Does anyone have a set top DVD recorder?

traveler · 07-13-2008, 02:52 PM

Does anyone have a set top DVD recorder? Or set top DVD combo unit? If so, which brand do you have and how do you like it? Does it have a TV tuner in it?

I'm thinking of getting one since, as far as I know, only set top DVD recorders can record the signal including a usable CC signal. I'm after recording signals with the CC signal from my archieved VHS collection as well as from over the air.

**k0NG0** · 07-13-2008, 04:15 PM

My parents have a Hitachi. The single most brain damaged user interface I have ever come across. You can't play a music CD without having to turn the TV on to navigate through something like 3 menu screens. It resets the output resolution willy-nilly, set it at 720p and sooner or later it starts with 576i and you get no video on the TV.

Utterly unintuitive. I'd say don't buy Hitachi based on this one model alone. Seriously, I'm not kidding. It's a gigantic piece of crap. Whoever was project manager for the UI part should really be punched in the face.

PeterT · 07-13-2008, 07:37 PM

I have a Lite-On LVW-5115GHC+
Works as advertised, has a tuner and a relatively simple interface. I have used it to record from both the cable box and VCR. It does both fine. The only thing that has not worked for me (not sure if it's my TV or the unit) is the progressive output on the component connections (480p).

bobb022002 · 07-18-2008, 08:12 AM

I've had a Panasonic DMR-E75 for a year or two. Not sure if they still sell them, but it's a real nice unit. I can record TV, edit out the commercials, then burn to a DVD as well. Has a VCR also, which you can record to the hard drive then burn to DVD.

traveler · 07-18-2008, 11:51 PM

Thanks for the replies Buds.

How did the closed captioning come out for you all?

If you record a VCR tape to the hard drive and then to a DVD, the CC will disappear because you just converted the analog signal on the tape which includes the CC, to digital video only on the hard drive. Unless you have a capture program that includes the capture of the cc signal. There has to be a separate digital capture of the closed captioning analog signal which a DVD recorder will capture and thus be available for you to use later from the new DVD recording.

bobb022002 · 07-23-2008, 07:14 AM

Sorry Traveler, I can't help you there. Never worried about the CC stuff. Wish I could help out more...

07-13-2008, 02:52 PM	#1
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,177	Does anyone have a set top DVD recorder? Does anyone have a set top DVD recorder? Or set top DVD combo unit? If so, which brand do you have and how do you like it? Does it have a TV tuner in it? I'm thinking of getting one since, as far as I know, only set top DVD recorders can record the signal including a usable CC signal. I'm after recording signals with the CC signal from my archieved VHS collection as well as from over the air.
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07-13-2008, 04:15 PM	#2
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,627	Re: Does anyone have a set top DVD recorder? My parents have a Hitachi. The single most brain damaged user interface I have ever come across. You can't play a music CD without having to turn the TV on to navigate through something like 3 menu screens. It resets the output resolution willy-nilly, set it at 720p and sooner or later it starts with 576i and you get no video on the TV. Utterly unintuitive. I'd say don't buy Hitachi based on this one model alone. Seriously, I'm not kidding. It's a gigantic piece of crap. Whoever was project manager for the UI part should really be punched in the face. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
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07-13-2008, 07:37 PM	#3
PeterT C/TUSL2C/P4P800D/P5B-D Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Sunny Florida, USA Posts: 2,023	Re: Does anyone have a set top DVD recorder? I have a Lite-On LVW-5115GHC+ Works as advertised, has a tuner and a relatively simple interface. I have used it to record from both the cable box and VCR. It does both fine. The only thing that has not worked for me (not sure if it's my TV or the unit) is the progressive output on the component connections (480p). __________________ Proud Member: Team-CUSL2 - 'The Old School Crew' Current: P5B-D, E6600 @ 3.0, 4x1GB Crucial Ballistix PC8500, EVGA 8800GTS 512MB Old: P4P800-D, P4 2.4C @ 3.0, 4x512MB Mushkin PC3200, ATI AIW X800XT 256MB Older: TUSL2C, P3-S 1.4, 2x256MB Corsair XMS150, ATI 9800PRO 128MB, TB Santa Cruz Oldest: CUSL2, P3 1.0, 1x256MB & 2x128MB Corsair PC133, Asus V7700D 32MB, SB Live! *Note: Any advertisements that may appear in this post were not placed there by me. Please join the site to browse without advertisements.*
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07-18-2008, 08:12 AM	#4
bobb022002 Awwww, man! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 97	Re: Does anyone have a set top DVD recorder? I've had a Panasonic DMR-E75 for a year or two. Not sure if they still sell them, but it's a real nice unit. I can record TV, edit out the commercials, then burn to a DVD as well. Has a VCR also, which you can record to the hard drive then burn to DVD.
(Offline)

07-18-2008, 11:51 PM	#5
traveler Where to next? Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Florida Posts: 18,177	Thanks for the replies Buds. How did the closed captioning come out for you all? If you record a VCR tape to the hard drive and then to a DVD, the CC will disappear because you just converted the analog signal on the tape which includes the CC, to digital video only on the hard drive. Unless you have a capture program that includes the capture of the cc signal. There has to be a separate digital capture of the closed captioning analog signal which a DVD recorder will capture and thus be available for you to use later from the new DVD recording.
(Offline)

07-23-2008, 07:14 AM	#6
bobb022002 Awwww, man! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 97	Re: Does anyone have a set top DVD recorder? Sorry Traveler, I can't help you there. Never worried about the CC stuff. Wish I could help out more...
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