Is a DVD VCR Recorder Right For You?
By Kenny Hemphill
Editor's Summary: Some information about a hybrid machine -- the DVD VCR combo recorder, and why you might prefer it to a straight VCR, or a straight DVD recorder.
A DVD VCR recorder may, at first sight, seem like an ugly combo of old technology
with new. However, there are many advantages to be had from a DVD VCR recorder,
also known as DVD VHS recorder or DVD VCR combo recorder.
The first and most obvious advantage is that it provides an easy way to copy your
old VHS tapes to DVD and thus preserve them for much longer than they would last
on a VHS tape. Just stick the tap and blank DVD into the machine, press a button
and, bingo, you're ropey old VHS tapes can be consigned to the trash, to be
replaced by a shiny, new DVD disc.
Saving space is another advantage of having a DVD VCR recorder. Many people like
to keep hold of old VHS tapes for all sorts of reasons, but having a DVD recorder
and a VCR takes up space, plug sockets, and adds to the jungle of wires behind the
TV.
However, it's not all good news. A DVD VCR recorder has one distinct disadvantage
over having two separate units and its one that affects every area where technology
combines multiple functions into one device. Put simply, if your VCR breaks, you've
lost your DVD recorder to. And vice versa. Whereas, if you had separate VHS and
DVD machines, when one breaks and you need to send it off to be repaired, you still
have the other.
If this potential problem doesn't put you off, and you decide a DVD VHS recorder is
right for you, there are a number of things you should look out for. If possible go
for a device which records to DVD-RAM as well as DVD-R or DVD+R. This allows
you to timeshift your DVD recording, meaning you can watch the start of a program
while still recording the end of it, or pause and rewind live TV. Timeshifting is
incredibly useful and will change the way you watch TV.
You should also look for a device which plays back DVDs using progressive scan.
This means that rather than splitting each frame into two fields and displaying each
one alternately, the entire frame is shown on screen at the same time. This improves
the quality of the picture when watching DVD players.
If you have lots of VHS tapes that you want to carry on watching or want to record to
DVD, it's possible that a DVD VCR recorder could be right for you.
Kenny Hemphill is the editor and publisher of The HDTV Tuner, a site which aims to cut through the confusion
surrounding HDTV and provide surfers with up to date, accurate and easy to read
information on HDTV.
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