DVD Recorders

Buying a DVD Recorder

Introduction and Advantages

Offering close to double the resolution of traditional Video Cassette Recorders (VCRs), programmes viewed on Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players are crisper and clearer, with improved colour and are interference free. DVD players can deliver CD quality sound through two channels together with various Dolby Digital options ranging from mono sound through to 5.1 channel surround. They are far more easily navigated than their VCR counterparts, allowing fast forward, rewind and track selection in a similar fashion to CDs. Most DVD players can be easily set up using on-screen display (on the television). Similarly, when watching DVDs, the on-screen menu is readily accessible and allows quick changes to viewing options. More advanced models include additional options such as variable zoom, which allows you to focus in on part of a scene. DVD players are also able to play CD's, sometimes at a better quality than standard stereo systems. Some even allow you to view digital photos on a CD, whilst others will play back MP3 discs and recordable CDs.

As the name suggests, DVD recorders allow you to record programmes onto a hard drive with the quality and playback benefits described above.

Understanding Disc Formats

There are a number of different formats:

DVD RAM

Allows the viewing of a programme from the start whilst it is still being recorded. You can watch one programme on the disc whilst recording another and you can pause live TV. RAM discs can be re-written but only played on a DVD RAM player.

DVD-R/RW

Automatically finds and records onto the available blank space on the disc. Will play back on most DVD players. DVD-R format discs are write once only wheras DVD-RW format discs can be re-written many times.

DVD+R/RW

These recordings will playback on most DVD players. This is well suited to those who wish to share recordings. Again, DVD+R format discs are write once only whilst DVD+RW format discs can be re-written as many times as you like.