new to this DVHS stuff

I really would like to record some HD programming. Can anyone provide some basics, eg. like what type of connections does my TV require?

I assume DVI is a must on the TV, if no DVI then no recording and only playback via component inputs right?

James, to record HD using a D-VHS deck, you must have a source device (set-top box) with a Firewire port. Very few such boxes exist at this point in time, but the 'picture' will improve considerably over the next year.

Playback is simply through a component video connection. The current D-VHS decks do not have DVI output at all.

Incidentally, you can also use the JVC D-VHS recorder to record regular (non-HD) TV in a digital format. Picture quality is excellent. In this regard, you can think of a D-VHS deck as being similar to a DVD Recorder.

James, to record HD using a D-VHS deck, you must have a source device (set-top box) with a Firewire port. Very few such boxes exist at this point in time, but the 'picture' will improve considerably over the next year.

Playback is simply through a component video connection. The current D-VHS decks do not have DVI output at all.

Thanks Johnny G,
if available, what would the STB source with a firewire port plug into on the DVHS deck to record if there is no DVI on the current DVHS decks?

and if the DVHS deck is taping from a source with DVI and playpack is on component then does it matter if the TV has DVI or not ?

DVI cannot be recorded. It is strictly for a video source -> TV connection. The set-top would be connected to the D-VHS deck via Firewire. For D-VHS, your TV does not need a DVI input.

DVI cannot be recorded. It is strictly for a video source -> TV connection. The set-top would be connected to the D-VHS deck via Firewire. For D-VHS, your TV does not need a DVI input.

thanks - I was confusing DVI and firewire

DVI cannot be recorded. It is strictly for a video source -> TV connection. The set-top would be connected to the D-VHS deck via Firewire. For D-VHS, your TV does not need a DVI input.

thanks - I was confusing DVI and firewire

not done yet - so then what is all the panic about TV's without DVI if its the STB that really matter when it comes to recording?

johnny g. lots of questions today.

trying to make sense of DVI, firewire, 1394. ieee etc...
what are the 2 usb ports on the back of the DSR500 for?
are these Universal Serial Ports - firewire?

Well, the panic is that future video source devices, like an HD-DVD player for example, will ONLY have DVI output. So, if your TV does not have DVI input, you won't be able to use a device like that at all. For awhile there, it was feared that all future HD cable and satellite boxes would only output an HD signal through DVI and would downconvert HD to SD for output through analog component video jacks. Thankfully, this particular situation has been averted.

I don't really know why the DSR500 has 2 USB ports. They are not interchangeable or convertible to either Firewire or DVI. It's likely that these ports will never really be used. Perhaps for hooking up to a computer or keyboard/mouse for 2-way internet access when that becomes available.

If anyone were in the market for an S-VHS deck, they should buy this instead.

that's where I'm out right now 57, Future shop has a JVC S-VHS for $149 which is the route I may take.

Since I cannot tape any HD with D-VHS deck I really don't see its advantage, unless there is something I am missing here with the D-VHS deck

The ability to tape HD is there provided you have a Firewire-equipped source device, but it also DIGITALLY records regular SD video, just like a DVD Recorder would. You get something like 15 hours or so of SD video onto one T-120 tape (I use pro-grade S-VHS tapes).

It's also capable of playing the highest quality pre-recorded video format available today - D-Theater.

Since I cannot tape any HD with D-VHS deck I really don't see its advantage, unless there is something I am missing here with the D-VHS deck

With a SA8000HD you will be able to archive/record HD with a D-VHS deck. There are also some OTA tuners with Firewire output. And I think a couple of sat tuners too.

It also is the finest SD recording deck I've ever had. The recordings (MPEG-2 encoded real time) are pretty much indistinguishable from the source feed. So, recordings of very high quality SD digital feeds are fantastic.

This is definitely not the case with S-VHS.

And, as John points out, there is the DTheater bonus with the JVC/Marantz decks. I'm awaiting my order for X-Men II and Moulin Rouge.

Until someone sees it, they usually have a hold-up-the-cross reaction to thinking about tape. But, DTheater visuals are truelly spectacular.

It's very, very niche. But, very, very good. The very best there will be until 2005 (2006?).

Gary

Future shop has a JVC S-VHS for $149 which is the route I may take.
Those cheap ($150-$200) S-VHS decks are pretty crappy. The PQ is almost indistinguishable from a regular VHS deck. It's only when you spend $400+ for an S-VHS with noise reduction circuitry, etc that you get close to the 400 lines that S-VHS is capable of. That's why I mentioned that the D-VHS is a good alternative. Also the reliability and quality of the cheaper S-VHS decks is very poor. You can expect them to last a year or two and then discard them, because they'd cost $150 to fix.

do you lads happen to know how the recorded HD widescreen material looks in SD on the D-VHS decks?

is it comparable to DVD?

and what is the timeframe for the SA8000HD?



ADDED: its subjective but I'm interested from a RPTV standpoint.

Well, the panic is that future video source devices, like an HD-DVD player for example, will ONLY have DVI output. So, if your TV does not have DVI input, you won't be able to use a device like that at all. For awhile there, it was feared that all future HD cable and satellite boxes would only output an HD signal through DVI and would downconvert HD to SD for output through analog component video jacks. Thankfully, this particular situation has been averted.

that's not great news about future HD-DVD only having DVI output

but I just read another post that the SA8000HD may be available late this month or early Jan 04 which is great news --- are we early adopters OK with this unit if we have components only, will we be able to output the recorded HD from the SA8000HD's units Hard drives onto our HDTV's via component in full HD glory?

...will we be able to output the recorded HD from the SA8000HD's units Hard drives onto our HDTV's via component in full HD glory?
Yes, for now anyway...

(There have been rumours about downrezzing and restricted recording, etc. But at this point "all is OK") The restricted recording may be limited to PPVHD, etc.

As I mentioned on another thread, there are "flags" that may restrict what you can do with the programme on the hard drive. The flag may, for example, prevent further copying, depending on what the content is...

We are pretty certain for example that "non-OTA" material may not be sent to a computer. We'll find out as the HD STBs are rolled out...

Travisc has some 6208s. Travisc - have you tried "onward" recording?

do you lads happen to know how the recorded HD widescreen material looks in SD on the D-VHS decks?

is it comparable to DVD?
I imagine it would be roughly equivalant to DVD, but it depends on the recording rate you use. I think there are 2 options available. I stick to "LS3" mode which is probably simiilar to the bit rate of a TMN channel, but less than DVD. I'm not sure of the bit rate of the higher quality recording mode.

Of course, if you were recording HD using a Firewire connection, the recording would be identical to the original.

that's not great news about future HD-DVD only having DVI output
I didn't mean to state this as a certainty, but it's a strong possibility.

are we early adopters OK with this unit if we have components only, will we be able to output the recorded HD from the SA8000HD's units Hard drives onto our HDTV's via component in full HD glory?
Yes!

do you lads happen to know how the recorded HD widescreen material looks in SD on the D-VHS decks?

is it comparable to DVD?

and what is the timeframe for the SA8000HD?

ADDED: its subjective but I'm interested from a RPTV standpoint.

Am I understanding right: You're asking how good downconverted HD would look?

That's a good question. I have no idea. I watch all HD at 1080i.

I think my JVC deck will do the downconvert. I can tell you that for DTheater the quality of darker scenes is far beyond what DVD can achieve. An underwater scene, which frequently shows a lot of digital noise with DVD, is crystal clear with DTheater (e.g. U571, which is considered a reference transfer for DTheater).

So, if a downconvert occurs, the overall quality should exceed DVD. Sometimes substantially. DVD sometimes hits the limits of the bit-rate. But with broadcast HD (1080i) you have at least twice the bit-rate of DVD and five times that of DTV, and DTheater has at least three times the bit-rate of DVD.

This is actually one thing that isn't mentioned much with the push for the elimination of analog TV in the US. When a good part of TV broadcasts are HDTV, the STBs that are sold for regular TVs should provide them with the best source they've ever had. A nice standard 36-inch TV should have a damn fine picture if supplied a downconverted HD source.

Gary

I think/thought he was referring to recordings made from the downconverted output of a set-top receiver like a Star Choice DSR500 or a 3250HD. These devices simultaneously output HD video via component video and SD video via composite or s-video.

I think/thought he was referring to recordings made from the downconverted output of a set-top receiver like a Star Choice DSR500 or a 3250HD. These devices simultaneously output HD video via component video and SD video via composite or s-video.

Yep, since not able to record any HD programming right now I was wondering what the recorded quality from some HD programming from *C or Rogers would be like using the D-VHS decks.

great info lads - thanks.