DVD Recorder? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

drjohnnyfever · 2012-04-27, 10:49 AM

My buddy and I prefer DVRs over PVRs, and both of us have aging DVRs that are getting a bit flaky.

Best Buy doesn't seem to sell them anymore... Future Shop has 2 I think... Tiger Direct maybe has 1.

So, my questions...

1. Are they dying as a product, or is there still a strong niche market for them?
2. What's the current best models, with and without a hard drive?

das75 · 2012-04-27, 02:17 PM

looks like you answered the first question yourself

Blackloz · 2012-04-27, 02:28 PM

I use the Toshiba DR-7, its been great, although there is a newer model out now.

jshel101 · 2012-04-27, 02:54 PM

I would take a guess to say that if they are hard to buy, then most likely this is a dying market. If they where popular, then you would see more brands and stores selling them.

mrvanwinkles · 2012-04-28, 12:29 PM

1. Yes, I am guessing that they are becomming more rare as a product, just because I don't see many on shelves for sale when I look around.

Unfortunate because I have one and it's awesome.

2. Couple years ago I purchased a SONY RDR-HX750.

DVD player / recorder with 160 GB hard drive inside.

I found it's pretty awsome.

I'm recording and editing and burning all sorts of stuff off TV that I capture off air or off cable. Or capture old (signifigant) stuff from VHS tape, into an input, onto the hard drive - edit - and than burn to a DVD.

It only has the Analog Cable or Analog NTSC tuner in it ... but has lots of inputs and outputs - so at times I've even hooked up a DTV ATSC Digital OTA - over the air - convertor box to it and recorded from that off air, digital broadcasts, received via antenna.

Takes a little while to learn all the neat features, but the manual is pretty good. And then you just have to try the different features and experiment.

I wish SONY would come out with newer models of something like this unit.

- larger hard drive
- with the DIGITAL ATSC over the air tuner included.
- eventually that will record and burn in HD i.e. A Blue Ray machine too.

ie a stand alone, DVD / BD - SD / HD - player / recorder with large Hard Drive. Multiple tuners: Analog / Digital / ATSC / NTSC / QAM

I don't know ... maybe somethink like that is already out there ...

( I hear members on the Forum talk of / use HTPC's and TiVo's and stuff like that to perform that function )

Cockroach · 2012-04-29, 06:58 PM

I somehow think there is some legal/copyright issue that prevents the sale of a machine that records in HD and can reproduce that quality infinitely. I am sure there isn't any technological issue (which is why a PC with a tuner card can perform as required from your wish list).

ogorek · 2012-05-06, 07:00 AM

I think DVR recorders sold in US must have build in tuner and since the OTA market is smaller manufacturers stopped making DVRs. Too bad because OTA is gaining popularity and DVRs with build in ATSC tuner at a right price would be hot selling items.

drjohnnyfever · 2012-05-14, 09:48 AM

I found this while 'Googling':

MONSOON VULKANO BLAST
http://www.myvulkano.com/products_volcano_blast.html

Anyone try, or heard of, these?

Veee · 2012-05-16, 09:01 AM

I have the base Vulkano model which only records via a PC. I'm quite pleased with it.

The other models you can record right on the unit . The big advantage with these over a DVR is that you can access the recordings remotely from a PC or mobile phone.

The one disadvantage I can think of is that while you are recording a program you cannot watch another live program at the same time. It doesn't have its own tuner like a DVD recorder.

drjohnnyfever · 2012-05-16, 10:53 AM

The lack of tuner isn't a big deal. I time shift my recordings if I think they're going to interfere with other viewing.

What format does it record the files in? Would I be able to build an archive on my MAC to watch at a significantly later time (later enough that I wouldn't want to keep them local on the Vulkano)? What I like to do sometimes is record episodes of a new TV show and but not watch them until I've heard enough 'buzz' to know they're worth watching.

Veee · 2012-05-16, 11:29 AM

Recording format is MPEG-4, Base Media / Version 2 and Codec ID: mp42.

http://vulkanocommunity.com/vulkano-...-review-chart/

You can transfer the recordings to a computer/tablet.

csks · 2012-05-16, 04:47 PM

Re the Vulkano units, audio is two channels (L/R) only correct?

Veee · 2012-05-17, 08:04 AM

Yes that's correct

drjohnnyfever · 2012-05-17, 08:15 AM

I don't think I've ever seen a DVR that can record 5.1 audio. Can't imagine it's a file size issue, so it must be too expensive to include the processing hardware?

I just think it's cool that the Vulkano has component inputs. On my current DVR, I have to put the component outputs into an adapter box that converts it to svideo.

2012-04-27, 10:49 AM	#1
drjohnnyfever Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 102	DVD Recorder? My buddy and I prefer DVRs over PVRs, and both of us have aging DVRs that are getting a bit flaky. Best Buy doesn't seem to sell them anymore... Future Shop has 2 I think... Tiger Direct maybe has 1. So, my questions... 1. Are they dying as a product, or is there still a strong niche market for them? 2. What's the current best models, with and without a hard drive?

2012-05-16, 09:01 AM	#9
Veee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 525	I have the base Vulkano model which only records via a PC. I'm quite pleased with it. The other models you can record right on the unit . The big advantage with these over a DVR is that you can access the recordings remotely from a PC or mobile phone. The one disadvantage I can think of is that while you are recording a program you cannot watch another live program at the same time. It doesn't have its own tuner like a DVD recorder. Last edited by 57; 2012-05-16 at 10:06 AM. Reason: Unnecessary Quote Removed

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2012-04-27, 02:17 PM	#2
das75 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edmonton Posts: 459	looks like you answered the first question yourself

2012-04-27, 02:28 PM	#3
Blackloz Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Regina,SK & Plentywood MT Posts: 855	I use the Toshiba DR-7, its been great, although there is a newer model out now.

2012-04-27, 02:54 PM	#4
jshel101 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,713	I would take a guess to say that if they are hard to buy, then most likely this is a dying market. If they where popular, then you would see more brands and stores selling them.

2012-04-28, 12:29 PM	#5
mrvanwinkles Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eastern Ontario (Ottawa/Kingston) Posts: 1,381	1. Yes, I am guessing that they are becomming more rare as a product, just because I don't see many on shelves for sale when I look around. Unfortunate because I have one and it's awesome. 2. Couple years ago I purchased a SONY RDR-HX750. DVD player / recorder with 160 GB hard drive inside. I found it's pretty awsome. I'm recording and editing and burning all sorts of stuff off TV that I capture off air or off cable. Or capture old (signifigant) stuff from VHS tape, into an input, onto the hard drive - edit - and than burn to a DVD. It only has the Analog Cable or Analog NTSC tuner in it ... but has lots of inputs and outputs - so at times I've even hooked up a DTV ATSC Digital OTA - over the air - convertor box to it and recorded from that off air, digital broadcasts, received via antenna. Takes a little while to learn all the neat features, but the manual is pretty good. And then you just have to try the different features and experiment. I wish SONY would come out with newer models of something like this unit. - larger hard drive - with the DIGITAL ATSC over the air tuner included. - eventually that will record and burn in HD i.e. A Blue Ray machine too. ie a stand alone, DVD / BD - SD / HD - player / recorder with large Hard Drive. Multiple tuners: Analog / Digital / ATSC / NTSC / QAM I don't know ... maybe somethink like that is already out there ... ( I hear members on the Forum talk of / use HTPC's and TiVo's and stuff like that to perform that function )

2012-04-29, 06:58 PM	#6
Cockroach Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vancouver Posts: 580	I somehow think there is some legal/copyright issue that prevents the sale of a machine that records in HD and can reproduce that quality infinitely. I am sure there isn't any technological issue (which is why a PC with a tuner card can perform as required from your wish list).

2012-05-06, 07:00 AM	#7
ogorek Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 178	I think DVR recorders sold in US must have build in tuner and since the OTA market is smaller manufacturers stopped making DVRs. Too bad because OTA is gaining popularity and DVRs with build in ATSC tuner at a right price would be hot selling items.

2012-05-14, 09:48 AM	#8
drjohnnyfever Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 102	I found this while 'Googling': MONSOON VULKANO BLAST http://www.myvulkano.com/products_volcano_blast.html Anyone try, or heard of, these?

2012-05-16, 10:53 AM	#10
drjohnnyfever Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 102	The lack of tuner isn't a big deal. I time shift my recordings if I think they're going to interfere with other viewing. What format does it record the files in? Would I be able to build an archive on my MAC to watch at a significantly later time (later enough that I wouldn't want to keep them local on the Vulkano)? What I like to do sometimes is record episodes of a new TV show and but not watch them until I've heard enough 'buzz' to know they're worth watching.

2012-05-16, 11:29 AM	#11
Veee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 525	Recording format is MPEG-4, Base Media / Version 2 and Codec ID: mp42. http://vulkanocommunity.com/vulkano-...-review-chart/ You can transfer the recordings to a computer/tablet.

2012-05-16, 04:47 PM	#12
csks Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: GTA Posts: 150	Re the Vulkano units, audio is two channels (L/R) only correct?

2012-05-17, 08:04 AM	#13
Veee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 525	Yes that's correct

2012-05-17, 08:15 AM	#14
drjohnnyfever Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 102	I don't think I've ever seen a DVR that can record 5.1 audio. Can't imagine it's a file size issue, so it must be too expensive to include the processing hardware? I just think it's cool that the Vulkano has component inputs. On my current DVR, I have to put the component outputs into an adapter box that converts it to svideo.