TdF and DVDRecorders

flyingdutch said:

Wandered down to JBHIFI at lunchtime (workin in the CBD is very cool
sometimes...) and checked out DVDRecorders for the marathon upcoming
events.

$358 was the cheapest (nonharddrive) model they had.
Does anyone know of any good deals going and tips for what to
get/not-get?

Just pay the $358 you tightarse! And do it before Hell on Wheels is
screened on SBS. And then you make me a copy of everything. 😉

DaveB

flyingdutch said:

Wandered down to JBHIFI at lunchtime (workin in the CBD is very cool sometimes...) and checked out DVDRecorders for the marathon upcoming events.

$358 was the cheapest (nonharddrive) model they had.
Does anyone know of any good deals going and tips for what to get/not-get?

Obviously a few tour-watchers thinking along similar lines at the moment, I was down at JB a few days ago conducting similar research myself.

Personally I'd try really hard to find the extra dollars to go for a recorder with a hard drive - seems to give you a lot more flexibility, although starting prices are more like $800. For example, to fit a 5 hour tour stage onto a single DVD you'd need to record in a highly compressed format which presumably gives [censored] picture quality. With a HD recorder, you can just record the lot to hard drive in normal or high quality format, then save just the "best bits" on a DVD.

One thing to watch with recorders that handle rewriteable discs is the format. Panasonic use something called DVD-RAM which isn't widely compatible with other machines or PC DVD drives and costs something like $20-$30 / disc. Others use DVD-RW or DVD+RW which are more interchangeable and cheaper media. Most of the time though you wouldn't bother with rewritable formats, just record to single use DVD-R or DVD+R discs. (especially if you have a hard drive recorder which lets you decide what to keep, and edit it, before burning to DVD)

If you have a digital video cam, look for a recorder with an "i-link" or "DVI" (IEEE-1394) connection which lets you transfer direct from your camera to the recorder in the original digital format (ie no reduction in quality through going from digital to analogue then back to digital).

I'd be interested to hear from people on whether there are significant differences in quality of recording / playback between different models. For example, some machines use 10-bit / 54 MHz A-D converters to digitize the video, others have 12-bit / 108 MHz chips - does this make any difference in practice?

HTH

cheers

Unregistered said:

Obviously a few tour-watchers thinking along similar lines at the moment, I was down at JB a few days ago conducting similar research myself.

well, it IS important. clients can wait...

Unregistered said:

Personally I'd try really hard to find the extra dollars to go for a recorder with a hard drive - seems to give you a lot more flexibility, although starting prices are more like $800. For example, to fit a 5 hour tour stage onto a single DVD you'd need to record in a highly compressed format which presumably gives [censored] picture quality. With a HD recorder, you can just record the lot to hard drive in normal or high quality format, then save just the "best bits" on a DVD.

hmmm. maybe youre right. damn your eyes! 😄

Unregistered said:

One thing to watch with recorders that handle rewriteable discs is the format. Panasonic use something called DVD-RAM which isn't widely compatible with other machines or PC DVD drives and costs something like $20-$30 / disc. Others use DVD-RW or DVD+RW which are more interchangeable and cheaper media. Most of the time though you wouldn't bother with rewritable formats, just record to single use DVD-R or DVD+R discs. (especially if you have a hard drive recorder which lets you decide what to keep, and edit it, before burning to DVD)

WHOA! I use DVD-rams on me Mac and they aint THAT much!

Unregistered said:

If you have a digital video cam, look for a recorder with an "i-link" or "DVI" (IEEE-1394) connection which lets you transfer direct from your camera to the recorder in the original digital format (ie no reduction in quality through going from digital to analogue then back to digital).

good thinking. I have one of them. now if i can just strap it to my helmet...

Unregistered said:

I'd be interested to hear from people on whether there are significant differences in quality of recording / playback between different models. For example, some machines use 10-bit / 54 MHz A-D converters to digitize the video, others have 12-bit / 108 MHz chips - does this make any difference in practice?

Huh? you are one of them regular lurkers in JBHIFI, arent you? 🙄

"flyingdutch" wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

Wandered down to JBHIFI at lunchtime (workin in the CBD is very cool
sometimes...) and checked out DVDRecorders for the marathon upcoming
events.

$358 was the cheapest (nonharddrive) model they had.
Does anyone know of any good deals going and tips for what to
get/not-get?

Picked myself up a Digital Fusion HDTV-T High Definition VIVO PCI card for
my pc/server for just under $200 yesterday after we were talking about this
stuff at Smith's Gully... setup/software seems good and I have already
timer-recorded a few things straight to HDD last night.. 2Gb/30mins

Computing power and HDDs = cheap... and PC editing before committing to
dvd-r/whatever is ultimate niceness..

cheers,
GPL

GPLama said:

Picked myself up a Digital Fusion HDTV-T High Definition VIVO PCI card for
my pc/server for just under $200 yesterday after we were talking about this
stuff at Smith's Gully... setup/software seems good and I have already
timer-recorded a few things straight to HDD last night.. 2Gb/30mins

Computing power and HDDs = cheap... and PC editing before committing to
dvd-r/whatever is ultimate niceness..

cheers,
GPL

wots the image quality like? is it bog-standard TV reception or something better?

i must be getting old (that was NOT a cue people...). i almost fell over when i bought last week a 300Gb drive for $400!!!
when i was a lad we didnt know what a Gb was...

flyingdutch said:

Wandered down to JBHIFI at lunchtime (workin in the CBD is very cool
sometimes...) and checked out DVDRecorders for the marathon upcoming
events.

$358 was the cheapest (nonharddrive) model they had.
Does anyone know of any good deals going and tips for what to
get/not-get?

--
flyingdutch

FD,
get the recorder with the HD. You will never regret it. A machine
with a HD allows you to do things like

1) "back up" your VCR collection editing out all the unwanted "[censored]".
2) Watch TV shows in "chase mode" meaning you can skip the ads.
3) Record hours of TDF and watch at your convenience.

There's also the option of a digital PVR. Which provides all of the
above in digital quality.

Gee, Looks like everyone is down at JB doing the same thing indeed. I was there (Brisbane) on friday night and lay- byed ( for a week!) my new Pioneer ??520H ?? 80G HD DVD recorder. Cost me just over $700 with some discs which I thought was a good buy. (have no money but what the heck) I have been unable to find anything new (name brand!) on e.bay for a better price either so bit the bullet.

I could have bought Panasonic but 2 different reps advised Pioneer. This model is a run out as new one comes in late July so you may have trouble finding it now.

I think you need the HD for the extra versatility. I cannot wait to get it working...a whole new opportunity beyond the PS2 DVD capability awaits!.

osc

VHS never did me no wrong.
And I never needed to upgrade it in 6yrs, try that with your current model whiz bang $1000+ DVD/hard drive recorder.

"flyingdutch" wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

wots the image quality like? is it bog-standard TV reception or
something better?

Quality is as good as HDTV gets.. so I guess awesome.. review here:
http://tinyurl.com/dfk6u

Quoted message said:

i must be getting old (that was NOT a cue people...). i almost fell
over when i bought last week a 300Gb drive for $400!!!
when i was a lad we didnt know what a Gb was...

Ripped!.. 400Gb listed for $435 at our local dealer of things digital
www.upcw.com.au If only bike technology became as outdated/cheap as old
pc equipment!

cheers,
GPL

flyingdutch said:

i must be getting old (that was NOT a cue people...). i almost fell
over when i bought last week a 300Gb drive for $400!!!
when i was a lad we didnt know what a Gb was...

A GB?? come on Dutch I know you're around the same age as me, and when
we were kids, home PC backups were to audio tapes (and did I ever [censored]
my Dad off a couple of times when I backed up over his favourite albums).

DaveB

osc said:

Gee, Looks like everyone is down at JB doing the same thing indeed. I
was there (Brisbane) on friday night and lay- byed ( for a week!) my
new Pioneer ??520H ?? 80G HD DVD recorder. Cost me just over $700 with
some discs which I thought was a good buy. (have no money but what the
heck) I have been unable to find anything new (name brand!) on e.bay
for a better price either so bit the bullet.

I could have bought Panasonic but 2 different reps advised Pioneer.
This model is a run out as new one comes in late July so you may have
trouble finding it now.

I think you need the HD for the extra versatility. I cannot wait to get
it working...a whole new opportunity beyond the PS2 DVD capability
awaits!.

osc

Sigh, I'm sadly lacking in the technology stakes. I was wrapped on the
weekend to get a new TV. Just your bog standard bottom of the range 68cm
but this replaced the 35cm portable we've been using for a couple of
months. Man, after 35cm, a 68cm looks like we've gone to the cinema.
perfect for watching late night TdF.

DaveB

DaveB said:

A GB?? come on Dutch I know you're around the same age as me, and when
we were kids, home PC backups were to audio tapes (and did I ever [censored]
my Dad off a couple of times when I backed up over his favourite albums).

DaveB

yeah but we had a 'NERD' to do that stuff, and i didnt start doing design on 'puters. we used crayons n everfink! you could always guarantee that damn typesetting was stuck to your elbow...

now of course every client thinks they can design cos they have MSPaint. grrrr (Apologies to GPL who's iilustrative skills are truly wondrous*)

F"puters! loooksherry"Dutch

* in this scenario 'wondrous' translates to truly [censored]! not unlike Brett's hairstyle at smith's gully. bwahahahahahahahahah

"flyingdutch" wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

now of course every client thinks they can design cos they have
MSPaint. grrrr (Apologies to GPL who's iilustrative skills are truly
wondrous*)

F"puters! loooksherry"Dutch

* in this scenario 'wondrous' translates to truly [censored]! not unlike
Brett's hairstyle at smith's gully. bwahahahahahahahahah

hahahahahahhaaaahahah... that was a truly memorable 'do'...

cheers,
GPL

"flyingdutch" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wandered down to JBHIFI at lunchtime (workin in the CBD is very cool
sometimes...) and checked out DVDRecorders for the marathon upcoming
events.

$358 was the cheapest (nonharddrive) model they had.
Does anyone know of any good deals going and tips for what to
get/not-get?

get a digital hi-def Tv card, a new 200g+ harddrive, and an s-video cable.
Cost yer about $250?

:-P
(that's what I've done)

flyingdutch said:

Wandered down to JBHIFI at lunchtime (workin in the CBD is very cool
sometimes...) and checked out DVDRecorders for the marathon upcoming
events.

$358 was the cheapest (nonharddrive) model they had.
Does anyone know of any good deals going and tips for what to
get/not-get?

Buy the TdF DVD when it comes out? 🙂

It's cheaper than $358. And...I don't get SBS reception as good as I'd like.

--
Nick

NoZX6R said:

Buy the TdF DVD when it comes out? 🙂

It's cheaper than $358. And...I don't get SBS reception as good as I'd like.

--
Nick

i bet you buy last decade's fashions too! cheapskate 😄

images of ZX with midriff showing. oh wait! that's still with us...
(unleashed tummies, not ZX's tho...)

this thread has just gone south.

oh god, i cant stop. Someone pass a ladder, i cant_get_out...

flyingdutch said:

Wandered down to JBHIFI at lunchtime (workin in the CBD is very cool sometimes...) and checked out DVDRecorders for the marathon upcoming events.

$358 was the cheapest (nonharddrive) model they had.
Does anyone know of any good deals going and tips for what to get/not-get?

SNAP. i went to JB Prahran this afternoon and bought a 160GB Pioneer HDD/DVD=R recorder:-)

"flyingdutch" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wandered down to JBHIFI at lunchtime (workin in the CBD is very cool
sometimes...) and checked out DVDRecorders for the marathon upcoming
events.

$358 was the cheapest (nonharddrive) model they had.
Does anyone know of any good deals going and tips for what to
get/not-get?

I've got a Sharp, with a HDD. Even the most compressed quality is much the
same as a VHS that's been watched a couple of times. OK, it's not HDTV but
for watching TdF re-runs it's fine. Great being able to edit bits out, put
in custom chapter markers, make "playlists" of bits from recorded shows, dub
to HDD from DVD or VHS (apparently might not work for copyrighted stuff?!?
don;t know about this). Chasing play and time-slip are great. The DVD-R
written seem very compatible with cheap and expensive players...

My advice, get one with a HDD and DVD-R at least. Out of all of them the
Sharp in the mid-grey colour (with 120GB drive) looks the cutest and goes
nicely with NAD HiFi gear :-)

Now, to get a list of all the (WA) TdF G-codes.......anyone?

Cheers
David M

flyingdutch said:

Wandered down to JBHIFI at lunchtime (workin in the CBD is very cool sometimes...) and checked out DVDRecorders for the marathon upcoming events.

$358 was the cheapest (nonharddrive) model they had.
Does anyone know of any good deals going and tips for what to get/not-get?

I was thinking the same thing as my VCR is bung. One thing to consider is the dual layer burners are coming out now like this one:
tinyurl.comb4mvgOpen ↗

I think I'll just get a cheapie long play vcr until the price drops right down.