Recommendations for DVD recorder (specific requirements)

Originally Posted by DigaDo

Dispell any notion of purchasing a VHS/DVD combo recorder for transfer of videotaped recordings to DVD. The last satisfactory VHS/DVD combo recorders for VHS to DVD transfers were the Panasonic ES series combo recorders last produced in 2006.

What are your current options?

For direct videotape to DVD transfers connect a VCR to an input on a DVD recorder and record from that input.

The best current transfer method is to connect a VCR to an input on a Magnavox 2160 HDD/DVD recorder and transfer videotaped recordings to its hard drive, edit the material (if you like) and high-speed dub the material to DVD.

See the first post in Wajo's sticky thread as the gateway to a wealth of information that should answer whatever questions you may have:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=940657

Originally Posted by CitiBear

Please don't take this personally, lemur21, but the reason all the good recorders were pulled from the market three years ago (leaving only the useless combo recorders) is that people believe the tools at cNet actually know what the hell they're talking about. They tell people what they want to hear, that the Sony VHS/DVD combo is "just great", because the average consumer is utterly convinced the combo recorder is exactly what they want "oooh, look honey, only one machine for VHS and DVD, we can copy our tapes and get rid of the clutter..."

Well, it isn't true, combo recorders are crap and have been since day one (except for a few old Panasonics long discontinued). Current models are worse than ever, the upgrade to ATSC tuning has destroyed what little functionality they once had. Our DTV system is faulty, transmitting all sorts of glitch signals that recorders with tuners interpret as record restrict signals. This means they often won't record anything: they stop in the middle of a show or movie. If that doesn't discourage you, the damn ATSC tuners constantly disturb the accuracy of the recorder clock timers, causing freeze-ups and other failures. These problems afflict almost every single model with an ATSC tuner, worst of all the Sony combos. There are more reports here on AVS of horribly disappointed Sony combo buyers than any other product. Oh, yeah, one last thing: todays combo recorders are not particularly interested in letting you copy your tapes to DVD. They flatly refuse to copy any commercial Hollywood tapes you might own, and they'll lock out quite a few home recorded tapes as well, because they perceive false "record inhibit" signals in every minor tape glitch.

So forget the combo. People at this point are giving away VCRs to get rid of them: spend ten minutes looking thru your local Craigs List and buy a mint used Panasonic for $20 from your neighbor up the street. Hell, do you have family? Friends? Ask around: maybe you can get two for free- the squeaky wheel gets the VCR. For the DVD recorder, if you expect to actually record anything you need one of the two existing models still available that are "known good": the Magnavox H2160 or the Panasonic EZ-28. They cost about the same price, the Magnavox is the better buy because it includes a hard drive which makes tape dubs much easier (you can trim unwanted bits, edit things together or seperate them before making the DVD, put in chapter marks so you can jump to your favorite parts, etc.) Look at the top permanent thread in this recorder forum: its about the Magnavox and how to get the most out of it. There's a reason for that: its pretty much been the only recorder over the last two years with an ATSC tuner proven to not be a complete trainwreck. Order one from Wal*Mart online. If you insist on buying the Sony instead, at least buy from a store with a 30-day return/refund policy: you will regret it, if not within a week definitely within a month. Make sure you can get your money back.

Originally Posted by CitiBear

If you're thinking long-term, forget everything but the Panasonics and the Magnavox. If you can afford the Magnavox, buy it: the hard drive feature is priceless and once you use it you'll be thrilled you took the chance. The tunerless Panasonics are more reliable the the models with tuner, the Magnavox is as reliable as the better Panasonic. Pick whichever one you can afford.

Current Sony, Samsung, LG, JVC and Toshiba all have issues and will bite you sooner or later. Unless your budget is VERY small, and you get a VERY cheap price, they arent worth the risk. Magnavox or Panasonic would be the best way to go.

Originally Posted by CitiBear

It is unclear which Magnavox is in that promotion, but from the picture it looks to be one of the lesser-quality models (there have been a few clunkers) and the ad does not indicate ATSC tuning. For the same price, they have the Magnavox 3505, a fairly reliable model with ATSC tuner that got decent reviews here on AVS. The major complaint lodged against it is its faulty auto-clock feature interferes with many functions, but if you set the clock manually its about as bug-free a recorder you can find under $100. A firmware update can be downloaded which fixes the auto-clock feature, and refurbished models may already have had it applied. Either way its no big deal, most recorders have auto-clock issues so setting the time manually is always a good idea.

Originally Posted by timtofly

If I were you I would not move any TV off of the VHS to DVD in MHO, unless you are going to watch them more than 4 0r 5 times. You could transfer home recordings, but anything else is probably a waste of time. If you have basic cable and are still getting the lower 30 channels in analog, some of the staions like TBS are showing reruns from the last 4 years and some even in blocks of one whole season. A newer DVDR with a Hard drive will record to the hard drive up to and may even be more than 12 hours at a time. You can then divide these recordings and put them onto DVD's in automatic high speed as opposed to real time. I am not against transfering from tapes if you have the time, it just seems like a waste of time and money. You can always watch a tape if you keep your VCR's as backup.

Replace one VCR at a time as you have the available resources. Once you start on the Hard Drive to DVD path, you will probably wonder why you ever taped a VHS tape.

Originally Posted by CitiBear

Yes, the auto-clock feature automatically searches for a time signal so you don't have to set the clock or remember DST changes. Unfortunately auto-clock doesn't seem to work that well, especially on newer models with ATSC tuners: set the clock manually once every few months and you should be better off.

You are in an odd situation with so many VCRs and a limited budget to replace them. One DVD recorder with hard drive can do the work of multiple non-HDD recorders, so if you get the Magnavox H2160 you'll give yourself some leeway. If the goal is to get rid of tapes piling up, you should just stop using the vcrs, because the tapes will only pile up again after you transfer the current stack of 50. The Magnavox HDD can hold between 60-100 hours at its better-quality recording speeds, approx the same capacity as 50 VHS tapes recorded at SP. While it is recording to HDD, it can still be used to play DVDs, giving you additional time management options. Recordings made on the Magnavox HDD can be backed up to DVDs at high speed (about 20 mins per DVD), so if you start running out of space on the HDD its quick and easy to offload to DVDs.

So you actually might not even need more than the Mag H2160 and perhaps one other less expensive recorder like the Mag 3505 to handle your recording needs. Instead of buying a DVD recorder for each room, just get good inexpensive players instead (Phillips makes nice ones in the $40 price range). Whenever you want to catch up on the backlog, view it off the H2160 hard drive or burn a couple DVDs from it and bring them to play in another room. If you feel you want to keep the VCRs around, you would need an ATSC converter box for each one if recording off-air. The two best adapters are the Zenith DTT901 and Channel Master CM7000. Since your priority is to cut down on clutter but still be able to stockpile TV shows for later viewing, its probably a bad idea to try and keep the VCRs going: the money you would spend on multiple ATSC converters would be better spent on the Magnavox and a couple of DVD players.

Originally Posted by DigaDo

By scrolling down in the listing the Magnavox is identified as model ZC352MW8. The owner's manual may be downloaded at the Funai website. The specifications show a NTSC/ATSC tuner.

I have no personal experience with this model.

The problem with so many Funai-built recorders is sample variations and/or quality control.

I do have personal experience with two Funai-built "450" combo recorders. The first is a Sylvania ZV450SL8 of April 2007 manufacture. This attractively-styled machine had an unreliable clear QAM tuner and several other problems. It was given away. The second is a Magnavox ZV450MW8A of August 2008 manufacture. This machine has a clunky appearance but is somewhat similar to the Sylvania in a number of respects. This Magnavox 450 is a good performer with a reliable clear QAM tuner. Another poster had two similar Funai-built Toshiba combo recorders. One of those Toshiba machines was problematic (too sensitive "copy protection") and the other, manufactured in August 2008 like my Magnavox 450, provides good performance.

My Magnavox 2080 HDD/DVD recorder manufactured in July 2007 is a flawless performer and has a reliable clear QAM tuner. Yet, I've read of other posters having difficulties with 2080 models. I have a Philips 3576 HDD/DVD recorder manufactured in February 2008. The clear QAM tuner in this 3576 is useless--the machine has since been set up for ATSC (antenna) reception where it is a satisfactory performer. I have two 2160 HDD/DVD recorders of May and December 2008 manufacture. Both these 2160 models have good clear QAM tuners. I have read other posters' reports of clear QAM difficulties with the 2160 "A" versions of 2009 manufacture.

You pay your money and you take your chances.