Looking for a DVD recorder with hard drive

[sldvd]

I have some old VHS tapes that I want to transfer onto DVD and/or my computer. So I'd like to get a DVD recorder with hard drive to handle that. Then after I'm done copying the VHS tapes, I'll let my parents have the unit so they won't have to worry about tapes getting stuck in their VCR and they will also be able to store a lot of programs on the hard drive, instead of just 6 hours on a tape.

I see several refurbished units on ebay, so I'm wondering which one to get.

I've read that the Philips DVDR3576H/DVDR3575H are the only ones with a digital tuner. My parents already have a digital converter box, although it is kind of flaky (sometimes changes channels by itself which means the VCR records the wrong show, and it sometimes turns off by itself). So maybe the digital tuner in the DVDR3576H will be better, although my parents have cable too, so they could probably do without the digital over-the-air signal. You can't use the digital tuner AND cable at the same time, can you? I do remember there was a channel they watched using the digital converter box, and that channel wasn't available thru their cable subscription.

But I've seen a few posts where people say the Philips picture quality and editing features aren't as good as Pioneers or Panasonics. Would the picture quality affect my VHS transfers to DVD/HDD? And let me ask you this - how easy would it be to transfer my VHS tapes to DVD without doing any edits on the DVD recorder, and then do all my editing on the computer? I imagine there is software (hopefully free) that has all the editing features I could ever need?

Hmm, looks like the Panasonics available on ebay are all way more expensive than the Philips. There are some Pioneer DVR-460H-K, DVR-420H-S, and DVR-633H units - what do you guys think about those?

I also see a lot of the RCA DRC8030N, which might be the cheapest option. Any opinions on that one? There are also some LG, Polaroid, Emerson, Sylvania, and JVC units - would any of those brands warrant consideration?

One more question, I think I remember seeing a post where someone said that the DVDs recorded by a certain unit could only be played in that unit, they could not be played in any other players. Is this a widespread problem, or only with a few recorders?

Thanks for any advice!

[lordsmurf]

If anything, Philips editing is better than editing on a Panasonic. They are more or less the same, however. Pioneer, too. Sounds like your read some fanboy crap.

Editing on the computer is a much better solution, yes. Free? No. (The free stuff is mostly hard-to-use buggy crap.) Cheap, yes. Womble makes great products, VideoReDo too. Read http://www.digitalfaq.com/guides/video/edit-dvd-recorder.htm

Cable carries QAM HD, so the Philips gets HD local channels, and anything else unencrypted HD. Don't need OTA HD. Digital cable box plugs into non-coax anyway, why would it conflict? I don't follow you.

RCA tuners are awful. And the hard drive model only lets you copy video from HDD to disc one video at a time. Everything is "one at a time" on that unit. Great image quality from composite/s-video in, from clean signal. I have one, it's very good -- good player for hacking other regions too. Just not perfect, not without quirks, I'd never use it for VHS conversions.

Would never use Philips for VHS conversions either. It looks crappy.

VHS tapes are noisy, so most of the DVD recorders you mention will make DVDs that look worse than the tapes, unless you do 1-hour mode (split tapes to multi discs). Even then, it will at beast look the same as the tape. Technology exists that makes a DVD look better than the VHS tape, I do it daily.

The post where the person said the DVD can only be played in that same unit is clueless. Finalize the disc, end of problem. Another person that clearly never read the manual.

Also read http://www.digitalfaq.com/reviews/dvd-recorders.htm

[sldvd]

Thanks for the reply, lordsmurf. I see from the link you provided that JVC is good for VHS conversions, is there any other brand/model you would recommend? What technology do you use to make a DVD look better than the VHS tape?