed Copy, editing features (like Frame Accurate), ease of use, VR Mode support, etc. ?

Wabjxo, if this one is also a contender, I would think you might have checked it out ?

[wabjxo]

Seeker, that Samsung has lots of good stuff for someone looking for PAL/SECAM. If I were in the EU, the only thing I wouldn't like is the 12 program events... altho many places listed the same for the Philips 3575 even tho it really has 36 events.

Amazon.co.uk has it in stock for £326.39.

[mats.hogberg]

The Samsung does both "Video" and VR mode.
I don't know about the editing capabilities. Not tried yet. No matter what, they are better on a computer.
In Sweden, Samsung is a quality brand.
Can burn DL, yes, even if I haven't tried.
Only minus I've found is sluggish menus, and long startup time, and that transfer speed to/from USB leaves a little to be desired.

/Mats

[Seeker47]

Only minus I've found is sluggish menus, and long startup time, and that transfer speed to/from USB leaves a little to be desired.

Much the same report as on the Philips. It seems that Pioneer could offer prompt startup and functions, plus High Speed Copy in their models -- for years -- but the other mfr.s these days have forgotten how this is done, or no longer care.

[Seeker47]

Seeker, that Samsung has lots of good stuff for someone looking for PAL/SECAM. If I were in the EU, the only thing I wouldn't like is the 12 program events... altho many places listed the same for the Philips 3575 even tho it really has 36 events.

Amazon.co.uk has it in stock for £326.39.

Wabjxo,

So, there is no equivalent model for the U.S. market ? Even if one could buy it here, it would not be appropriate for NTSC -- especially whatever tuner it has -- and there would surely be no applicable warranty.

(I think the most # of events I've ever programmed on one recorder at one time was about 9.)

[Seeker47]

Seeker, that Samsung has lots of good stuff for someone looking for PAL/SECAM. If I were in the EU, the only thing I wouldn't like is the 12 program events... altho many places listed the same for the Philips 3575 even tho it really has 36 events.

Amazon.co.uk has it in stock for £326.39.

I just stumbled across this
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-LG-Digital-HDTV-Tuner-HDMI-Region-Free-DVD-Recorder_W0QQitemZ2...QQcmdZViewItem

which looked kinda interesting, until it became clear there was no HDD. That makes it pretty worthless, as far as I'm concerned. In the meantime, I wouldn't be too surprised if some outfit like this one imports a variant of that Samsung for NTSC. If there really are no better options around, I may just get one of those Philips 3575s as a hedge, while they are still available. I'm not looking forward to the day when my Pioneers need fixing.