[Texas_Gal]

I am seriously considering buying and subscribing to TIVO (my cable co is TimeWarner). I want to have the capability to burn my favorite movies/shows for my library at home.


So, here's my question: Should I buy a standalone TIVO and a standalone DVD recorder? If so, is burning a DVD very similar to burning on the old VHS tape (basically pop in the DVD and hit record) or do you have to make sure movie/show fits screen, etc. (I might be making this more diffifult than what it really is) OR should I buy the combo TIVO/DVD recorder? Would someone be willing to explain the pros/cons of either way?


From reading some of these threads it looks like my quality would be better burning from a standalone DVD recorder? Is my assumption correct?

 

[ClarkeBar]

The real advantage to standalone recorder units with hard drives is the flexibility in editing ANY content recorded, even commercial OTA. If you don't plan on recording and archiving on DVD commercial filled content or any other content requiring editing (home movies, etc.) before burning then TIVO units are your best bet.


I don't use TIVO so I can't remark on how it handles copy protection issues specifically when burning to DVD. Recording to the hard drive is not an issue.


Basically burning to DVD requires that the time length of the movie to be burned fits the size of the DVD disc (single layer 4.7GB). There is dual layer (9.4GB - 2 hour (commercial DVD type)) media out there but its expense virtually negates any comparative cost advantage/economic sense for private recording.


Burning to DVD requires one simple consideration...bitrate/quality = time...higher bitrate/quality = less time, lower bitrate/quality = more time

Recording to Hard drive requires no such time calculation check as with DVD unless it is very near full.


Any content meant for burning to single layer DVD running much over 2 hours (SP quality ~ 4.6 bitrate) will require lowering the bitrate/quality accordingly. You can make this decision ahead of time (better) or you can alter it after recording by running a rate conversion dub (worse)...going from higher bitrate to lower...you will lose some quality here. Or you can simply burn at the highest bitrate (~ 9.2 - 1 hour which simulates commercial quality in a single layer DVD) and use more than one disc. Doing this will make you want to own a DVD changer in short order if you don't own one already.


The process sounds more complicated than it is. It comes to you very quickly.

 

[Texas_Gal]

Thanks so much for your explanation! It helped a great deal. At this point I am leaning towards buying a standalone DVD recorder so that I would have editing capability if I decide to get into editing, etc.


By the way, what is commercial OTA?

 

[ClarkeBar]

Sorry...Over-the-Air.


Shorthand for any content from commercial TV no matter what signal---cable, antennae, etc. even though technically OTA refers to antennae signal.


I think you will not regret the standalone recorder decision in the long run. I bought a non-Hard Disk recorder at first because of the great deal on it at the time. But not a month elapsed before I bought another one with a Hard drive. Originally I thought all along of going the TIVO way in some fashion. But having to manually record in order to edit seemed silly after paying for TIVO service. I guess to each his/her own.

 

[Texas_Gal]

Thanks for sharing your experience because I didn't know some of the recorders had hard drives and some didn't. I'll be sure to look for ones with a hard drive. Would you recommend a Progressive Scan?

 

[alert5]

Have you considered ditching cable?


The DirecTiVo digital video recorder (DVR) and a standalone DVD recorder with hard drive are a hard combination to beat for accomplishing your stated objective.

 

[ClarkeBar]

Agree with Alert5. That kind of setup would be hard to beat.


I would certainly recommend progressive scan (most come with that now anyway) whether you can take advantage of it or not with your present set.


Do you currently have a DVD player? If so, what model?


Many prefer to use separate players for playback but I see little if any difference on my newer recorders (both Toshiba) vs. my older player (JVC) or my computer drives. This seems to be more of an issue with those who have players already rated very highly for PQ performance and/or those who feel playback leads to excessive wear and tear on the recorders.


If you don't have one, get a setup disc like AVIA or Video Essentials and play it through your current setup. That will give you a base line of where you are in terms of resolution and picture quality. Then you can compare with any new unit(s) you may buy.

 

[Texas_Gal]

You know, I had not considered DirecTivo but might take a closer look at it. I've heard "horror stories" about reception being bad when it rained or a cloudy day that I didn't look into it any further. Perhaps I will. How does the DirecTivo differ from cable?


I do currently have a Panasonic Progressive Scan DVD player. It's about 2 years old.

 

[alert5]

Texas_Gal,


Rain outages do occur, but it is rare. Here in the Northeast we've had unusually heavy rains all year. The outages we've seen were very short whereas cable outages were often relatively long lasting. I'm talking minutes of bad satellite signal in a year.


We dumped Comcast cable a year ago mainly because of the price gouging. No regrets whatsoever.


Once I added a DVD recorder to the mix (Panasonic E80H), archiving our favorite series and movies to DVD couldn't be easier.


Whatever you do, you will love TiVo.

 

[Texas_Gal]

Alert5,


Thanks for the info! I will seriously consider DirecTivo.

 

[sandpj]

Another vote for D*Tivo. The big advantage over a cable-supplied DVR (digital video recorder) is that the D*Tivo does not lose IQ (image quality) when recorded. Playback is as good as watching it live. You will lose some IQ when outputting to the DVD recorder, but at least you won't be losing it twice (once to cable DVR and again to DVD recorder).


Burning to the DVD recorder is pretty much like the VHS. It's also pretty easy to edit out the junk at beginning/end and commercials. Hit a few more buttons to "finalize" the disk to allow it to be played in any DVD player.


I just added the 400-slot Sony DVD jukebox and I'm pretty well set. Record to D*Tivo and archive selected shows to DVD. Pop them in jukebox and they are readily available. Life is good.


Note: I have lost the D*TV signal for a few minutes during some of the storms here in Houston.


Paul

 

[Texas_Gal]

Thank you Sandpj, I think I've been convinced on the DirecTivo, I didn't realize you lose the IQ twice when you go to Cable DVR and then again to the DVD recorder. The quality was one of the things I was quite concerned with when burning to DVD.


Speaking of DVD's is there a certain DVD that works better than the other. I don't have a lot of knowledge on them but I have noticed that some threads mention DVD-R or DVD-RW (I may have the letters wrong) but which do you recommend to use.

 

[sandpj]

Suggesting which DVD-type to use is right up there with religion and politics!


Either media will work fine. Videohelp.com is a good forum for debating +/- DVD media.


This forum is the best for deciding which recorder best meets your wants/needs. (I wanted a DVD recorder with a hard drive and found the Panasonic E80 on clearance. It happens to use dash "-" media. Very happy with it)


Nothing, absolutely nothing, changes TV viewing more than D*Tivo. You will never watch "live" TV again! Check out Tivocommunity.com for great information.


Paul

 

[Texas_Gal]

Thanks again Sandpj, I really appreciate the tips. I'll check out videohelp.com.