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FAQ
- DVD Recorders
The era of the VCR is slowly
fading (although VCRs will be around for quite some time) and the era of the DVD is now
solidly entrenched, especially now that recordable DVD is available. As DVD
recorders become more popular and affordable, the following FAQ may help
consumers.
Can I record TV shows with a DVD-Video
player?
No, DVD-Video players are only--players. They can only play back
pre-recorded DVD-Video discs and audio CDs. To record
your own DVDs, you will need a standalone DVD recorder, or a
computer with a DVD recordable drive.
Are
DVD recorders available yet?
Yes. The first consumer DVD
recorders were available as early as August 2000. As of
early 2004, there were many standalone DVD recorders available
from Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Toshiba plus lesser
known brands and their prices start around $200. Some
models have a high-capacity built-in hard disk drive to record
TV shows and a DVD record drive to archive/record only the
programming you want to keep. Unfortunately, there
are three major recordable DVD formats competing to become the
standard recordable DVD format. See DVD
recorder models. What
are the recordable DVD formats? There are three
major recordable DVD formats (with five variations total):
-
DVD-R/RW
format, with its record-once DVD-R variant and its
re-writable DVD-RW variant
-
DVD+R/RW
format, with its record-once DVD+R variant and its
re-writable DVD+RW variant
-
DVD-RAM
re-writable format
See recording formats
No one format has yet emerged as
the single recordable DVD standard and in 2005 another two
formats are emerging for High-Definition DVD, Blu-ray and
HD-DVD.
Which
is the best recordable DVD format?
All three formats have certain advantages and
disadvantages, but any one of them will work fine as long as
you are aware of the limitations in compatibility and the
capabilities of each.
Should
I buy a DVD recorder now?
If you are aware of the three
competing recordable
DVD formats and still want to take the plunge and invest
in a DVD recorder to replace your aging VHS VCR, then by all
means buy one. The picture quality is excellent.
Price: DVD recorders are now around
$300. You can buy a good DVD
recorder for about $300-$500. Prices will continue to
drop as the technology matures, and manufacturers and formats
compete. In late 2005, High-Definition DVD recorders with
backwards compatibility with standard DVDs are expected to be
available, but for a higher price. You can record HDTV shows
or standard TV using higher capacity discs.
How
do I edit home video footage from camcorder
and author a professional-looking DVD for playback on any
DVD-Video player or computer DVD-ROM drive?
If your primary goal is to edit
your collection of home videos to make a “finished” home video
on DVD, your best bet is to invest in a computer-based video
editing and DVD authoring system, which consists of the
relatively new and powerful computer, with a DVD recordable drive, and a
video editing and DVD authoring software package.
Alternatively, if you just want to
transfer your camcorder footage to a DVD for archiving and
viewing purposes, then a standalone DVD recorder should be
adequate. Editing functions with a
standalone DVD recorder are limited, compared to a
computer-based video editing and DVD authoring system.
Can I transfer home video from my
camcorder to DVD for viewing and sharing?
Yes. If you have a computer,
a recordable DVD drive, and a video editing and DVD authoring
software package,
then you can transfer your home video from your camcorder
to your computer and record it to a recordable DVD disc.
If you have an analog camcorder
(8mm, Hi-8, VHS, VHS-C), then you will also need an analog
(video and audio) capture card for your computer, to transfer
your video from your camcorder to your computer via S-Video
(preferred) or composite
video cables.
If you have a digital camcorder
(miniDV, microDV, or Digital-8), then you will need a IEEE
1394 "Firewire" interface (i.LINK or DV input) to transfer the
video in digital form. This preserves the pristine
digital picture, and requires a "Firewire" or i.LINK
cable. The camcorder may use a 4-pin connector, while
your computer may use a 6-pin connector. Look for these
connections and buy the right "Firewire" or i.LINK cable.
You can simply transfer the video
to DVD, or your can perform some editing before you record it
to DVD. Follow the instructions of your DVD authoring or
video editing software package.
How
can I transfer my home videos on VHS tapes to DVD?
You can either do
it yourself or send it out to a third-party vendor who
will professionally
transfer your VHS home videos to DVD.
To do it
yourself, you will need either:
-
a standalone DVD recorder, or
-
a computer with a recordable DVD
drive, and a video editing and DVD authoring software
package
Of course, in either case, you will
need a VHS VCR.
With a standalone DVD recorder,
connect your VHS VCR to your DVD recorder using S-Video
(preferred) or composite
video connection. For audio, use an analog stereo
RCA connection. Then synchronize the playback of your
home video on the VHS VCR and the recording of your DVD
recorder. Make sure the recordable DVD disc can record
the entire duration of your VHS video tape. To maximize
the recording time on the recordable DVD disc, choose one of
the slower recording speeds (that yields longer recording
times). The resultant lower video quality should be
sufficient to match the VHS video quality of your original
home video.
With a computer-based system, you
can get really professional-looking results. You will
need a recordable DVD drive and a DVD authoring software
package.
If you want to send it out to have it done
professionally, check your local phone book for video
transfer services or try internet-based professional
video transfer services:
Remember to have a backup copy of
any home video VHS tape that you send out for professional
transfer. In case it gets lost or damaged, you would
still have a copy of your precious home video.
How
do I archive video footage (.MPEG) files downloaded from the
web and play them back on my DVD-Video player or computer
DVD-ROM drive?
If you want to archive video
footage from the web or make them playable on your DVD-Video
player or computer DVD-ROM drive, some computer-based video
editing and DVD authoring software packages will allow you to
make Video
CD (VCD) discs that are playable on most DVD-Video players
and computer DVD-ROM drives. Make sure your DVD-Video
player or computer DVD-ROM drive is compatible with the Video
CD format. To make Video CD discs, you will need a
computer with a CD-R burner/drive and some blank CD-R discs.
If your DVD-Video player can play
back
Super
Video CD (SVCD) discs, then this is a better choice since
it offers better video and audio quality. To make Super
Video CD discs, you will also need a computer with a CD-R
burner/drive and some blank CD-R discs.
Alternatively, you can also burn
recordable DVD discs, but this the more expensive approach
given the higher prices of blank recordable DVD discs.
Additionally, the picture quality of internet-downloaded video
is usually inferior to that which DVD can provide, so it is
also considered overkill for this purpose. This more
expensive approach should only be used if your DVD-Video
player or computer DVD-ROM drive cannot play back the Video
CD format.
Can
I use my computer's CD-R/RW drive to create DVDs?
No. Your computer's CD-R/RW
drive or "burner" can only make CD-R and CD-RW discs.
They cannot possibly create any of the recordable DVD
discs. To create recordable DVD discs, you will need a
dedicated DVD drive for the appropriate
recordable DVD format (e.g., DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, or DVD-RAM).
Can
I use my computer's CD-R/RW drive to create Video CDs that can
be viewed on my DVD-Video player?
Yes, you can use your computer's
CD-R/RW drive in conjunction with a DVD authoring software
package that supports output to CD-R media, formatted as
Video
CDs.
How can
I view video clips that I have downloaded from the internet on
my DVD-Video player?
You can use your computer's CD-R/RW
drive to create a Video CD with the video clip. Using the Video CD format takes advantage of
the relatively cheap CD-R blank disc. The video clip has
to be transcoded (converted) to the MPEG-1 format, if not
already in that format (such video clips have the file
extension of ".mpg" or ".mpeg"), so make sure the video
editing software package has this capability.
Additionally, make sure that your DVD player can play back
Video CDs.
What is a DVD recorder and how is it different from a DVD burner?
A DVD recorder is a standalone unit that resembles and functions
much
like a VCR. All DVD recorders can record from any analog video source (some can
also record from digital camcorders via firewire, iLink etc.). Like a VCR, DVD recorders all
have Audio/Video inputs as well as built-in TV tuner for recording TV shows.
A DVD burner refers to a unit that is either an external add-on or internal
DVD drive (like a CDR/RW drive) that can record video, but can also read and
write computer data and store it on a blank DVD disc. On the other hand,
standalone DVD recorders have no ability to read or write computer data.
However, in order to record video and audio onto a PC-DVD burner the user must
input the video to the computer's hard drive using Firewire, USB, or S-Video
through a video card and then copy the resultant files from the hard drive onto
a blank DVD disk, whereas a standalone DVD recorder can record from video
sources in real time, direct to a blank DVD.
Can I copy videos and DVDs on my DVD recorder?
Just as you can't copy commercially made video tapes to another VCR due to
Macrovision anti-copy encoding, the same applies to making copies to DVD. DVD
recorders cannot bypass the anti-copy signal on commercial video tapes or DVDs.
However, you can copy any homemade videos, such as camcorder videos and
videos made from TV shows (an even laserdiscs). Also, remember that a DVD
recorder also has a built-in tuner for recording TV programming directly.
In addition, some DVD recorders also have digital video inputs (IEEE-1394,
Firewire, i-Link) that allow users of digital camcorders to digitally transfer
their audio and video direct to DVD in real time.
Can I play DVDs made on my DVD recorder in other DVD players?
There is no 100% guarantee that any DVD you make with your DVD recorder will
play in all DVD players. Whether or not you can play a DVD you have made using
your DVD recorder on most current DVD players (manufactured within the last
three years) will depend mostly on the format used in recording the DVD.
DVD recordable formats:
DVD-R: The most universal of recordable DVD formats that is used by
computer DVD writers as well as most DVD recorders. DVD-R is a write-once
format, much like CD-R and discs made in this format can be played in most
current DVD players.
DVD-RW: Recordable and rewritable format (like CD-RW) promoted by
Pioneer, Sharp, and Sony. Discs are playable in most DVD players, provided it is
recorded in the straight video mode (VIDEO, not VR) and finalized.
DVD+RW: Recordable and rewritable format promoted primarily by
Philips, with a host of partners, including Yamaha, HP, Ricoh, Thomson (RCA),
Mitsubishi, APEX, and Sony. Claims to offer a greater degree of compatibility
with current DVD technology than DVD-RW.
DVD+R: A record-once format introduced by Philips and adopted
by the other DVD+RW proponents, that is said to be easier to use than DVD-R,
while still playable in most current DVD players.
DVD-RAM: Recordable and rewritable format promoted by Panasonic,
Toshiba, Samsung, and Hitachi, which is not compatible with current DVD
technology and is not compatible with most DVD-ROM computer drives. One of the
unique features of DVD-RAM, however, is its ability (with its random access and
quick writing speed) to allow the user to watch the beginning of a recording
while the DVD recorder is still recording the end of the program. This is great
if a phone call interrupts your viewing or if you come home late from work and
miss the beginning that important TV episode or televised sporting event.
Picture Quality:
One factor to consider is that, even at the one hour
speed, the quality of the source material determines the quality of the
recording. If you are copying an old home video that was recorded at VHS-EP
using the one hour DVD recorder speed, you won't get DVD quality; you can't make
something bad look better, however it won't be any worse when using the one hour
speed. By the same token, if you take a miniDV camcorder video that was recorded
at 500 lines of resolution and dub it to the DVD recorder using the four or six
hour speed, you will only get VHS quality. The rule of thumb is to always use
the best source material and fastest/shortest recording speed possible.
High-Definition recording:
In the U.S., the 2003-2004 and early 2005 consumer stand-alone recordable disc DVD recorders cannot record in HDTV, due to limitations of
both the laser wavelength used and in the limited space of the DVDs for the
storage capacity needs of HDTV signals. There are some DVR hard drive based
recorders that can record HDTV as well as D-VHS VCRs. However, HD-DVD recording
is here,
as the Blu-ray group (Hitachi, LG Electronics, Matsushita Electric Industrial,
Pioneer, Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Sony and
Thomson) have finally settled on standards and begun licensing procedures for
the new Blu-ray HD-DVD format.
Products using this technology appeared in Japan in late 2003. The remaining questions are: Affordability for
the consumer, the availability of both blank and pre-recorded software, and
whether you will "allowed" or able to record programs broadcast in
HDTV due to proposed anti-copy encoding schemes. However, JVC has just
introduced the first consumer-grade HD-capable camcorder that could be paired
with such a unit for the independent filmaker. If a DVD recorder has the Blu-ray
logo, it will have the ability to record in HD, depending on the source
material.
Besides all the recording features, DVD recorders are also excellent DVD
players. Just as with standard DVD players, basic units may not have all of the
high-end bells and whistles, but most units have progressive scan, component
outputs, Dolby Digital, and DTS pass-through, CDR/RW, and VCD playback, just as
any current DVD player would. Some units also have CD-MP3 and JPEG still photo
playback as well. When you shop for a DVD recorder, also make sure it has the
playback features you require.
A DVD recorder can hookup to any TV that has a least
A/V inputs (you will need
and RF modulator if your TV does not have AV inputs). Just hookup your cable or
antenna feed to the ant/cable input of the DVD recorder and loop it out to the
RF input on the TV. In addition, you will need to hookup of the DVD recorder to
the AV inputs (composite, s-video, or component) of the TV for DVD playback.
Note: Although DVD recorders have an RF loop through to the TV, it is passive,
when playing back a recorded DVD you must use the AV inputs of the TV or buy an
RF modulator to put between the DVD recorder and TV to convert the recorded
signal.
When connecting a DVD recorder to home theater receiver, however, you can
connect it just as you would a VCR, through the VCR1 or VCR2 loop, with
additional connection of the digital coaxial or digital optical output to the
digital audio inputs available on the AV receiver. Use the monitor output of the
AV receiver to supply the video part of the feed to the TV. In this type of
hookup you have access to all the surround sound functions of DVD playback (of
commercial DVDs) as well as the DVD recorder's recording and dubbing functions
from other video sources (such as a VCR) connected to the AV receiver. Most DVD
recorders also have from mounted AV inputs as well for the connection of a
camcorder.
All the owner's manuals provided with DVD recorders have explicit and simple
hookup diagrams for a variety of setup scenarios.
Do DVD recorders also have region lock, like standard DVD players?
DVDs that you make yourself are not region encoded, however, DVD recorders
are region specific with regards to playback of commercially made DVDs.
Is it worth buying a DVD recorder now?
If you like the idea of recording with the best
video and audio quality currently possible, preserving old family videos in a
more permanent format, making your own short films or videos, and need to
replace an aging VCR anyway, a DVD recorder may be an option to consider. In 2003 prices went down to less than $1,000. In 2004, prices
were down to as low as $200 for basic units.
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