Recording in widescreen to DVD recorder

cooler · 19-07-2008, 01:18

Can you record in widescreen on the Sony RDR-GX350. When i record a programme from the built-in analogue tuner it has black bars at the side of the screen. During setup i selected Widescreen, not 4:3.

techsmedders · 19-07-2008, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooler

Can you record in widescreen on the Sony RDR-GX350. When i record a programme from the built-in analogue tuner it has black bars at the side of the screen. During setup i selected Widescreen, not 4:3.

Analogue does not broadcast in 16:9, only 4:3. If you want to record in 16:9 you have to record from a digital source (e.g. Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media cable, etc...)

cooler · 19-07-2008, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by techsmedders

Analogue does not broadcast in 16:9, only 4:3. If you want to record in 16:9 you have to record from a digital source (e.g. Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media cable, etc...)

My LCD tv has an analogue tuner built-in. How come that is broadcast in 16:9 and not 4:3 when i go on an analogue channel.

Gort · 19-07-2008, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooler

Can you record in widescreen on the Sony RDR-GX350. When i record a programme from the built-in analogue tuner it has black bars at the side of the screen. During setup i selected Widescreen, not 4:3.

Did you set the recorder to format the discs in VR mode or just the standard Video mode? VR mode will allow you to record in 16/9, whereas Video mode, on this player, will just do it in 4/3. Mind you, this only applies to DVD-RW discs (not sure about -R, but suspect not), not the + variety. The problem with VR mode is that not all players support it, so Video mode is used for compatibility's sake. Still, if you only plan on buying Sonys or players that support VR mode, then you could just stick to VR. Is it also possible that the programme you recorded was a 4/3 programme?

cooler · 19-07-2008, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gort

Did you set the recorder to format the discs in VR mode or just the standard Video mode? VR mode will allow you to record in 16/9, whereas Video mode, on this player, will just do it in 4/3. Mind you, this only applies to DVD-RW discs (not sure about -R, but suspect not), not the + variety. The problem with VR mode is that not all players support it, so Video mode is used for compatibility's sake. Still, if you only plan on buying Sonys or players that support VR mode, then you could just stick to VR. Is it also possible that the programme you recorded was a 4/3 programme?

Im not sure what mode it formats the discs in. As soon as i put the DVD disc in it formated it automatically. Is techsmedders wrong then, by saying you have to record from a digital source to record in 16:9 widescreen.

davidweller · 19-07-2008, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooler

My LCD tv has an analogue tuner built-in. How come that is broadcast in 16:9 and not 4:3 when i go on an analogue channel.

You TV is obviously distorting the picture to fill the screen.

jibberjabber2b · 19-07-2008, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooler

Im not sure what mode it formats the discs in. As soon as i put the DVD disc in it formated it automatically. Is techsmedders wrong then, by saying you have to record from a digital source to record in 16:9 widescreen.

Nope, you're wrong.

Analogue Terrestrial TV does not transmit in widescreen and that's a fact!

I agree with David Weller's assumption. You're stretching the picture to fill the screen and you're used to the distortion.

bobcar · 19-07-2008, 20:08

Yep fattyvision is not widescreen, this is the misconception that caused some people in the past to say they would never get a widescreen TV because they make people look fat.

However it is possible that the TV is set in zoom (not 16:9 anamorphic) in which case you are losing something off the top and bottom rather than stretching.

Either way if you can receive Freeview (and many people can even if the postcode finder says not) then treat yourself to a Freeview box and watch proper widescreen.

cooler · 19-07-2008, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gort

Is it also possible that the programme you recorded was a 4/3 programme?

No, it was EastEnders, that's definitely a 16:9 programme.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcar

Yep fattyvision is not widescreen, this is the misconception that caused some people in the past to say they would never get a widescreen TV because they make people look fat.

However it is possible that the TV is set in zoom (not 16:9 anamorphic) in which case you are losing something off the top and bottom rather than stretching.

Either way if you can receive Freeview (and many people can even if the postcode finder says not) then treat yourself to a Freeview box and watch proper widescreen.

My tv already has Freeview built in, my DVD recorder doesnt though so i think id have to connect a scart lead from the DVD recorder to TV to record from Freeview. which would be a pain, leaving the tv on.

atvmidlands · 19-07-2008, 21:50

Very few dvd recorders will record the WideScreen Switching direct to a dvd.

Many wont record WSS onto a hard drive either.

Of those that do record WSS to HDD - a successful transferrence to dvd hinges on doing a high speed copy to dvd - if you do a real time re-encode the WSS will be lost.

Download a program called IFO Edit.

Its free.

Then record onto an RW disc and use your PC burner and IFO Edit to manually add WSS to any titles on the dvd before burning them back to a write once disc.

Not only will this enable anamorphic viewing on a 16:9 set it will also enable undistorted full frame or letterbox viewing of the dvd on a 4:3 tv

cooler · 19-07-2008, 21:56

Thanks for the advice but its way to much trouble doing that every time i want to watch a programme. i just want to record a programme to dvd and watch it. i think i can put up with 4:3, widescreen would just be better viewing thats all .

atvmidlands · 19-07-2008, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooler

Thanks for the advice but its way to much trouble doing that every time i want to watch a programme. i just want to record a programme to dvd and watch it. i think i can put up with 4:3, widescreen would just be better viewing thats all .

DVD recorders have been around for about 8 years now and a little research should show that switching a VHS recorder for a standard dvd recorder is pretty pointless.

If you want to watch and wipe you need a hard drive recorder like Sky+ or a Freeview PVR- or at least a dvdr with HDD built in

DVD should only be used for archiving a collection.

cooler · 19-07-2008, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by atvmidlands

DVD recorders have been around for about 8 years now and a little research should show that switching a VHS recorder for a standard dvd recorder is pretty pointless.

If you want to watch and wipe you need a hard drive recorder like Sky+ or a Freeview PVR- or at least a dvdr with HDD built in

DVD should only be used for archiving a collection.

But if i had a DVD recorder with HDD built in, i still wouldnt be able to record in widescreen unless it had a Freeview tuner built in also. so in this respect, it wouldnt solve my prob. I think its fine for watching and wiping because DVD rw's can be written to many times and you can even put the discs in your computer also. I know some PVR's have usb connections but a lot don't.

David (2) · 19-07-2008, 22:18

Normal DVD recorders for tv's, only get 1hr of content onto a blank dvd at XP (highest) quality. You can double the capacity by using the SP mode, which is the lowest I would recommend. Lower settings allow more to be burned to a blank disc, but the compression rate is much higher and this shows in the drop in picture quality - which will now be amplified by the use of HD-Ready LCD tv's.

If you get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview with series link/HDMI upscaler-upto 1080p combi (eg, panasonic, £279 on the high St), you can record to the hard disc in top quality everytime, and not worry about running out of space, and keep the widescreen switching signal in the recordings.

Dave

atvmidlands · 19-07-2008, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooler

But if i had a DVD recorder with HDD built in, i still wouldnt be able to record in widescreen unless it had a Freeview tuner built in also. so in this respect, it wouldnt solve my prob.

It would - both my Pioneer HDD/DVDR combos record WSS perfectly via scart from my Sky HD,
my Freeview PVR and even my Virgin box.

Thats to HDD- not to dvd unless I use -RW(VR).

But the WSS on the HDD recordings transfers to dvd no problem unless I re-encode

techsmedders · 19-07-2008, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by David (2)

If you get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview with series link/HDMI upscaler-upto 1080p combi (eg, panasonic, £279 on the high St), you can record to the hard disc in top quality everytime, and not worry about running out of space, and keep the widescreen switching signal in the recordings.

Dave

Couldn't agree more.

The Panasonics also will record in widescreen on the HDD from a Sky box (and Freesat I expect) connected to AV2 via RGB scart as they can detect that the input signal is in widescreen format. If recording to a DVD and/or fast dubbing mode is enabled they do not do this.

atvmidlands · 19-07-2008, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by techsmedders

Couldn't agree more.

The Panasonics also will record in widescreen on the HDD from a Sky box (and Freesat I expect) connected to AV2 via RGB scart as they can detect that the input signal is in widescreen format. If recording to a DVD and/or fast dubbing mode is enabled they do not do this.

The Panasonic machine I had wouldn't transfer the WSS from the HDD to a dvd burn any which way I tried- except to RAM!!- so it was less than perfect.

No such problem with Pioneer

Of course all these combos dont offer the advanced features of a PVR like watch one channel/record another or even record two at the same time - so a PVR is still the best idea

David (2) · 19-07-2008, 22:33

if you have a tv with inbuilt freeview, you can still view one freeview channel, while recording a different freeview channel at the same time. This is what I do.

The only thing I cant do is record 2 different freeview channels at the same time.

Dave

techsmedders · 19-07-2008, 22:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by David (2)

if you have a tv with inbuilt freeview, you can still view one freeview channel, while recording a different freeview channel at the same time. This is what I do.

The only thing I cant do is record 2 different freeview channels at the same time.

Dave

Are there any recorders with that capability? I know there's Virgin box that does but apart from that...?

David (2) · 19-07-2008, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by techsmedders

Are there any recorders with that capability? I know there's Virgin box that does but apart from that...?

You dont need a "special" box, eg, Virgin box or Sky+, or Freeview+.

The tv has its own freeview chip inside. It works as a standalone.

The Combi Panasonic I have has its own Freeview chip built it - it works as a standalone box.

....just like the old days of tv + VHS recorder.

The latest Panasonic Combi also feature's Freeview Series Link feature and upscaling all the way to 1080p on the HDMI output socket.

....if you want a Freeview box which can
record one channel while sending a 2nd channel to the tv
or record 2 different channels at the same time
using hard disc for recording,
then you need a Freeview+ (also see Freeview Playback) box.
I would recommend a Humax (i think its called the 9200T).
...but it wont have a dvd built in.

Dave

cooler · 19-07-2008, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by David (2)

Normal DVD recorders for tv's, only get 1hr of content onto a blank dvd at XP (highest) quality. You can double the capacity by using the SP mode, which is the lowest I would recommend. Lower settings allow more to be burned to a blank disc, but the compression rate is much higher and this shows in the drop in picture quality - which will now be amplified by the use of HD-Ready LCD tv's.

If you get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview with series link/HDMI upscaler-upto 1080p combi (eg, panasonic, £279 on the high St), you can record to the hard disc in top quality everytime, and not worry about running out of space, and keep the widescreen switching signal in the recordings.

Dave

I only got this DVD Recorder 1 week ago so i won't get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview for quite a while. Hopefully this one will last until the digital switchover in 2012. then i'll get a high end one with Freeview and built in HDD.

If you connect the DVD rec via scart lead to the TV to record from the TV's built in Freeview, do you have to have the picture on or can the screen be blank?

bobcar · 20-07-2008, 01:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooler

I only got this DVD Recorder 1 week ago so i won't get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview for quite a while. Hopefully this one will last until the digital switchover in 2012. then i'll get a high end one with Freeview and built in HDD.

If you connect the DVD rec via scart lead to the TV to record from the TV's built in Freeview, do you have to have the picture on or can the screen be blank?

The TV needs to be on.

Recording from the TV is a real pain and not to be recommended - it is also low quality as there is no RGB out from the TV.

The cheapest way to record Freeview would be to get a cheap Freeview box - there are lots of them second hand on eBay but even new they aren't much. Even better though more expensive is to get a Freeview PVR, these are better than an HDD DVDR recorder for 95% of the time - since you have a DVDR this would be available for archiving (a PVR + a non HDD DVDR is much better than just an HDD DVDR).

cooler · 22-07-2008, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcar

The TV needs to be on.

Recording from the TV is a real pain and not to be recommended - it is also low quality as there is no RGB out from the TV.

The cheapest way to record Freeview would be to get a cheap Freeview box - there are lots of them second hand on eBay but even new they aren't much. Even better though more expensive is to get a Freeview PVR, these are better than an HDD DVDR recorder for 95% of the time - since you have a DVDR this would be available for archiving (a PVR + a non HDD DVDR is much better than just an HDD DVDR).

What's the reason for that?

atvproduction · 22-07-2008, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooler

What's the reason for that?

A Freeview PVR will let you watch one channel while you record another or even record 2 channels at once.

I dont believe there are any HDD/DVDR combos with more than one tuner.

bobcar · 23-07-2008, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by atvproduction

A Freeview PVR will let you watch one channel while you record another or even record 2 channels at once.

In addition to that they are usually much more convenient and easy to use - I have PVRs (Sky+ and Freeview) plus a Panny HDD DVDR and the DVDR gets used for what its good at (recording DVDs). PVRs also record the original signal without re-encoding and so play back with no reduction in quality.

They are also cheaper.

19-07-2008, 01:18	#1
cooler Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11,177	Recording in widescreen to DVD recorder Can you record in widescreen on the Sony RDR-GX350. When i record a programme from the built-in analogue tuner it has black bars at the side of the screen. During setup i selected Widescreen, not 4:3.

19-07-2008, 10:33	#2
techsmedders Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chesterfield Posts: 422	Quote: Originally Posted by cooler Can you record in widescreen on the Sony RDR-GX350. When i record a programme from the built-in analogue tuner it has black bars at the side of the screen. During setup i selected Widescreen, not 4:3. Analogue does not broadcast in 16:9, only 4:3. If you want to record in 16:9 you have to record from a digital source (e.g. Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media cable, etc...)

19-07-2008, 14:50	#3
cooler Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11,177	Quote: Originally Posted by techsmedders Analogue does not broadcast in 16:9, only 4:3. If you want to record in 16:9 you have to record from a digital source (e.g. Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media cable, etc...) My LCD tv has an analogue tuner built-in. How come that is broadcast in 16:9 and not 4:3 when i go on an analogue channel.

19-07-2008, 15:21	#4
Gort Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,053	Quote: Originally Posted by cooler Can you record in widescreen on the Sony RDR-GX350. When i record a programme from the built-in analogue tuner it has black bars at the side of the screen. During setup i selected Widescreen, not 4:3. Did you set the recorder to format the discs in VR mode or just the standard Video mode? VR mode will allow you to record in 16/9, whereas Video mode, on this player, will just do it in 4/3. Mind you, this only applies to DVD-RW discs (not sure about -R, but suspect not), not the + variety. The problem with VR mode is that not all players support it, so Video mode is used for compatibility's sake. Still, if you only plan on buying Sonys or players that support VR mode, then you could just stick to VR. Is it also possible that the programme you recorded was a 4/3 programme?

19-07-2008, 15:39	#5
cooler Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11,177	Quote: Originally Posted by Gort Did you set the recorder to format the discs in VR mode or just the standard Video mode? VR mode will allow you to record in 16/9, whereas Video mode, on this player, will just do it in 4/3. Mind you, this only applies to DVD-RW discs (not sure about -R, but suspect not), not the + variety. The problem with VR mode is that not all players support it, so Video mode is used for compatibility's sake. Still, if you only plan on buying Sonys or players that support VR mode, then you could just stick to VR. Is it also possible that the programme you recorded was a 4/3 programme? Im not sure what mode it formats the discs in. As soon as i put the DVD disc in it formated it automatically. Is techsmedders wrong then, by saying you have to record from a digital source to record in 16:9 widescreen.

19-07-2008, 16:00	#6
davidweller Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wallington, Surrey Posts: 6,960	Quote: Originally Posted by cooler My LCD tv has an analogue tuner built-in. How come that is broadcast in 16:9 and not 4:3 when i go on an analogue channel. You TV is obviously distorting the picture to fill the screen.

19-07-2008, 16:57	#7
jibberjabber2b Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 721	Quote: Originally Posted by cooler Im not sure what mode it formats the discs in. As soon as i put the DVD disc in it formated it automatically. Is techsmedders wrong then, by saying you have to record from a digital source to record in 16:9 widescreen. Nope, you're wrong. Analogue Terrestrial TV does not transmit in widescreen and that's a fact! I agree with David Weller's assumption. You're stretching the picture to fill the screen and you're used to the distortion.

19-07-2008, 20:08	#8
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Yep fattyvision is not widescreen, this is the misconception that caused some people in the past to say they would never get a widescreen TV because they make people look fat. However it is possible that the TV is set in zoom (not 16:9 anamorphic) in which case you are losing something off the top and bottom rather than stretching. Either way if you can receive Freeview (and many people can even if the postcode finder says not) then treat yourself to a Freeview box and watch proper widescreen.

19-07-2008, 21:45	#9
cooler Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11,177	Quote: Originally Posted by Gort Is it also possible that the programme you recorded was a 4/3 programme? No, it was EastEnders, that's definitely a 16:9 programme. Quote: Originally Posted by bobcar Yep fattyvision is not widescreen, this is the misconception that caused some people in the past to say they would never get a widescreen TV because they make people look fat. However it is possible that the TV is set in zoom (not 16:9 anamorphic) in which case you are losing something off the top and bottom rather than stretching. Either way if you can receive Freeview (and many people can even if the postcode finder says not) then treat yourself to a Freeview box and watch proper widescreen. My tv already has Freeview built in, my DVD recorder doesnt though so i think id have to connect a scart lead from the DVD recorder to TV to record from Freeview. which would be a pain, leaving the tv on.

19-07-2008, 21:50	#10
atvmidlands Banned User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bedfordshire Posts: 1,274	Very few dvd recorders will record the WideScreen Switching direct to a dvd. Many wont record WSS onto a hard drive either. Of those that do record WSS to HDD - a successful transferrence to dvd hinges on doing a high speed copy to dvd - if you do a real time re-encode the WSS will be lost. Download a program called IFO Edit. Its free. Then record onto an RW disc and use your PC burner and IFO Edit to manually add WSS to any titles on the dvd before burning them back to a write once disc. Not only will this enable anamorphic viewing on a 16:9 set it will also enable undistorted full frame or letterbox viewing of the dvd on a 4:3 tv

19-07-2008, 21:56	#11
cooler Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11,177	Thanks for the advice but its way to much trouble doing that every time i want to watch a programme. i just want to record a programme to dvd and watch it. i think i can put up with 4:3, widescreen would just be better viewing thats all .

19-07-2008, 21:59	#12
atvmidlands Banned User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bedfordshire Posts: 1,274	Quote: Originally Posted by cooler Thanks for the advice but its way to much trouble doing that every time i want to watch a programme. i just want to record a programme to dvd and watch it. i think i can put up with 4:3, widescreen would just be better viewing thats all . DVD recorders have been around for about 8 years now and a little research should show that switching a VHS recorder for a standard dvd recorder is pretty pointless. If you want to watch and wipe you need a hard drive recorder like Sky+ or a Freeview PVR- or at least a dvdr with HDD built in DVD should only be used for archiving a collection.

19-07-2008, 22:06	#13
cooler Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11,177	Quote: Originally Posted by atvmidlands DVD recorders have been around for about 8 years now and a little research should show that switching a VHS recorder for a standard dvd recorder is pretty pointless. If you want to watch and wipe you need a hard drive recorder like Sky+ or a Freeview PVR- or at least a dvdr with HDD built in DVD should only be used for archiving a collection. But if i had a DVD recorder with HDD built in, i still wouldnt be able to record in widescreen unless it had a Freeview tuner built in also. so in this respect, it wouldnt solve my prob. I think its fine for watching and wiping because DVD rw's can be written to many times and you can even put the discs in your computer also. I know some PVR's have usb connections but a lot don't.

19-07-2008, 22:18	#14
David (2) Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: S.West England. Posts: 18,037	Normal DVD recorders for tv's, only get 1hr of content onto a blank dvd at XP (highest) quality. You can double the capacity by using the SP mode, which is the lowest I would recommend. Lower settings allow more to be burned to a blank disc, but the compression rate is much higher and this shows in the drop in picture quality - which will now be amplified by the use of HD-Ready LCD tv's. If you get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview with series link/HDMI upscaler-upto 1080p combi (eg, panasonic, £279 on the high St), you can record to the hard disc in top quality everytime, and not worry about running out of space, and keep the widescreen switching signal in the recordings. Dave

19-07-2008, 22:23	#15
atvmidlands Banned User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bedfordshire Posts: 1,274	Quote: Originally Posted by cooler But if i had a DVD recorder with HDD built in, i still wouldnt be able to record in widescreen unless it had a Freeview tuner built in also. so in this respect, it wouldnt solve my prob. It would - both my Pioneer HDD/DVDR combos record WSS perfectly via scart from my Sky HD, my Freeview PVR and even my Virgin box. Thats to HDD- not to dvd unless I use -RW(VR). But the WSS on the HDD recordings transfers to dvd no problem unless I re-encode

19-07-2008, 22:23	#16
techsmedders Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chesterfield Posts: 422	Quote: Originally Posted by David (2) If you get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview with series link/HDMI upscaler-upto 1080p combi (eg, panasonic, £279 on the high St), you can record to the hard disc in top quality everytime, and not worry about running out of space, and keep the widescreen switching signal in the recordings. Dave Couldn't agree more. The Panasonics also will record in widescreen on the HDD from a Sky box (and Freesat I expect) connected to AV2 via RGB scart as they can detect that the input signal is in widescreen format. If recording to a DVD and/or fast dubbing mode is enabled they do not do this.

19-07-2008, 22:27	#17
atvmidlands Banned User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bedfordshire Posts: 1,274	Quote: Originally Posted by techsmedders Couldn't agree more. The Panasonics also will record in widescreen on the HDD from a Sky box (and Freesat I expect) connected to AV2 via RGB scart as they can detect that the input signal is in widescreen format. If recording to a DVD and/or fast dubbing mode is enabled they do not do this. The Panasonic machine I had wouldn't transfer the WSS from the HDD to a dvd burn any which way I tried- except to RAM!!- so it was less than perfect. No such problem with Pioneer Of course all these combos dont offer the advanced features of a PVR like watch one channel/record another or even record two at the same time - so a PVR is still the best idea

19-07-2008, 22:33	#18
David (2) Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: S.West England. Posts: 18,037	if you have a tv with inbuilt freeview, you can still view one freeview channel, while recording a different freeview channel at the same time. This is what I do. The only thing I cant do is record 2 different freeview channels at the same time. Dave

19-07-2008, 22:34	#19
techsmedders Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chesterfield Posts: 422	Quote: Originally Posted by David (2) if you have a tv with inbuilt freeview, you can still view one freeview channel, while recording a different freeview channel at the same time. This is what I do. The only thing I cant do is record 2 different freeview channels at the same time. Dave Are there any recorders with that capability? I know there's Virgin box that does but apart from that...?

19-07-2008, 22:40	#20
David (2) Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: S.West England. Posts: 18,037	Quote: Originally Posted by techsmedders Are there any recorders with that capability? I know there's Virgin box that does but apart from that...? You dont need a "special" box, eg, Virgin box or Sky+, or Freeview+. The tv has its own freeview chip inside. It works as a standalone. The Combi Panasonic I have has its own Freeview chip built it - it works as a standalone box. ....just like the old days of tv + VHS recorder. The latest Panasonic Combi also feature's Freeview Series Link feature and upscaling all the way to 1080p on the HDMI output socket. ....if you want a Freeview box which can record one channel while sending a 2nd channel to the tv or record 2 different channels at the same time using hard disc for recording, then you need a Freeview+ (also see Freeview Playback) box. I would recommend a Humax (i think its called the 9200T). ...but it wont have a dvd built in. Dave

19-07-2008, 22:57	#21
cooler Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11,177	Quote: Originally Posted by David (2) Normal DVD recorders for tv's, only get 1hr of content onto a blank dvd at XP (highest) quality. You can double the capacity by using the SP mode, which is the lowest I would recommend. Lower settings allow more to be burned to a blank disc, but the compression rate is much higher and this shows in the drop in picture quality - which will now be amplified by the use of HD-Ready LCD tv's. If you get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview with series link/HDMI upscaler-upto 1080p combi (eg, panasonic, £279 on the high St), you can record to the hard disc in top quality everytime, and not worry about running out of space, and keep the widescreen switching signal in the recordings. Dave I only got this DVD Recorder 1 week ago so i won't get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview for quite a while. Hopefully this one will last until the digital switchover in 2012. then i'll get a high end one with Freeview and built in HDD. If you connect the DVD rec via scart lead to the TV to record from the TV's built in Freeview, do you have to have the picture on or can the screen be blank?

DS Forums

Recording in widescreen to DVD recorder

20-07-2008, 01:45	#22
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by cooler I only got this DVD Recorder 1 week ago so i won't get a Hard disc/DVD recorder/Freeview for quite a while. Hopefully this one will last until the digital switchover in 2012. then i'll get a high end one with Freeview and built in HDD. If you connect the DVD rec via scart lead to the TV to record from the TV's built in Freeview, do you have to have the picture on or can the screen be blank? The TV needs to be on. Recording from the TV is a real pain and not to be recommended - it is also low quality as there is no RGB out from the TV. The cheapest way to record Freeview would be to get a cheap Freeview box - there are lots of them second hand on eBay but even new they aren't much. Even better though more expensive is to get a Freeview PVR, these are better than an HDD DVDR recorder for 95% of the time - since you have a DVDR this would be available for archiving (a PVR + a non HDD DVDR is much better than just an HDD DVDR).

22-07-2008, 23:24	#23
cooler Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 11,177	Quote: Originally Posted by bobcar The TV needs to be on. Recording from the TV is a real pain and not to be recommended - it is also low quality as there is no RGB out from the TV. The cheapest way to record Freeview would be to get a cheap Freeview box - there are lots of them second hand on eBay but even new they aren't much. Even better though more expensive is to get a Freeview PVR, these are better than an HDD DVDR recorder for 95% of the time - since you have a DVDR this would be available for archiving (a PVR + a non HDD DVDR is much better than just an HDD DVDR). What's the reason for that?

22-07-2008, 23:58	#24
atvproduction Banned User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 180	Quote: Originally Posted by cooler What's the reason for that? A Freeview PVR will let you watch one channel while you record another or even record 2 channels at once. I dont believe there are any HDD/DVDR combos with more than one tuner.

23-07-2008, 10:56	#25
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by atvproduction A Freeview PVR will let you watch one channel while you record another or even record 2 channels at once. In addition to that they are usually much more convenient and easy to use - I have PVRs (Sky+ and Freeview) plus a Panny HDD DVDR and the DVDR gets used for what its good at (recording DVDs). PVRs also record the original signal without re-encoding and so play back with no reduction in quality. They are also cheaper.