Read the following post for a more brief and concise version

First, I'll get this out of the way and say I'm canadian. I don't know if that makes my selection different or what... But it applies to atleast 80% of the things in the world when asking a question :P I don't know if being canadian makes me not under control of the MPAA (Which I think we somewhat are as half our stuff IS distributed from america)

I read the FAQ, and then I started wondering...

My current display, if applies, is:
Samsung 32" LNT3253H

I do not want to use a DVD recorder to record TV for the most part (although I will) I mainly wanted to be able to record console games (Xbox 360 and Playstation 3) and then video edit them for various projects.

My main concern, while not being if I can record in HD, is can I somehow get a 720p signal from my PS3/Xbox 360 to my TV while recording? I kind of don't want to upscale it, even though the quality difference is probably minimal since I'm using such a small TV. I want a DVD recorder that allows me to play in 720P but can record in whatever resolution, even if the setup of it has to be a little awkward.

Now, while that is what I want... Here are some other things that I have questions:

If I use a DVD recorder... Can I record in widescreen? (854x480 approximately) Would I get a good image?
If I get a good quality recorder that can record good standard definition, could I stretch the image to 1280x720 and still get a good image/basically unnoticeable difference in quality?

The reason I ask these questions is because I own a media website and we're tired of writing stuff. We want to now head to videos. What I'm trying to do is like most website with videos, allow visitors to donate and if they do they can watch videos in "larger" resolution (pseudo-HD).

Color isn't really an issue either, but black would be nice to fit our current equipment.




P.S.: Can't people import japanese DVD recorder? Or does the customs say "NO! WE DON'T LIKE YOU! $1,000 CUSTOM FEE" Just curious as why people who want to record in HD don't import them.

If it was unclear what I wanted... Here's a more condensed version:

I'm looking for a DVD Recorder that:

If I hook a console up to a DVD recorder via component cables, and then used the outgoing component jack and put that into my TV... would that work and give me a clean 720p image?

Records in good 480i quality so I can expand the picture to a larger size without the quality difference being too noticeable.

Preferably Black
VCR isn't needed, but not exactly unwanted

General Questions:

Do DVD recorders record in widescreen if the picture is widescreen?

How much could I stretch a 480i (which I believe is DVD quality, maybe be p) image with it still looking decent?

If it was unclear what I wanted... Here's a more condensed version:

I'm looking for a DVD Recorder that:

If I hook a console up to a DVD recorder via component cables, and then used the outgoing component jack and put that into my TV... would that work and give me a clean 720p image?

Records in good 480i quality so I can expand the picture to a larger size without the quality difference being too noticeable.

Preferably Black
VCR isn't needed, but not exactly unwanted

General Questions:

Do DVD recorders record in widescreen if the picture is widescreen?

How much could I stretch a 480i (which I believe is DVD quality, maybe be p) image with it still looking decent?


Canadian or not, you won't be able to get HD resolution from a gaming console if you run it through a DVD recorder :). I just bought an XBOX and am still really excited about it. The standard cable it came with was a split HD component and coax video. I think the only way to record and still get HD resolution to your monitor would be to connect the component to the TV and the coax to the recorder.

Now I am really not sure if you'll be able to record anything. If I were to guess, I'd say that those games must be prety heavily encrypted and no machine will start recording, but I might be wrong.

DVD quality - 480 resolution - recordings are quite good, especially for web site purposes. Probably more resolution than you need. You can stretch it as much as you like, I watch DVD on my projector on a big screen all the time and it looks great to me.

Now I am definitely no expert on XBOX or computers, but I was looking at the xbox forum and they had some amazing looking pictures of halo 3, which people said were "direct feed", not sure what that means, just wondering if there isn't a way to hook up the xbox directly to the computer and capture the video with the pc.

On why people won't import stuff from Japan - they do. You can buy anything and you don't have to declare it as long as it's under certain amount, not sure what that is i think 10 000. There are websites that specialize in Japanese imports. The thing though is that those recorders are insanely expensive in Japan, and imported to America will probably be double, and with all the copyright protection, it may be impossible to record the HD signals anyway, so who would waste so much money for nothing?

On why people won't import stuff from Japan - they do. You can buy anything and you don't have to declare it as long as it's under certain amount, not sure what that is i think 10 000. There are websites that specialize in Japanese imports. The thing though is that those recorders are insanely expensive in Japan, and imported to America will probably be double, and with all the copyright protection, it may be impossible to record the HD signals anyway, so who would waste so much money for nothing? True enough

Now I am definitely no expert on XBOX or computers, but I was looking at the xbox forum and they had some amazing looking pictures of halo 3, which people said were "direct feed", not sure what that means, just wondering if there isn't a way to hook up the xbox directly to the computer and capture the video with the pc.

Direct Feed would be soemthing along the lines of they streaming it over the internet the second it's captured.

Canadian or not, you won't be able to get HD resolution from a gaming console if you run it through a DVD recorder . I just bought an XBOX and am still really excited about it. The standard cable it came with was a split HD component and coax video. I think the only way to record and still get HD resolution to your monitor would be to connect the component to the TV and the coax to the recorder.

Now I am really not sure if you'll be able to record anything. If I were to guess, I'd say that those games must be prety heavily encrypted and no machine will start recording, but I might be wrong.

Would it help to say that I know as a FACT that if I hook my PS3/360 up to a DVD recorder, it can capture the image? Game's are only encrypted if you use HDMI which is a given. Where I'm stuck is that I don't know if there is such thing as component out (I believe there is, but I'm not sure on that and how it'd work since isn't component 1 connection into like 3? I've never seen a component cable :P), and then if I hook up a console to a DVD recorder using the component input, and then use the component output into my TV ( Samsung 32" LNT3253H LCD) if that'd work.

I know I can record if I hook a console into my PC, but the thing is I don't want to play on a 19" screen. Also, there are no capture cards that can record in anything but using s-video/composite.

So, firstly I need to know if by hooking component into a DVD recorder and then using the output into a TV would give me a clear 720p signal or that if by going through a DVD-recorder it automatically is set to a 480 image? I don't see why it doesn't send straight through at 720p, but reduces the quality on the recording.

I then assume I gotta use composite cables (everything but the yellow video cables) or coaxial cables into the DVD recorders input and then use the output of coaxial or composite into my TV (I only got my TV speakers so I don't need coaxial cables for high quality sound anyway)

It will not work like that. You send it through a DVD recorder, max you'll get is 480p. There are only a couple of the previous generation of recorders with component inputs anyway, and none from this generation that I am aware of. Even if there were, they will still be limited to the 480p.

What you are hoping for will simply not happen.

480i, not 480p.

It will not work like that. You send it through a DVD recorder, max you'll get is 480p. There are only a couple of the previous generation of recorders with component inputs anyway, and none from this generation that I am aware of. Even if there were, they will still be limited to the 480p.

What you are hoping for will simply not happen.

So by sending a 720p signal through a DVD recorder the recorder acts as a downscaler to 480i? And then sends the signal back out by "upscaling" it to 720p?

I just don't see why they can't make one that does 720p all the way through, but it just downscales when recording. Well, I guess if I can't get a 720p signal all the way through without it being downscaled... I have no choice and just got to get a decent one... I guess swapping out cables is my only option.

I just don't see why they can't make one that does 720p all the way through, but it just downscales when recording.They can - they just won't. Blame the MPAA.