Best way to get MPEG-2 files from DVD Recorder to Computer?!

[dorenhagen]

I own the Magnavox MDR515H. Burning a DVD then copying to computer seems an awful waste of time. Is there a better way?

I was hoping it had a USB port but it does not. Do any DVD/HDD recorders have a USB port? Thanks.

[DB83]

Many dvd recorders have USB ports but I doubt if any support dubbing from the HDD of the recorder to a USB drive. They can read from the USB drive but not write to it.

If you want to get your content from the recorder to the PC without making a dvd then the only other practical way is real-time capturing. The create dvd method is actually quicker.

[PuzZLeR]

Ahh, don't we all wish we had a stand-alone recorder, and that easy USB port, that transfers our content to a PC hard drive, just like that. It would make managing, editing, and archiving content so much easier than running back and forth with DvD-RWs. I understand.

Unfortunately, the movie studios wouldn't like that, and they are discouraging you on purpose so you won't migrate tons of their content that easily without a hassle.

I have yet to find such a player that can do what you want. I have banged my head over it many times myself over the years.

If you wish to hack it, or transport its hard drive you will be discouraged at the technical know-how you will need, and how hard, or impossible, it is. It's not worth it.

I've found some products from Gefen here:
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproductlisting.jsp?listingCategory=recorder

But they're overpriced, and bad quality according to reviews. The SD model as well only records to some proprietary codec that you can do little with as far as playing, editing or anything with on your PC. I passed.

TiVo players offer some promise, but they are low in video quality, have annoying monthly fees, and AFAIK only transport through ethernet, which is slower than lugging discs back and forth. (Or you can try and hack one - good luck again.)

Keep in mind, alot of PVRs that have a USB port are not for transferring video. They are for other features, but still mislead many people and cause frustration.

You can get a capture device from Hauppauge, such as the 1950, which uses a USB encoder and frees your PC somewhat, but the video is soft. An ATI Wonder 600 is great quality, but needs to use your PC resources more. But, if you do want to dedicate a PC to it, with software like GB-PVR, Beyond TV and SageTV you can use these capture devices very much like the DVR you own, but have the content actually directly transferred straight to your PC. (I like the ATI Wonder 600 with SageTV - nice.)

If you have a composite RCA out on your Maggie, or better - an S-Video out, you can forget burning and just transfer content to your computer with a capture device as well, like once a week or so overnight, instead of burning discs.

But if you want a stand-alone DVR that is a good solution, look into bidding on the Pioneer 520 at eBaY. It's excellent at transferring video out through the DV-Out port without burning discs. You will be hard pressed to find such a feature and I got lucky when I found this unit about 7 years ago.

I even wrote a guide for it if you're interested:
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/303504-Pioneer-DVR-520H-video-to-PC-using-the-DV-Ou...o-disc-burning

[dorenhagen]

Man, oh MAN!! Thanks again, PuzZLeR. How fantastic that you've considered precisely the same problem. I'll visit your provided link next.

[dorenhagen]

Is the ATI Wonder 600 the same as the ATI TV Wonder 600? Thanks.

[PuzZLeR]

Is the ATI Wonder 600 the same as the ATI TV Wonder 600? Thanks.

Yes it is, missed that part.

Also, my comments are based on the USB version, not the PCI model of which I haven't personally tested yet (although I don't see why both would be much different).

AFAIK, the 600 is discontinued and no longer available from regular retailers (chain store or online), but, as of this post, there are still many sellers on eBaY having them new or OEM.

Don't be tempted by newer models. ATI has had many changes since (AMD, Diamond distributors, different hardware/software/philosophy/etc) and it won't be the same product. The 600 is kind of like a modern version of the "good ol' days" of capture hardware, which in general hasn't been the same since the XP days.

PS: If anyone has had experience with a Gefen, please let us know. AFAIK, it's the only stand-alone DVR I know of that actually has a USB port designed for migrating video content but I haven't heard a good thing about it other than that.