No combination HDD/DVD recorders?

sphinx321 · 06-03-2012, 07:28

I have two HDD/DVD recorders. One is a bit temperamental now and only has an analog tuner, and I want to replace it. The one, a Sony HXD390, works well so I thought I might go for another Sony. But they don't seem to come with DVD recorders anymore. I spoke to somebody at Sony and he said that if you want to record to DVD you download to a PC and burn on that. Is that really the best way, or can you get a separate DVD recorder? If so, I'd be glad of some recommendations because I don't think Sony do one.

David

alan1302 · 06-03-2012, 07:32

They sell them in Argos - not Sont though

Sue_Aitch · 06-03-2012, 07:37

Panny do some! See their Webpage

gds1972 · 06-03-2012, 07:43

Not many companies seem to make HDD/DVD recorders any more if you are anywhere near a Richer Sounds store it may be worth a look there.

Nigel Goodwin · 06-03-2012, 08:58

Basically the technology is pretty well obselete now, going the way of VCR. ONly afew manufacturers now bother with it.

sphinx321 · 06-03-2012, 22:25

My brain wasn't really in gear, I think. Presumably with the new recorders you can attach an external drive and keep your favourites on there, can you? So that would make DVDs obsolete. Hang on, what's going to happen to DVD rentals - are they going to start renting out memory sticks with films on them?

David

mlayzell · 06-03-2012, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphinx321

My brain wasn't really in gear, I think. Presumably with the new recorders you can attach an external drive and keep your favourites on there, can you? So that would make DVDs obsolete. Hang on, what's going to happen to DVD rentals - are they going to start renting out memory sticks with films on them?

David

Could be wrong but most people are happy with there recording space on their personal video recorders hard drive and they do not care about archiving video, so a DVD recorder is obsolete in their eyes!

I now only rent Blu Ray discs from love film.com that is the cheapest way to watch new releases of HD movies!

pocatello · 06-03-2012, 23:06

Yea record in sd and isn't worth the effort.

mlayzell · 06-03-2012, 23:21

If archiving TV programes is important to you, record live TV from your computer, then the world is your oyster.

Sue_Aitch · 07-03-2012, 07:37

For the nth time

its hardly obsolete in Panasonic's still making the product in question.

Nigel Goodwin · 07-03-2012, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue_Aitch

For the nth time

its hardly obsolete in Panasonic's still making the product in question.

A very small number of manufacturers still make them - but for how much longer? - DVD recording is pretty well dead and buried!.

Sue_Aitch · 07-03-2012, 10:06

And I say alive and kicking: my brother's 2011 Panny is fine.

pavier · 07-03-2012, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Basically the technology is pretty well obselete now, going the way of VCR. ONly afew manufacturers now bother with it.

Stop saying that! (insert emoticon of your choice) You said this on another thread and then admitted for someone who does extensive archiving there is no realistic alternative.
My 8 year old Pioneer and 3 year old Sony DVD/HDD recorders can't be matched for convenience by anything else available today, a pc doesn't come close.
I don't see how something can be obsolete if nothing better has come along to do the same job.
A pvr that lets you record from an external source and transfer the recordings in a universal file format to an external hard drive would be a great replacement.

If both my recorders died on me I would have no hesitation in getting a Panny, which are the only ones worth buying today.

Nigel Goodwin · 07-03-2012, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavier

Stop saying that! (insert emoticon of your choice) You said this on another thread and then admitted for someone who does extensive archiving there is no realistic alternative.

Just because you have a requirement for it doesn't change the facts

DVD Recorders are effectively obselete.

Quote:

My 8 year old Pioneer and 3 year old Sony DVD/HDD recorders can't be matched for convenience by anything else available today, a pc doesn't come close.
I don't see how something can be obsolete if nothing better has come along to do the same job.

I don't see how you can not 'see'

Almost all manufacturers have stopped making them, and the few that still do will gradually disappear as well.

Quote:

If both my recorders died on me I would have no hesitation in getting a Panny, which are the only ones worth buying today.

I would agree - but while you can 'today', will you be able to next year?.

gomezz · 07-03-2012, 12:41

A PVR with connectivity to an unlimited expandable NAS server is the way to go for home and fixed location use. But DVDs still have their use as a portable way of transferring and viewing recordings which does not rely on a possibly dicky and probably expensive wireless online connection.

witham1 · 07-03-2012, 13:02

I have a PVR that allows you to archive recordings to an external HDD.
The SD recordings can be viewed on a computer using VLC. The HD recordings are encrypted.
Although I have not tried it I believe the SD recordings can be transferred to DVD for viewing on a standard DVD player.

pavier · 07-03-2012, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Just because you have a requirement for it doesn't change the facts

The fact that there is currently no better alternative for frequent archiving.

gomezz · 07-03-2012, 13:31

See previous post.

pavier · 07-03-2012, 15:01

Can you elaborate please?
I have never heard of a pvr that can record from an external rgb scart source such as a Sky stb. The HD Fury/Hauppauge/PC route sounds too much hassle for me. And if a pvr did allow you to transfer a recording to an external drive wouldn't you then have to re-encode or re-record it in real time on a pc into another format before it could be shared with other devices such as dvd or media players, so that you wouldn't have to boot up a pc each time to view it, or rely on the original pvr lasting forever as your only playback device?

I guess there aren't enough compulsive archivers like me to warrant manufacturers developing what I want

captainkremmen · 07-03-2012, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavier

The fact that there is currently no better alternative for frequent archiving.

There is though.

The Humax HD Freeview PVR allows content to be moved to an external USB drive, or transferred over a network to a PC. You can even get it to copy over HD material unencrypted with a user mod that's available. You can then edit on a PC and burn to disc.

A Digitalstream HD PVR user has also created a user mod that also allows SD material to be streamed or copied to a PC for archiving too, although it doesn't support decrypting the HD files (not yet anyway).

Both these recorders will produce better quality DVDs (or BluRays in the case of the Humax allowing HD and your PC having a BluRay recorder) because there's no need to re-encode with some applications.

The vast majority of DVD/HDD combo units will re-encode the material recorded on the HDD when moving it to DVD, and this can often result in a drop in quality.

witham1 · 07-03-2012, 15:20

I used to archive to DVD and ended up with shelves full of DVD’s that I never watched.
I think that archiving to an external HDD is a better idea.
I have read that the long term viability of a HDD is greater than that of a DVD and it takes up much less room.

nanscombe · 07-03-2012, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Just because you have a requirement for it doesn't change the facts

DVD Recorders are effectively obselete.

I don't see how you can not 'see'

Oh dear.

Obselete? I wonder what that makes my Panasonic VHS / DVD (no HDD) combo? Prehistoric?

gomezz · 07-03-2012, 16:07

Surely that should be obselete or prehisteric?

Nigel Goodwin · 07-03-2012, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanscombe

Oh dear.

Obselete? I wonder what that makes my Panasonic VHS / DVD (no HDD) combo? Prehistoric?

Some people still have wind-up gramophones!

gomezz · 07-03-2012, 17:12

Or grammarphenes even.

06-03-2012, 07:28	#1
sphinx321 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northants near Watford Gap Posts: 191	No combination HDD/DVD recorders? I have two HDD/DVD recorders. One is a bit temperamental now and only has an analog tuner, and I want to replace it. The one, a Sony HXD390, works well so I thought I might go for another Sony. But they don't seem to come with DVD recorders anymore. I spoke to somebody at Sony and he said that if you want to record to DVD you download to a PC and burn on that. Is that really the best way, or can you get a separate DVD recorder? If so, I'd be glad of some recommendations because I don't think Sony do one. David

06-03-2012, 07:32	#2
alan1302 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Yorks Posts: 6,180	They sell them in Argos - not Sont though

06-03-2012, 07:37	#3
Sue_Aitch Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4,815	Panny do some! See their Webpage

06-03-2012, 07:43	#4
gds1972 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 5,515	Not many companies seem to make HDD/DVD recorders any more if you are anywhere near a Richer Sounds store it may be worth a look there.

06-03-2012, 08:58	#5
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Basically the technology is pretty well obselete now, going the way of VCR. ONly afew manufacturers now bother with it.

06-03-2012, 22:25	#6
sphinx321 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northants near Watford Gap Posts: 191	My brain wasn't really in gear, I think. Presumably with the new recorders you can attach an external drive and keep your favourites on there, can you? So that would make DVDs obsolete. Hang on, what's going to happen to DVD rentals - are they going to start renting out memory sticks with films on them? David

06-03-2012, 23:03	#7
mlayzell Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Luton Posts: 441	Quote: Originally Posted by sphinx321 My brain wasn't really in gear, I think. Presumably with the new recorders you can attach an external drive and keep your favourites on there, can you? So that would make DVDs obsolete. Hang on, what's going to happen to DVD rentals - are they going to start renting out memory sticks with films on them? David Could be wrong but most people are happy with there recording space on their personal video recorders hard drive and they do not care about archiving video, so a DVD recorder is obsolete in their eyes! I now only rent Blu Ray discs from love film.com that is the cheapest way to watch new releases of HD movies!

06-03-2012, 23:06	#8
pocatello Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8,622	Yea record in sd and isn't worth the effort.

06-03-2012, 23:21	#9
mlayzell Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Luton Posts: 441	If archiving TV programes is important to you, record live TV from your computer, then the world is your oyster.

07-03-2012, 07:37	#10
Sue_Aitch Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4,815	For the nth time its hardly obsolete in Panasonic's still making the product in question.

07-03-2012, 09:01	#11
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Sue_Aitch For the nth time its hardly obsolete in Panasonic's still making the product in question. A very small number of manufacturers still make them - but for how much longer? - DVD recording is pretty well dead and buried!.

07-03-2012, 10:06	#12
Sue_Aitch Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4,815	And I say alive and kicking: my brother's 2011 Panny is fine.

07-03-2012, 11:13	#13
pavier Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 691	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Basically the technology is pretty well obselete now, going the way of VCR. ONly afew manufacturers now bother with it. Stop saying that! (insert emoticon of your choice) You said this on another thread and then admitted for someone who does extensive archiving there is no realistic alternative. My 8 year old Pioneer and 3 year old Sony DVD/HDD recorders can't be matched for convenience by anything else available today, a pc doesn't come close. I don't see how something can be obsolete if nothing better has come along to do the same job. A pvr that lets you record from an external source and transfer the recordings in a universal file format to an external hard drive would be a great replacement. If both my recorders died on me I would have no hesitation in getting a Panny, which are the only ones worth buying today.

07-03-2012, 11:35	#14
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by pavier Stop saying that! (insert emoticon of your choice) You said this on another thread and then admitted for someone who does extensive archiving there is no realistic alternative. Just because you have a requirement for it doesn't change the facts DVD Recorders are effectively obselete. Quote: My 8 year old Pioneer and 3 year old Sony DVD/HDD recorders can't be matched for convenience by anything else available today, a pc doesn't come close. I don't see how something can be obsolete if nothing better has come along to do the same job. I don't see how you can not 'see' Almost all manufacturers have stopped making them, and the few that still do will gradually disappear as well. Quote: If both my recorders died on me I would have no hesitation in getting a Panny, which are the only ones worth buying today. I would agree - but while you can 'today', will you be able to next year?.

07-03-2012, 12:41	#15
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	A PVR with connectivity to an unlimited expandable NAS server is the way to go for home and fixed location use. But DVDs still have their use as a portable way of transferring and viewing recordings which does not rely on a possibly dicky and probably expensive wireless online connection.

07-03-2012, 13:02	#16
witham1 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Witham, Essex. Posts: 266	I have a PVR that allows you to archive recordings to an external HDD. The SD recordings can be viewed on a computer using VLC. The HD recordings are encrypted. Although I have not tried it I believe the SD recordings can be transferred to DVD for viewing on a standard DVD player.

07-03-2012, 13:15	#17
pavier Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 691	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Just because you have a requirement for it doesn't change the facts The fact that there is currently no better alternative for frequent archiving.

07-03-2012, 13:31	#18
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	See previous post.

07-03-2012, 15:01	#19
pavier Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 691	Can you elaborate please? I have never heard of a pvr that can record from an external rgb scart source such as a Sky stb. The HD Fury/Hauppauge/PC route sounds too much hassle for me. And if a pvr did allow you to transfer a recording to an external drive wouldn't you then have to re-encode or re-record it in real time on a pc into another format before it could be shared with other devices such as dvd or media players, so that you wouldn't have to boot up a pc each time to view it, or rely on the original pvr lasting forever as your only playback device? I guess there aren't enough compulsive archivers like me to warrant manufacturers developing what I want

07-03-2012, 15:14	#20
captainkremmen Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DAVEVILLE, Daveshire DA1 1VE Posts: 33,621	Quote: Originally Posted by pavier The fact that there is currently no better alternative for frequent archiving. There is though. The Humax HD Freeview PVR allows content to be moved to an external USB drive, or transferred over a network to a PC. You can even get it to copy over HD material unencrypted with a user mod that's available. You can then edit on a PC and burn to disc. A Digitalstream HD PVR user has also created a user mod that also allows SD material to be streamed or copied to a PC for archiving too, although it doesn't support decrypting the HD files (not yet anyway). Both these recorders will produce better quality DVDs (or BluRays in the case of the Humax allowing HD and your PC having a BluRay recorder) because there's no need to re-encode with some applications. The vast majority of DVD/HDD combo units will re-encode the material recorded on the HDD when moving it to DVD, and this can often result in a drop in quality.

07-03-2012, 15:20	#21
witham1 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Witham, Essex. Posts: 266	I used to archive to DVD and ended up with shelves full of DVD’s that I never watched. I think that archiving to an external HDD is a better idea. I have read that the long term viability of a HDD is greater than that of a DVD and it takes up much less room.

DS Forums

No combination HDD/DVD recorders?

07-03-2012, 15:20	#22
nanscombe Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, Uk Posts: 16,161	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Just because you have a requirement for it doesn't change the facts DVD Recorders are effectively obselete. I don't see how you can not 'see' Oh dear. Obselete? I wonder what that makes my Panasonic VHS / DVD (no HDD) combo? Prehistoric?

07-03-2012, 16:07	#23
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Surely that should be obselete or prehisteric?

07-03-2012, 17:08	#24
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by nanscombe Oh dear. Obselete? I wonder what that makes my Panasonic VHS / DVD (no HDD) combo? Prehistoric? Some people still have wind-up gramophones!

07-03-2012, 17:12	#25
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Or grammarphenes even.