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New DVDirect burner enables users to transfer home videos directly from camcorders to DVD discs with or without a computer

http://gfx.cdfreaks.com/img/1097596077.jpg


SAN JOSE,Calif., Oct. 12, 2004 - Sony is unlocking new levels of home video enjoyment with the world's first DVD burner capable of stand-alone, real-time DVD recording, as well as computer-attached burning.


Sony's new DVDirectâ„¢ (pronounced DVD Direct) device can connect directly to a camcorder or VCR for transferring tape-based video footage to DVD for playback on most home DVD players and PC DVD-ROM drives.


Camcorder sales continue to soar, marking a significant opportunity for the DVDirect device to help camcorder owners transfer home movies onto DVD without the complexity of using a computer. This allows DVD recording to be extended to a broader group of consumers who might otherwise consider the task too daunting.


The DVDirect burner can also be attached to a PC, and comes with the necessary software for advanced DVD video authoring projects, as well as the creation of data, music, and video DVDs and CDs.


"Preserving precious moments onto DVD has never been easier than with the DVDirect burner," said Robert DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded storage products in Sony Electronics' IT Products Division. "Users can simply connect their camcorder to the recorder, hit the record button, and out comes a DVD disc that they can pop into their home DVD player. Meanwhile, computer-savvy users can attach the DVDirect device to a PC to perform all of the common tasks characteristic of computer-attached burners."


"Sony continues to be a pioneer in the DVD-recordable market by simplifying the DVD burning process," said Wolfgang Schlichting, research director for removable storage for IDC. "With DVD-recordable speeds reaching their limit, Sony has taken the next step in market innovation with DVDirect.


The DVDirect device can burn up to 12 hours of high-quality MPEG-2 video onto compatible double layer DVD+R DL discs or up to six hours onto standard single layer DVD+R or DVD+RW discs. The device can also automatically insert chapters onto DVDs through DVD+Video Recording (+VR), or "start and stop" recording, so users can jump to specific parts of a DVD during playback and edit video footage on the fly.


Less to Buy and Less to Set Up


Unlike computer-attached burners currently on the market that require a separate capture card and a computer to perform the same functions, Sony's DVDirect burner features built-in real-time video capturing and hardware MPEG-2 encoding to quickly deliver high-quality DVDs. Consumers who want to transfer their analog tapes to DVD can save money on extra hardware expenditures by choosing the all-in-one DVDirect device.


Computer-Attached Recording


When attached to a PC with a USB 2.0 connection, the DVDirect burner also supports dual-format, double-layer burning. With 16X maximum recording speeds for DVD+R, users can burn a full write-once disc in about six minutes. Double layer burning allows consumers to record up to four hours of MPEG-2 video (at 4.7 Mbps) and up to 8.5GB of data onto a single-sided, double layer disc. Additionally, Sony's DVDirect burner can support 4X DVD±RW, 48X CD-R and 24X CD-RW recording speeds, so users can select the speed and media that best suits their needs.


Users can benefit from many other features when they connect the DVDirect device to a computer, including the ability to jazz up their home movies with special effects or music, or to make copies of home movies using a master DVD.


DVD and CD Software Suite


Sony's DVDirect device comes bundled with an award-winning Nero® software suite from Ahead for computer-attached operation. The package features DVD video authoring software and DVD/CD burning software, as well as packet-writing software for users to easily record files and folders by dragging them to the icon of a DVD+RW/CD-RW disc. Additional elements include DVD-Video playing software, backup software, virtual disc drive software, management/jukebox software, disc label creation software and drive tool software. All tasks and applications are accessible via the unique Nero StartSmart launcher, which serves as the ultimate command-center, giving the user one-click access to all programs in the package.


Availability and Pricing


The DVDirect burner is expected to ship in November for an estimated selling price of around $ 300. Sony DVD/CD rewritable drives are sold through resellers and retailers nationwide, mail order catalogs, and select online shopping sites, including sonystyle.com.


For this product, Sony will provide "worry-free" installation, along with toll-free customer and technical service, Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CT. The company will also provide a one-year limited warranty from the original date of purchase. See product literature and actual warranty for details.


Sony DVDirect (VRD-VC10)


Specifications for Sony's New DVDirect Burner (Model VRD-VC10):


Stand-Alone Recording Mode


Supported Media for Stand-alone Operation:


DVD+R, DVD+R DL (Double Layer), DVD+RW


DVD Recording Mode: DVD+VR


Supported Video Format: MPEG2


Automatic Chaptering: 5, 10 or 15 minutes


Synchronized Recording:


Auto-start/stop recording with most camcorders/VCRs


Recording Times:


HQ (single layer: 1 hour, double layer: 2 hours)


SP (single layer: 2 hours, double layer: 4 hours)


SLP (single layer: 6 hours, double layer: 12 hours)


Supported Sound Format: Dolby® Digital (AC3)


Inputs:


Composite video (yellow RCA jack) x 1


S-Video x 1


Analog audio 2ch (red and white RCA jacks)


Computer-Attached Recording Mode


Supported Media Types & Speeds:


DVD+R DL: 2.4X CLV (max.) writing


DVD+R: 16X CAV (max.) writing


DVD+RW: 4X CLV (max.) rewriting


DVD-R: 8X Z-CLV (max.) writing


DVD-RW: 4X CLV (max.) rewriting


DVD-ROM reading (single layer): 16X CAV (max.)


DVD-ROM reading (dual layer): 8X CAV (max.)


CD-R: 48X P-CAV (max.) writing


CD-RW: 24X Z-CLV (max.) rewriting


CD-ROM: 48X CAV (max) reading


Interface: Hi Speed USB 2.0


OS Support: Compatible with Microsoft Windows® 2000 / Windows XP


Burst Data Transfer Rate: High Speed USB 2.0: 480 Mbit/s max


Random Access Time: 140 ms (CD-ROM), 135 ms (DVD-ROM)


Buffer Memory: 8 MB


Buffer Under-run Error Protection Technology: Sony Power-Burn conformed


Compatible Disc Formats: DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD+R DL, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD-ROM, CD-DA, Video CD, Photo CD (multi-session), CD TEXT, CD Extra, and others


Recording Methods (CD): Disc at Once, Track at Once, Session at Once, Packet Writing


(DVD): Random Access Write (DVD+RW/DVD-RW/CD-RW), Sequential Write (DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW/CD-R/RW)


Dimensions: 164 x 66 x 234 mm (H x W x L)


# # #


Features and specifications subject to change without notice. Non-metric weights and measurements are approximate.
 

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I agree with Jeff, it's about time. I was in Fry's a few months ago buying blank DVDs, and noticed an older couple was trying to figure out how to get their home videos to DVD without using a computer. The salesman wasn't very helpful (as usual), so I told them that their best bet was a standalone DVD recorder, but that it was going to be kind of expensive compared to a sub $100 DVD burner for a computer. This new Sony product would have been perfect for them.


I thought it looked really good until I noticed that it doesn't have Firewire. That would have made it a killer product; transfer directly from you MiniDV camera to DVD via Firewire so you don't loose any picture quality (except for MPEG compression).
 

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I too noticed the lack of Firewire. The GoVideo DVD recorder has a Firewire plug right on the front for direct recording of camcorder video, and it's a lot cheaper. I know they both end up with MPEG2, but somehow it seems a direct digital input would have been the right thing here.


That said, my new Panasonic DV camcorder can just as easily off-load video through USB 2.0 as it can with Firewire. Maybe Sony is planning to support that.


Bye. :cool:
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
Doesn't addition of Firewire mean royalty payment to Apple?
 

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Like the royality to apple wouldn't mean much when you think of all the other royalities they have to pay just for DVD support. And yes sony is kickin' themselves for not getting the DVD was was the standard. They're still trying with hd-dvd, but not looking for the ones that always try to reinvent the wheel.
 

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I can't be totally sure of this, but most gear with what we are calling Firewire, is called IEEE-1394. The exception is Sony and Apple, who have iLink and Firewire. I somehow doubt a licensing fee is involved or relevant here.


Bye. :cool:
 

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CrunchyDoodle, I believe there are parts of the IEEE-1394 that use stuff that Apple has patents for. So... to use IEEE-1394 you need the Apple parts and that will cost you.


I could be wrong, but that's how I remember it.
 
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