DVR Recommendation

If I were doing it, I would go for #2.


I have a couple of questions:


1. Why would #2 be less efficient for VHS to DVD transfers? I do this with my E100 Panasonic and I highly recommend this option. Most of my old VHS recordings need some color correction, brightness and contrast adjustments. This would be impossible with a combo unit, seems to me. I use a Sima SCC color corrector which does a good job and only cost $100. But I bought it new 6 years ago so maybe it isn't available any more but Sima has other models that may work as well?


2. Why do you want to record both - and + formats? My E100 only records to -R and -RAM. After over 2 years of heavy use, I have never felt the desire to record on a + format disc. This may be desirable for a DVD player but not on a recorder as far as I can tell.


Dave

Well we are just wrapping a similar but not identical discussion over here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=622691


Yours differs with the additional requirements of +/- and R/W, as well as DV Input and multiple copies.


If you go with an HDD/DVD Recorder that has DV Input, +/- and R/W support, as well as a good selection of Flexible Recording bitrates, that's one potential solution. Once you get the video on the Hard Disc Drive at the right bitrate, you can quickly burn multiple copies using High-Speed Copy. Downside will be that you'll need to know in advance what bitrate is right for fitting the resulting video on a DVD maximally, for best Picture Quality. Or just keep each video no more than an hour and use the maximum bitrate. Other downside will be limited accuracy in editing since using High-Speed Copy tends to not allow Frame-Accurate editing. But if all you do is trim the start/finish of the video that's usually not a problem.


That seems to address your needs assuming you find the right model of HDD/DVD Recorder that will meet your specific requirements of DV Input and +/- and R/W.

Not option 1. First of all, the combo box is much less convenient to use if you want any flexibility beyond simultaneous start. Most combos don't even let you play-pause-stop-resume the tape while recording, let alone provide for any kind of external correctors/enhancers/macrovision-disabling as was mentioned. If you're even thinking about making copies you really need to consider the HDD so you can do high-speed dubs to additional discs. In addition, if you think you'll ever want to edit what you've transfered you really need the hard drive.


Option 3. JVC makes one, but I'm leary of so many things being in one box. And then you have the deficiencies of the VCR and DVD being in one box.


This might not be a popular opinion, but I really like the LiteOn 5005 I have, which has no problem with +RW and -RW media. With your list of wants I'd not hesitate to get the LiteOn 5045. It uses the very impressive LSI encoder and has a firmware mod that makes it region free and disables macrovision.


Success in whatever you decide,


Tim

I have shared my DVD-R's with at least 50 different people at my Church. Not one has come back and told me they couldn't play my DVD-R's. I suppose there could be one or two that couldn't play them and didn't want to hurt my feelings, but I doubt that.


I know that there are old players that will play pressed DVD's and won't play burned DVD's. I doubt that there are many players that won't play DVD-R's but will play DVD+R's. If there are, they are such a low percentage that I wouldn't worry about it.


I use a Panasonic E100 and burn 4X Verbatum DVD-R's. I have developed complete confidence that they will play in all my friends DVD players. Probably changing brands of DVD-R's will do as much as changing to DVD+R's when it comes to attaining near 100% playability.


I may be the only one that feels that way but I sure don't mind not being able to burn DVD+R's.


Dave