My setup:

Panny 42px600U
SA 8300HD cable box connected via HDMI (so the component outs are free to go to a DVD recorder)

Please recommend a DVD recorder that has the following features:

1. Ability to correctly and painlessly record 16:9 HD material with proper anamorphic encoding. I don't want to deal with ripping to my computer and changing flags, just record and go.

2. Good picture quality recording HD material (yes, I know you can't record HD in HD) and when I put the DVD in to play it later, it will show up properly at 16:9

3. Under $200

That's it! My 8300HD is filling up, I can't get the external eSATA drive to work, so I'm going to buy a DVD-recorder to archive shows. I've already got the DVR so I don't need a recorder with a hard-drive, and I don't care about time-shift capabilities. Don't need fancy upconverting since the Panny does a great job with 480p, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

I will pretty much exclusively be recording HD material, and will exclusively watch it on my 16:9 plasma, so I don't care if it looks stretched on a 4:3 tv. Just want a DVD recorder that I can plug into my 8300HD and start recording 16:9 material to watch later at the best quality possible with the least amount of fuss.

THANKS!

Bumpity bump....

Is there anyone getting good quality recordings of 16:9 HD material from an 8300HD with a DVD recorder?

BTW - as additional info, I'm running SARA v. 1.89.something, and I have read about the whole set-the-8300-to-480i squeeze trick... I'm just looking for something that doesn't require me to constantly be resetting my 8300's settings.

If what I am looking for doesn't exist, can people just give me recommendations for a DVD recorder that gets decent PQ when recording from an 8300HD, even if I have to "zoom" later to get rid of letterboxes?

The problem you are going to find is that the SA8300HD only outputs a 16x9 full screen image via component output. The majority of DVD recorders do not have component inputs. They have composite and s-video inputs. The SA8300HD via s-video outputs a 4:3 image and introduces a letterboxed image. This is not good when trying to archive a full screen 16x9 image to DVD media using a DVD recorder.

Simple answer is to find a DVD recorder with component inputs. They are very hard to find. My choice was the Polaroid 2001G. Not a top tier recorder but the only one with a HDD that had decent distribution in North America (Walmart).

Simple answer is to find a DVD recorder with component inputs. They are very hard to find. My choice was the Polaroid 2001G. Not a top tier recorder but the only one with a HDD that had decent distribution in North America (Walmart).

Thanks for the response. So a DVD recorder with component-in will allow me to record 16:9 content as anamorphic 4:3?

Thanks for the response. So a DVD recorder with component-in will allow me to record 16:9 content as anamorphic 4:3?

Depends on the recorder. Some DVD recorders will allow you to set the wide screen flag in order to make a true anamorphic recording - meaning it will play back properly on a 4:3 screen. In addition to playing back full wide screen on a 16x9 display. But they do not have component inputs. So the answer is to find a DVD recorder that sets the flag and then convert the componet output of the SA8300HD to s-video. There are threads in the forum that discuss this. My choice for this, which is pretty simple, is the following:

SA8300HD component out to -> Polaroid 2001G component in then out via s-video to -> Toshiba XS54. The Toshiba allows for setting the wide screen flag as a recording option or as an option when authoring to DVD.

Not as simple as most would like but still quite easy.

does the new panasonic recorders with atsc tuners have component input
cain't find spec on that they are 199.00 according to website.

I have the Sony HX715 with componet inputs and while it will give me 16x9 if I record 480i out from the SA8300. It is then 4x3 squeezed and I have to use the TV to stretch it. On a 4x3 set it is not letterboxed but squeezed. Trying to get anamorphic recordings has been such a PITA that I've given up and just zoom the letterboxed stuff.

Depends on the recorder. Some DVD recorders will allow you to set the wide screen flag in order to make a true anamorphic recording - meaning it will play back properly on a 4:3 screen. In addition to playing back full wide screen on a 16x9 display. But they do not have component inputs. So the answer is to find a DVD recorder that sets the flag and then convert the componet output of the SA8300HD to s-video. There are threads in the forum that discuss this. My choice for this, which is pretty simple, is the following:

SA8300HD component out to -> Polaroid 2001G component in then out via s-video to -> Toshiba XS54. The Toshiba allows for setting the wide screen flag as a recording option or as an option when authoring to DVD.

Not as simple as most would like but still quite easy.

Wait, I'm not sure I understand -- why do you use TWO different DVD recorders? I'm only looking to buy one! ;) What's the point of having a DVD player with component in and then having it convert to S-video to the other player? This is all new to me, so I'm just trying to understand the functional purpose of that setup.

Just to reiterate, I could care less about having something play properly on a 4:3 screen. I just want to record 16:9 HD material off my 8300HD and have it look decent (i.e. DVD movie quality) when I play it back. Is this not possible? I'm fine with ending up with a "squeezed" image, because I'll just set my tv to "H-Fill" or whatever.

The widescreen "flag" is to let the DVD player know that it should stretch the squeezed image, right? So if my TV will do the stretch via "H-Fill", I don't really need to worry about that right?

Is there anyone who's found a DVD recorder that gives good quality output with the 8300HD, without resorting to crazy trickery like using two DVD recorders or rebooting their 8300HD with new setting every time they want to make a recording?

I have the Sony HX715 with componet inputs and while it will give me 16x9 if I record 480i out from the SA8300. It is then 4x3 squeezed and I have to use the TV to stretch it. On a 4x3 set it is not letterboxed but squeezed. Trying to get anamorphic recordings has been such a PITA that I've given up and just zoom the letterboxed stuff.

Thanks for the response.

Just to be clear, you go component in from the 8300HD to the DVD recorder, and when you record 16x9 material you end up with a DVD that has a squeezed, 4:3 picture? You then use your TV's stretch feature to restore the original 16:9 aspect ratio, and it looks better than a zoomed 16:9 letterbox recording? Isn't that basically an anamorphic recording, just without the widescreen flag letting the DVD player know to re-stretch the image?

Do you have to reset your 8300HD to 480i when you want to do this, or does it just work?

Thanks for the response.

Just to be clear, you go component in from the 8300HD to the DVD recorder, and when you record 16x9 material you end up with a DVD that has a squeezed, 4:3 picture? You then use your TV's stretch feature to restore the original 16:9 aspect ratio, and it looks better than a zoomed 16:9 letterbox recording? Isn't that basically an anamorphic recording, just without the widescreen flag letting the DVD player know to re-stretch the image?

Do you have to reset your 8300HD to 480i when you want to do this, or does it just work?
I leave the 8300 at 480i, and since the component in went to the Sony, it really didn't matter. I just zoomed the output from the Sony when I wnated to watch something live from the 8300. The problem with the Sony is that the TVGO system won't pick information up via component input so I also had to have the S-Video output connected to get the guide info. That meant it need to be sourced from S-video to get guide and Component to do recording and it seemed it was always on the wrong setting for whichever I wanted to do so I bought a TiVo series 3 and sent the SA8300 back to Comcast. I now have the Sony connected to the TiVo output and I can copy recordings on the TiVo to DVD in squeezed WS or Letterbox and still be able to watch high def programs without jumping through all the hoops I had with the SA 8300. Of course the Sony will not control the TiVo so I have to make any copies in real time.
Finally, I guess you are correct about the recordings being anamorphic without the WS flag. That definition has always seemed something like smoke and mirrors to me.
I watch the output on a 55" Sony LCD Projection set and truthfully, I don't see real much (if any) difference between zoomed squeezed and zoomed letterboxed. OK, maybe the zoomed squeezed is a little better.

Wait, I'm not sure I understand -- why do you use TWO different DVD recorders? I'm only looking to buy one! ;) What's the point of having a DVD player with component in and then having it convert to S-video to the other player? This is all new to me, so I'm just trying to understand the functional purpose of that setup.

Just to reiterate, I could care less about having something play properly on a 4:3 screen. I just want to record 16:9 HD material off my 8300HD and have it look decent (i.e. DVD movie quality) when I play it back. Is this not possible? I'm fine with ending up with a "squeezed" image, because I'll just set my tv to "H-Fill" or whatever.

The widescreen "flag" is to let the DVD player know that it should stretch the squeezed image, right? So if my TV will do the stretch via "H-Fill", I don't really need to worry about that right?

Is there anyone who's found a DVD recorder that gives good quality output with the 8300HD, without resorting to crazy trickery like using two DVD recorders or rebooting their 8300HD with new setting every time they want to make a recording?

The minute you introduced the term anamorphic in your third post you changed the ball game. If you are not interested in an anamorphic recording you can do the following with the SA8300HD. Tune to an HD channel (or playback HD material from the hard drive). Change the output setting to 480i and record a full screen 16x9 image using a DVD recorder with component inputs.

There are no current models of DVD recorders with component inputs. For a list of legacy DVD recorders with component inputs you can check out this thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9276550&&#post9276550

Is there anyone who's found a DVD recorder that gives good quality output with the 8300HD, without resorting to crazy trickery like using two DVD recorders or rebooting their 8300HD with new setting every time they want to make a recording?
This "crazy trickery" can be quite productive. Especially for those that have made investments in higher end DVD recorders that only offer composite and s-video inputs. Some may actually call it creative. Here's a thread that touches on the logic:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9055786&&#post9055786

if you can still find the polaroid 2001g dvd recorder at Walmart, then that will help you out, batpig. It has component inputs, just be sure to buy one with a serial number that begins with a letter higher than the letter B.

I use this with my sa8300hd on the cablevision system (SARA gui). To archive an HD movie, I set the 8300hd to manually output at 480i wide, then play the movie, and set the polaroid to record. During this time, the picture on the tv does look squished, but the finished product is a very good transfer of the movie in 480i widescreen.

The newer polaroid with hdmi doesn't have component inputs. I believe the new hdmi philips has component inputs but I haven't heard a lot of favorable reports on it

During this time, the picture on the tv does look squished, but the finished product is a very good transfer of the movie in 480i widescreen.


I agree on the Polaroid 2001G. But this comment interested me. With the SA8300HD running Passport this is not the case. The picture looks normal when both recording and playing back. I have my television set to widescreen. Interesting on how so many variables can muddy up the water.

This "crazy trickery" can be quite productive. Especially for those that have made investments in higher end DVD recorders that only offer composite and s-video inputs. Some may actually call it creative. Here's a thread that touches on the logic:

Thanks for the link, I think I get it now. Also, the "crazy trickery" comment wasn't meant to be disparaging, just mildly humerous -- I definitely admire the ingenuity of such solutions. My only point was that I just wanted a simple solution -- run one cable from the 8300HD to the DVD recorder and be able to archive DVD-quality recordings of 16:9 HD material.

The minute you introduced the term anamorphic in your third post you changed the ball game. If you are not interested in an anamorphic recording you can do the following with the SA8300HD. Tune to an HD channel (or playback HD material from the hard drive). Change the output setting to 480i and record a full screen 16x9 image using a DVD recorder with component inputs.

Sorry, I was just assuming "anamorphic" would provide the best quality. It looks like, since I don't care about having it look right on a 4:3 TV, that I don't really need that widescreen flag.

The problem here is really the output of the 8300HD via S-video, not the DVD recorders themselves, right? That's why I need a DVD-recorder with component in, so I don't get shrunken 16:9 picture with letterboxes, right?

if you can still find the polaroid 2001g dvd recorder at Walmart, then that will help you out, batpig. It has component inputs, just be sure to buy one with a serial number that begins with a letter higher than the letter B.

Thanks for the tip. If you don't mind, what's the deal with the serial number thing? I'm assuming sets that start with B or lower have some sort of defect, right?

The problem here is really the output of the 8300HD via S-video, not the DVD recorders themselves, right? That's why I need a DVD-recorder with component in, so I don't get shrunken 16:9 picture with letterboxes, right?

Exactly. There are a lot of moving parts in the equation but your comment is as close as it gets. The Polaroid 2001G is your best solution. The "B" serial number is an earlier model. There are some features that the newer non "B" models offer that are desirable. Not to complicate things but the non "B" models offer what is called pass through when the unit is turned off. Meaning when the Polaroid is off it will pass through A/V to your television. This can help when setting up your system.

But in its simplist sense even the "B" model will do what you want. That being off loading content from your SA8300HD to DVD. The nice thing is that the Polaroid is a hard drive model. So you have additional storage on the HDD of the Polaroid in addition to burning to DVD. And it is easily upgradable to a larger hard drive.

It is priced at $229 if you can find one. They were easier to find a few months ago. It is out of production.

Thanks for the tip. If you don't mind, what's the deal with the serial number thing? I'm assuming sets that start with B or lower have some sort of defect, right?

The B units don't pass-through the signal when the unit is off. Therefore if you have the following connection

sa8300hd ->(component cables)->polaroid 2001g->tv

You would need to leave the B unit on all the time to receive the tv signal, but then of course you'd have to have the cable box only send out 480i images.

With a serial number higher than B, passthrough does work, so you can have this cable hookup, and watch HD programming at it's native resolution with the polaroid off