$96.88 Magnavox MSR90D6 multi-format DVD recorder at Sams Club... - Page 2

By the way, this is one of the most informative forums I've seen on this subject. You guys may be too smart for me!

I bought the Sylvania DVR90VF DVD/VCR combo unit at Sears for $149, because I couldn't find just a DVDR without the VCR made by Sylvania, Emerson, or Funai, and I was surprised, & pleased, by the included extra features, user friendliness, and decent Pic, & sound quality. It appears intuitive, and works fine just as you would want. If I had seen the Magnavox made by Funai first, I would have bought that instead because of the extra features, one of which is all format recording, and it's compact black, & silver, stylish looks.

Of course the Pioneer is probably made better, but if I remember correctly, it is "plain vanilla" as far as features are concerned, and twice the price.

Thanks, MikDee. Funai seems to get slammed alot by people who don't own their products. Most of their current dvd recorders are getting very positive feedback from users. I probably wouldn't have looked twice at the Magnavox if it were a Philips/Magnavox.

Sam's does offer extended warranty plans.

Online it looks like $5.26 for one year and $14.88 for 3 years on electronics up to $150.

7 years ago I bought a Funai 4HD VCR from WalMart that was some $80 (IIRC) that used to record 4 hrs/day for over a year without a single problem, and probably still works today.

Thanks for the heads up. Looks like I'm gonna have to get one before everyone realizes what a great deal it is!

A little additional info on my ongoing evaluation of this recorder.

I just recorded the 10 Commandments off TV. Recorded onto a DVD-R disk to see how the editing worked on the minus disks and to see how the compatability is after editing. Really long movie so had to record in the 6 hour mode. I was really surprised, the quality was not bad at all, no pixilation and not bad sharpness and color. Definately better than a VCR.

In the +/-R mode, you can not create new titles or split titles like you can in the +/-RW mode. What you can do is create chapter marks at the beginning and end of commercials and then hide that chapter so that it is skipped over on playback. Worked perfectly and on playback on the Magnavox, it skipped right over the commercials as if they were not there. I then finalized the disk to try it in my Toshiba player. The disk was compatable and played just fine except that on that player, the commercials were nor skipped. Guess that it is only recognized that way on the recorder. The thumbnail that I used for the main title displayed correctly on both units. If you want to cut out commercials for use on other players, you need to use +/-RW disks, create the commercial as a title, then delete that title. These disks also play on the Toshiba and the deleted commercials do not display. It plays as if they were never there on any player. If you use a DVD+RW, it does not need to be finalized to be compatable, but a DVD-RW does need to be finalized. Other than that, I have found no difference in the two formats on this recorder.

This recorder gets the nod over my minus format Pioneer for disk compatability in all formats in other players. The way it treats all disks as +VR mode seems to create that compatability whether you use DVD+/-R/RW and edit or not. Have not had a recording failure or an incompatable disk yet on any disk format.

Thanks for the update. Sounds like a budget priced gem.

Interesting, inexpensive recorder.


If you hit the skip or chapter button on your remote will it skip over that commercial to the next chapter point? I do something similar in my home movies that I create. I put a hidden menu loaded with chapter points and sprinkle these chapter points through the movie. Later when viewing the skip button will just skip to any chapter point.


Interesting and not what I would expect. Have you checked to see if this recorder sets the BookType to DVD-ROM for +R / +RW discs? That might explain why they playable.

Is it safe to assume that this player alllows you to record material saved on a dvr from premium channels like hbo and showtime? Unbelievable that you pay for these services and some players won't allow you to record what you have paid to watch. Any info would be greatly appreciated, and will be the deal breaker for me.

I just picked one up about an hour ago. Can't wait until I have time to play! Being a newbie with dvd recorders, I'll probably only be able to tell you if it works!

Yes, that will work. With this recorder, you can set chapter at a set interval such as 5, 10 20 minutes etc. In the editing, you can delete any or all of these chapter marks and insert your own whereever you want. on this recorder it will skip over the hidden chapters, on other players, you would just skip to the next chaper exactly as you said

Do not know how they accomplish the +/- formatting to +VR but read an article that some manufactureres including Phillips have burners that automatically change the booktype via firmware built into the recorder. You could be right on that too. I am just happy that my edited disks will work on other players as my -VR disks on my Pioneer will not play on my other players. However they trick the player into thinking either format is a DVD-ROM works.

So far I have not had any copyright problems recording anything through a DishNetwork 811 high def receiver. Best bet would be to try it with your provider and your equipment. From other posts I have read, ceertain brands of recorders seem to think everything is copy protected. You can always take it back to Sams.

I saw one of these last week at a local Sam's and decided to Google it for some research, which led me to this discussion. I picked one up earlier this evening based primarily on the comments here. My first impression is very positive.

I just finished up my first test recording and playback was pretty good on LP mode. I need to read up on the editing, but it seems user friendly, as are the other menu options... translucent screens are nice. I like how it informs you what it's doing, "writing to disc" etc. Running CATV through the unit's tuner is giving me a noticeably sharper picture than straight through my bedroom unit Philips TV. Seems to be a lot of bang for the hundred bucks here.

My only gripe initially is a somewhat weak remote. It's not the worst I've seen, but a few buttons could have been shaped differently and/or placed in different locations.

This unit apparently is being carried at Wal-Mart for about $2 more, so that's good news for people without access to Sam's. I compared them before my purchase and they appeared to be identical except for the model number, but that's a common practice for Sam's and Wal-Mart to differentiate a product.

Thanks to everyone that has posted on this unit, the info was quite helpful. Perhaps I'll be able to add a bit more detail after I've had some time with this, but for now I certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a low-cost DVD recorder.

I too bought the MAG MSR90D6, I tried recording in 4hr mode, finalized disk, and pb in same recorder and all was fine nice video, BUT no audio when playing on my laptop or desktop, video fine but no audio, I used DVD-R Verbatim, also purchased 100 bulk pack 8X for 29.95, I will try to record same 4hr mode and see if I get audio, will let you know when finished


, Ron

the last msg I forgot to mention the 100 pack is DVD+R, that is what I will be using next
Ron

ok, I tried the DVD+R Verbatim disk, no audio on laptop and dektop, but audio ok if played back on the MSR90D6?, anyone have any ideas why?
Thanks
Ron

Force, By any chance do you know the model number of the Wal-Mart units? Thanks.

I'm going from memory, but I think it was MWR10D6. S for Sam's and W for Wal-Mart makes sense, but I'm not sure about the 90D6 designation versus 10D6. The units appeared identical. They did come with their own manuals and there was no mention of any other models like some manuals do. Nice manual, too. 80 pages, fairly well laid out. No multiple languages, it's all English except for one page of Spanish instruction on the back page... kinda weird just that one page.

The Wal-Mart I checked had the units on an end cap, almost hidden actually. It's like they just got them in because they didn't even have one amongst all the other recorders and players. The date of manufacture on my MSR90D6 unit is Feb. 2006.

I'd double-check the cabling first. Beyond that I'd look into the program you're using on the computer for playback and its audio settings. There are also audio output settings in the menu for the MSR90D6.

I hope you figure it out.

I called Mag and they answered and fed me to Funi, they told me it was my problem, I also have Lite-on recorder and it rec and pb fine, and plays back on both the laptop and desktop, I'm testing on 3hr mode now, also the gal that answered the phone said I'm using the wrong disks, but it states in manual that I am using right disks Verbatim DVD+R 8x.
Thanks for all your help, if anyone can figure this out would greatly appreciate
Thanks
Ron

Force, Thanks & I checked my local Wal-Mart today, a very small store, but they din't have any & no one seemed to know what I was talking about & I din't have time to make them go & check their computers.

The next town over has a really Big store & Video Dept. so if I get a chance I'll see if I can get over there. Thanks Again.

After reading your post, I grabbed a DVD-R that I had recorded on the Magnavox. Popped it in my Dell laptop and it played perfectly, sound, chapters, thumbnails and all. I would check the DVD software to see if there is an audio flag of some type that you can change. Also, double click the volume icon in the tray on your computer and make sure nothing is muted or turned completely down. If it has sound on playback on a DVD player, it recorded the sound.

I would suggest with any DVD recorder that you do not record in more than the 2 hour mode. It will record with fewer lines of resolution. You will see a definate difference in quality especially if you have a large screen TV. I find that the 4 hour mode on this unit as well as my Pioneer are fine for time shifting, but I will not use it for something I want to keep unless it just won't fit.

What kind of discs you use will have no effect on whether the audio works or not, assuming the disc can be used at all with the recorder and player.

You need to determine if it was a recording problem or a playback problem. Try to play back a know-to-be good DVD on the setup you are using that has problems. If that works, but the disc in question doesn't, then it would seem that the audio didn't get recorded. Then you will have to look into your recording setup, how is the audio getting to it, is it through the cable, using the recorder's tuner, or via RCA jacks (red/white). When you make the recording, and are watching the material being recorded, do you hear the audio? When you play back the disc on the same machine that created it, do you hear audio?

This is the type of process of elimination that you should go through to isolate the source of the problem.

I can't say for sure. I think the Wal-Mart model had progressive scan, but I can't absolutely recall that it did. If I happen to go in there again this weekend I'll be sure to check it out.

Can I assume that progressive scan only effects playback and if I have no intentions of using the recorder as a player it will not effect a DVD recorded and played back on a player that has progressive scan?

You're right, progressive scan only affects playback.

All consumer DVD recorders accept only 480i (interlaced) NTSC TV signals as inputs for recording. Even these recordings playback fine on a DVD player with progressive scan output (480p).

Very nice thread! I am downloading the user manual as we speak. Since multi-tuner DVD recorders are only science fiction right now, creating a virtual multi-tuner system with multiple recorders is one good way of doing it, and affordable reliable dvd recorders are always a good way to built a system like that!

On the format discussion, I think this is rather consistent. The traditional "-" manufacturers like Pioneer and Panasonic treat +R/+RW discs like -R, and do not offer any special "+" features (even though they use a +format). So it makes sense that a "+" format company like Funai would be treating the -R/-RW like "+", and taking advantages of the "+" features such as chapter hiding to remove commercials. As other speculated, I agree on the speculation that they may be using some trick to convince DVD players to play a -R(+VR) or -RW(+VR).

The chapter creation/customization feature sounds like a very handy/practical feature for those interested in doing that.

Theoretically a number of the new dvd players of the last 2-3 years should be playing unfinalized -RW(VR) and +RW. In some threads, some people have mentioned that finalizing -RW(VR) improved compatibility somewhat, even though it is not mandatory. It would be a nice test to do if someone has a boatload of recent dvd players. I only have one :-)