DVD recorders

[originalang]

Hi folks, would be grateful for your help with a small query please, ignore our ignorance. We're going to buy a dvd recorder tomorrow and hubby was wondering is it the same as when you put music onto a dvd, that the dvds are for one use only or can you re-.record over. Like I say ignore our ignorance and thank you.

[vehelpfulguy]

There are two types of DVDs called R and RW.

With R you record once and cannot record over the top (although you may be able to ADD stuff to what is already there till it is full).

With R/W you can record something, then record over the top of it. R/W disks are more expensive than R disks.

Note that there are also two types of DVD format called + (plus) and - (minus).

The formats were developed by two different companies and they are similar, but different.

Most DVD recorders can RECORD and PLAY both plus and minus format DVDs, so make sure any DVD recorder you buy can record (and play) both formats.

Also, a DVD recorder has a TV tuner in it (like VHS recorders used to) and make sure you get one with a digital (freeview) tuner in it.

With analogue TV being turned off soon no point in buying a DVD recorder with an analougue tuner in it.

[vehelpfulguy]

Just to clarify the situation with the DVD disks.

There are two DVD formats called + (plus) and - (minus)

And there are two types of disks called R and R/W

So there are 4 types of DVDs that you can buy:

DVD - R (DVD minus R)

DVD - R/W (DVD minus R/W)

DVD + R (DVD plus R)

DVD + R/W (DVD plus R/W)

Generally the minus format is the most popular, and the disks are cheaper.

But if you are going to record a DVD on a disk make sure that the device you want to play it on can play that type of disk.

So if you are going to record a DVD for a friend or relative, find out if their player supports plus, or minus, or both.

(Most modern DVD players support both, but some older ones dont).

Also make sure you "finalise" a DVD before you try to play it on someone elses DVD player. After making the DVD you have to finalize it or it wont play on another DVD player.

It may sound rather confusing but you wil soon get the hang of it.

[Ethel]

Just to add to the excellent answer - there is now a new form of dvd disk - DVD RAM - my new dvd recorder can record to this format, and play it back (obviously) BUT older dvd players cannot play these disks.

My recorder records the formats already discussed as well, but if you intend to play your disks on older machines in the house, these expensive DVD RAMs may not be your choice.

[vehelpfulguy]

My DVD recorder is a panasonic (as I think yours is Ethel) and they developed DVD RAM.

I am not sure many (any?) other companies support it so for the purpose of this discussion I did not mention it.

I think DVD RAM can be ignored, just focus on plus and minus.

[originalang]

Thankyou so much vehelpful guy and ethel for such great and detailed advice. I've got a good idea what I'm looking for now, have been once already but was blinded by science when i read the info on the side of the boxes of the recorders makes so much more sense now as well as the advice about the discs. Thank you again, i really appreciate the time and trouble you took.

[ACtheTROLL]

to answer your question - from a non technical point of view. ;-)

a dvd recorder can create more than one sesssion on a dvd ... so in most cases you can record more than one prog on a dvd - subject to recording quality.

most recorders have a record quality setting ... so the lower the quality ... the more you get on a disc (my mum banks on 4 films per disc - and they are still very acceptable on her steam driven 26")

A definate enhancement to this system is the addition of a hard disc ... that way record and watch ... goes on HDD
record and keep ... goes on DVD
gor a sony for my 78 year old mum who recoeds almost everything ... and keeps most of it

record to watch ... and then decide to keep ... can be transferred from HDD to dvd later

look at a few - get some prices from the likes of empire direct

and if you go somewhere like comet ... or currys

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/category/972/ DVD-Recorders-with-Hard-Drive/pageNum/2/n/1000 972/numPerPage/10/sort/price_asc

when the assist says can I help?
open with something on the lines of ... I like this one ... but it's so much more than i could get it at ......

I can guarantee the assist will just nip off to see if they have any in stock .... and will return with at least a matching offer and might throw in a scart lead.