The INQUIRER Guide to buying a DVD Recorder

RECORDING TO DVD has been old hat in the PC arena for some time now. Just ask anyone who copies DVD movies from their local video store at home. Obviously, these are just backups in case the video store burns down and they need to replace their stock. Ahem. DVD recording in the living room though is a relatively new concept. So, what should you be looking out for before parting with your cash? Let's recap on the current state of the market. The players might have been around for about a year but the prices have been a bit heart-stopping and the offerings a bit thin on the ground. It hasn't helped that the key vendors have been squabbling about which DVD recording format to support - never the best when trying to create a whole new consumer craze. If you need to know what format is what, check out the last column, here. The Dixons Group dumping VCRs before Christmas and going dotty over DVD recorders has also helped raise the profile of DVD recording. Any day now, Dixons will also explain the technology to its staff so that intelligent questions from consumers are met by more than a 1,000 yard stare and "Huh?". OK, here we go.

Decide what you want it for
There are three main categories of DVD recorder: DVD recorders that record to disc, DVD recorders with in-built hard drives (DVD/HDD) and finally, DVD/VHS recorders. Unless you have a large porn - sorry - I mean collection of Inspector Morse videos that need preserving on DVD, avoid a DVD/VHS recorder since they cost more. If you plan to record a lot of TV, then go for a DVD/HDD recorder unless you are happy with the idea of filling, and filing, 10 blank DVD-R disks week. If you only tape stuff now and then save yourself a lot of money and just get a vanilla DVD recorder that records to discs.

What recording format?
This was more of an issue last year but thanks to companies like Sony, it is becoming less so, because it has launched a player that supports DVD-R/-RW and DVD+R/+RW. Here's how they stack up. DVD-RAM is the most reliable and flexible format when it comes to editing recordings. All of the discs are rewriteable but at around £5 each, they are the most expensive. Oh yeah, did I mention that most of the world's DVD players cannot - yes, cannot - play DVD-RAM discs. Still, if you have no friends, this the option for you. DVD-R and -RW-players were the first and the blank media is cheaper than Jodie Marsh. However, editing is fiddly unless you use the VR mode, which in turn makes them less compatible with some regular DVD players. DVD+R/+RW players make it easier to edit discs and the media is also cheap. DVD-Ram players usually support DVD-R/-RW while there are a growing of players that support DVD-R/RW and DVD+RW - expect to pay bit more though.

DVD disc or DVD/HDD recorder?
Simple, if you have around £300-£400, then invest in a DVD/HDD recorder with a 120-160GB hard drive. Editing stuff on a hard drive is just like in the PC - easy labelling, and simple deletion. Being able to then record the good stuff to disc is a bonus.

Essential features
Alongside the regular S-video and composite video out, and RF aerial connection, try ensure that your recorder supports, or comes with, most of the below.

Time-slip
Time-slip or time-shifting is a feature available to all of the DVD/HDD recorders. This allows you to watch something from the start while it is still recording. Since public transport and traffic jams means we miss the start of most of our favourite shows, this is invaluable. The feature is also supported by DVD-RAM-based recorders. It is not however supported by most of the disc format players, but this is changing, most notably with the Sony RDR-GXD500.

RGB Input
Try and ensure that your recorder has two Scart sockets and that at least one of them is RGB-Input enabled. Without it, the high-quality images on your screen from digital TV stations like Sky Digital and Freeview will be recorded in lower-quality composite video. Defeats the purpose really.

Digital Video (DV)
For those of you with a camcorder, a DV-Input is vital since you can bypass messing with the PC and just transfer what you need to straight to a blank disc.

Optical and Coaxial
If you like surround sound, then make sure your recorder comes with either an optical or coaxial connection, preferably both, so you can hook it up to a dedicated AV receiver or an All-in-One AV system.

Component-Out
This supports Progressive Scan technology for better quality playback of DVDs.

Finally, in terms of format playback, the more the merrier. Every DVD player and recorder supports DVD video and CD playback, but what about MP3, WMA, JPEG, DiVX/MPEG4 and Super Video CD formats? If you want to view the summer snaps, make sure it supports JPEG. The same goes for those above-board, legally-purchased MP3 compilations you downloaded from the Web. µ

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