I want to buy a new DVD/VCR recorder, but can you do some editing while you are copying tapes from the VCR to the DVD? Now I can do it, because I have one VCR and one DVD recorder. I have two separate remote controls and each unit has a separate connections with the TV. What happens when I have one control and only one connection with the TV? Can you stop the recording, while the VCR is playing, and then start the recording again? I have no electronic knowledge or skill, so I have no idea if I can do it or not. Thanks

Most of the DVD recorder's I've seen have a "pause" button that can be used to pause a recording much the way that a VCR does. So you should be able to do what you're asking. Thanks to the Internet you can usually find online copies of the instruction manuals for these DVD recorders, and that's a great way to understand exactly what they can do.

You might want to consider getting a DVD recorder with a hard drive. That would allow you to copy an entire tape to the hard drive, edit it, and then burn the edited version to a DVD. Editing on the hard drive lets you move back and forth in order to get your edit points pretty much where you want them, and this makes it much easier since you don't always have to worry about hitting the "pause" button at exactly the right time.

Is there a way to "rewind" and record over a portion of the DVD before it is "written" to the disc? e.g., One could rewind a VHS tape the desired point, press record, and record over the unwanted section. Is there anyway to do this with a DVD recorder without an HDD?

You can do editing like that on VR-mode rewritable discs, but these are less compatible with ordinary DVD players - not all players will play them.

DVD-RAM discs are the most flexible for editing directly on the disc, they basically act just like a hard drive in terms of editing capabilities - but they're also the least compatible with ordinary DVD players.

I have edited VHS Tapes using the "Tape Pause" method before. It is a pretty sloppy editing procedure. If at all possible. I second Sean's suggestion of getting a DVD Recorder with an HDD. Recording the full VHS Title to the hard drive and then editing is SOOOOO much cleaner, and ultimately simpler.

Heartly agree with both! Hold out for a hdd unit, you will thank yourself later. Just for the fact that you can plunk in the tape and walk away till it's on the harddrive. Quicker editing too.

Unfortunately is almost impossible to find a DVD/VCR with an hard disk, I was looking to find the Panasonic DMR-EH75V. but is impossible to find it. I think I will buy the DMR-EZ47, hoping to be able to use it. Thansk for you help

Circuit City still has the EH75 listed on their website as available for $449.99.

And of course, there is always e-bay, for the adventurous.