Terapin CD Audio/Video Recorder vs. DVD Recorder

[electronicworld]

Here are my reasons why I prefer the Terapin CD Audio/Video Recorder to any of the current desktop DVD Recorders on the market today.

1.The cost for a Terapin CD Audio/Video Recorder is under $300 and a desktop DVD recorders is $795 - $1,300.

2.The cost to record (1) VCD movie is about $.050 (2-blank CD-R's at $0.16 each, the CD label, the ink to print it and the white CD envelope to store the 2-CD-R's). At $2.00 for a blank DVD I can record (6) movies using the Terapin.

3.The resolution of 250+ lines is acceptable. I've had no problems displaying a VCD recorded with the Terapin on my 96" front projector in my home theater room, 50" rear projector and any of my 27" color televisions. Many of my friends and relatives have commented that they thought that they were watching a DVD.

4.I can create audio CD's with the Terapin but can not with a DVD recorder.

5.I've had my Terapin CD Audio/Video recorder for 1 year now and have created a movie library of almost 200 titles recorded using my JVC D-VHS/Dish Network Satellite System. This process is like using your VHS recorder but instead your using the Terapin to create a VCD. At $15 - $20 for each DVD movie you can see how much money I've saved.

6.And last but not least the format wars are once again at the forefront of a new technology. Three different DVD formats? You would think that the manufacturers would have learned from their mistakes (Betamax vs. VHS).

[vcd4me]

Hey great post ELECTRONICWORLD,

Where you been hiding I haven't seen or heard form you in awhile?

Have you joined www.vcd-trading.com

It's mostly for trading vcds but they have a forum for TERAPIN users like us, and I think your input would be great there.

Your Terapin Friend, VCD4ME

P.S. I even found someone on that site to trade with and he only lives 20 minutes from me.

[AntnyMD]

I too have seen the light shining brightly from the front of my Terapin VDR, and I love it. However, I am not satisfied with VCD quality as a rule, so I sprang for the Pioneer DVR-104 DVD burner last week.

If your goal is maximum number of VCD titles in the shortest amount of time with slightly better quality than the standard VCD template in TMPGEnc, bite the bullet and get a Terapin. If you want DVD quality, get the DVD burner (roughly the price of two Terapins).

[kitty]

Not that I have a dog in this but I think it was both Best Buy & Circuit City advertizing in this weeks ads (US) the standalone Panasonic DVD recorder for $700.

[vcd4me]

I heard you can't get dd 5.1 when using the standalone?
anyone got input on that?

If so buying a dvd-r drive would probably be a better buy but you still have to rip, convert, and burn

I've been told: TERAPINS AT SAMS CLUB are now only $139 (I'm going to take a ride and see for myself

[AntnyMD]

Standalones can only encode to Dolby Digital 2.0. Analog TV is only stereo, so Dolby 2.0 is sufficient for recording from television. Although HDTV has the capability to carry Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, you can only make analog recordings from HDTV anyway, and the sound would be downmixed to stereo for this purpose. You also cannot do a direct digital copy of a DVD's soundtrack without the aid of a computer, so Dolby 2.0 is sufficient for that purpose also -- although I'm almost certain standalone DVD settop recorders will not be blessed with anti-Macrovision circuitry like my friend the Terapin!

[vcd4me]

so am I right standalone dvd recorders cannot record the 5.1

Have you tried to use your terapin as a macrovision remover to make vhs tapes from the dvd player

Also have you joined www.vcd-trading.com I asked you before but you never replied back

[AntnyMD]

I have used my Terapin on my Macrovision-friendly DVD player using a disc I knew to be Macrovision-protected, and the Terapin didn't even blink. It made a terrific copy. I assume I'll have the same results with my VHS tapes, but my VHS machine with an S-Video connection is having issues (it doesnt like me, so its under the bed now).

I havent joined that other group because I'm not really interested in trading VCDs. I'm more interested in beefing up my collection of Hollywood movies and porn for my personal enjoyment (and only occasional bootlegging).

[vcd4me]

Not sure about what you mean about hollywood movies . But I'll be getting some dvd copies from one of the guy soon. To add to my collection.

I do know what you mean about PORN :lol:

Talk to soon VCD4ME