DVD Recorders! (Also laugh at Best Buy's markup)

[bicostp]

We have a bunch of old tapes we want to copy to DVD (home movies and taped specials). Before, I was hooking up the VCR to my old computer with a $10 gimped bargain tuner card (A TV Wonder VE with no hardware encoding). The problem is, that process is slow, annoying, and the card can only record mono sound for some reason. The video comes out okay, but it takes however long the video is to get it on the computer, then it takes about an hour and a half to put the DVD together and burn it, and there's always the variables of the capture software's video settings and Windows's audio levels, and sometimes it gets a high pitched whine in the audio. It would also be nice to record TV shows to rewritable DVDs like we used to do with VCRs back in the day.

Here's what I'm looking for:

• - Digital tuner that will accept over-the-air broadcasts after February 2009, when VHF and UHF get cut off. Many of the local broadcast stations already transmit clear digital signals, while the transmissions on the cable line are all snowy and horrible.
  - Relatively inexpensive, or at least a good price for the features. I guess it would be between $100-$150, but I'll go as high as $200 if necessary.
  - At least S-Video and Composite inputs to reduce signal degradation between the good VCR and recorder.
  - Compatible with DVD+RW and DVD-Rs

It doesn't need a hard drive, upconversion, HDMI, built in editing, or even a built-in VCR because we already have a few of those. I can get it from target, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, or Best Buy. I'd prefer Circuit City, since they generally carry decent stuff, but if Best Buy has the same thing I'll get it there, because they have a great price matching policy and I have a few Best Buy gift cards with varying balances I want to use up.

Do any of you guys have a recorder? How's the video quality? Any you recommend? (store and epinions links would be great)

I've looked at getting a better capture card for the computer. It would definitely be cheaper, but the process will still be as time consuming and complicated as it would be if I kept doing it the way I have been.

And on a semi-related side note, what do you guys think of buying a floor model? They're usually $30-$50 cheaper, and (at least at my local Circuit City) they're not plugged in.

Here's a couple I looked at the other day (all at Circuit City):

Zenith XBR716 - No tuner, not the best reviews.
Samsung DVD-VR357 - Extra crap I don't need, no tuner, toward the high end of my budget

Thanks everybody!

[Sir Games-A-Lot]

I own a Liteon standalone recorder (LVW-5115ghc+), and have mixed feelings about it.

Pros:

takes pretty much all writable DVD flavors (barring DVD-RAM, mores the pity)

very easy to use

fairly reliable for both live and timed recordings

Playback is very good

Discs tend to have good compatibility with other players



Cons:


Can only fit two hours of HQ recording a disc

Distortions / artifacts are very noticeable on lower quality modes

HQ mode isn't even that good, I would hesitate to use the recordings to make subsequent generations.

Subjectively, I often detect a subtle desynching between the audio and video tracks in it's recordings.

Only records in DVD Video (I'm not sure what color book it is), not compressed standards, so PC editing for future TV viewing may be a problem.




Personally I would opt for a S-VHS recorder*: The quality is probably similar to what you would get with a cheap DVD recorder, it's linear so there's a low chance of desynching, from what I understand there is very, very little generational loss, and the audio quality is superb.

(Hint at what I've watching eBay for )





*Get one with the ET feature if you don't feel like hunting for the higher quality tapes

[gamer2]

I have a RCA DVD recorder that hooks directly to a VCR and lets you record from tape to disc with out a computer. It exports a generally sharper image from the VHS/Beta cassete, and it has a generic Title Menu. It lets you select a chapter stop points (nice when you are transfering laserdisc to Dvd). I prefer to use S-Video cables for a better image.

The con is that well, it will only record on DVD+RW discs, not to mention there is a plateu of recording times. from 4* it records for 4:15, when you jump the time to 5*, it goes to 6:15.

[lifeisbetterwithketchup]

I have a Go-Video DVD recorder that was purchased just over a year ago for $150. We got it specifically to transfer home movies from 8mm to DVD. It worked very well for that purpose, with good video quality. It only takes DVD+R/RW discs. I would not recommend it for day-to-day recording though. The interface is clunky, it takes forever to start up, and is very obviously a low-end product.

[bicostp]

I just stumbled on this Samsung DVDR155. It looks okay, but it has no tuner and it's a upconvert unit. I wouldn't mind the lack of tuner if the government will give vouchers for digital converter boxes like they did with cable boxes way back when.

Even if you have no other interest in this thread (nobody seems to ), take a look at this:

<img src="http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8380 ... unglq1.png"> <img src="http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/2661 ... ungil6.png">

It's the same unit. Silly Best Buy, high markups are for Bose and Nintendo!

EDIT: <a href="http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasoni ... l.do">THIS is what I'm talkin' 'bout (Willis.)</a> Panasonic (good brand) DMR-EZ17K, lots of video inputs and outputs, <b>ATSC tuner</b> for free digital broadcasts... It's a VCR for DVDs! $184.99 on sale.

EDIT 2: It's only <a href="http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... 5955">$190 at Wal-Mart</a>, and they ship to the store for free.

[bicostp]

EDIT: <a href="http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasoni ... l.do">THIS is what I'm talkin' 'bout (Willis.)</a> Panasonic (good brand) DMR-EZ17K, lots of video inputs and outputs, <b>ATSC tuner</b> for free digital broadcasts... It's a VCR for DVDs! $184.99 on sale.

Darnit. None of my local stores have it and it's been discontinued.

However, Panasonic makes another one, the DMR-ES25S, that does everything that one does, and upconverts, but doesn't include a digital tuner (just analog). The only thing I'm worried about is that its CC product page has reviews dating back to mid-2006 so it may be discontinued as well. I'll keep looking I guess.

Are Toshiba's units any good?