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-------------------------------------------------------------- This story was printed from CNET Asia. --------------------------------------------------------------
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Digital video recorder buying guide
By Philip Wong
26/10/2007 URL: http://asia.cnet.com/buyingguides/home_av/0,39066264,62033188,00.htm Need a headstart on digital video recorder (DVR) basics to replace your dated VCR? Here's our step-by-step guide on everything you need to know, from the various genres available to recording quality and value-added functionality.
1. Types of digital video recordersWhile VCRs record programs on oversized analog tapes, the new-generation DVRs perform the same task digitally using either DVDs or inbuilt hard drives. The latter is no different from those found in computers, though they generally come in sizes of 500GB capacity and lower. As a matter of fact, DVR can be loosely categorized into different genres based on their recording media as follows:Personal video recorder Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-USB2 Some of the popular products under this category include Pinnacle PCTV and Hauppauge WinTV-PVR solutions. These will not be covered in detail for this guide as we will be focusing more on living room-oriented kits. DVD recorder Samsung DVD-R155 To maintain affordability, they have limited value-added features beyond the standard onboard multimedia playback. That said, these also come with basic video-editing functions which are near non-existent for the above-mentioned PVRs. Hard drive recorder Pioneer DVR-LX70 Connectivity-wise, they edge out their regular DVD equivalents with digital HDMI output and high-speed USB input. In addition, universal DVD compatibility is almost a given here for most, if not all, latest entries from reputable vendors. DVR settop box StarHub HubStation Another advantage which simplifies recording is its EPG or Electronic Program Guide function. Unlike the usual manual programming, users can simply browse and select programs instead of entering the TV channel and schedule. 2. Price parameterNow that you have an idea of the genre of DVRs, the next step is to allocate a reasonable budget based on your personal requirements. The following is a rough guide on the price bracket for each category with further segmentation in terms of HDD capacity.Editors' note:Note that these prices reflect the latest street and manufacturers' recommended retail price as of this writing. They may be subject to changes without further notice.Price brackets: S$200 or less | S$300 or less | S$500 or less | S$800 or less | S$1,100 or less | More than S$1,100 A/V recording modes Some brands such as Pioneer allow even finer levels of adjustment with up to 32 different recording modes, while most if not all offer a variable bitrate function for on-the-fly mode adjustment based on available disc space. Another alternative approach undertaken by Samsung for this matter is the deployment of the updated MPEG-4 encoding. The past two generations of Panasonic DVRs also have enhanced Long Play (LP) recording capability. This, as the Japanese company claims, delivers 500 lines of resolution comparable to the quality of the space-hungry SP equivalent. To preserve sound clarity, the High Quality (HQ/XP) mode records audio in CD-quality LPCM (Linear pulse code modulation), but at the expense of twice the recording space required. This is despite a similar video resolution employed between this and the stepped-down Standard Play (SP) mode. Recording mode: XP/HQ | SP | LP | EP DVD format compatibility The +R and –R are "write-once" discs that cannot be reused, while the +RW, -RW and –RAM can be reformatted for subsequent usage. The latest Dual Layer or DL is similar in all respect to the write-once except that it has twice the capacity at 8.5GB. On the other hand, there is currently very little difference between the "+" and "-" formats in terms of pricing, performance and availability. That said, earlier-generation players and recorders do have the tendency of favoring the latter. As for recording speed, the faster media are pricier though there is no guarantee the recorders will capitalize on their full potential. It's also not uncommon for the disc to "burn" at lower speeds to minimize error, for example. DVD recordable format: DVD-R | DVD-R DL | DVD-RW | DVD-RAM | DVD+R | DVD+R DL | DVD+RW Features explainedTime Shift/Chase Play Chase play allows simultaneously playback and recording of the same program. Simply put, you no longer need to wait for a program to end before you can view your recording. This, like the above, is enabled only on recorders with an inbuilt HDD. Video editing As you can see, the above is more than adequate for an average user to compile a simple DVD for, say, a vacation or birthday bash. However, this is definitely not the right replacement for hobbyists and serious videographers. A computer-centric video-editing station based on a power processor and lots of memory is high recommended. Multimedia playback Furthermore, HDD-enabled recorders have the advantage of inbuilt music jukeboxes and digital photo albums. These double as a media server or repository and bridge the content to your home theater system. To capitalize on these features, some models have extended USB functionality for direct photo printing and a computer interface. Electronic program guide Another advantage of such an electronic guide is the flexibility of integrating one-touch recording into the function. So instead of manually entering the details for a particular program, you will just need to scroll within the listing to select the desired one to record. This greatly reduces the amount of time and effort required to schedule one to multiple recordings. Input and output connectivity For playback, the preferred choice here is HDMI. This not only carries both audio and video signals in a noise-resistant digital format, it also enables inter-equipment control via HDMI-CEC. A step back is component-video which does analog video only, transmitted as three independent signals. It requires a separate run of cables for audio, but is widely considered superior on paper to the legacy S-video and composite interfaces. As for external A/V recording, DV (i.Link in Sony's lingo) or FireWire is the equivalent of HDMI and delivers the best quality. However, equipment featuring such connectivity is mainly restricted to camcorders, seriously limiting its versatility. This leaves us with the above-mentioned analog S-video and composite sockets. The latter is standard flair in all playback equipment such as VHS and DVD players. Some companies such as Dutch Philips also have the tendency of throwing in European-centric SCART connectors. While they are not commonly found here in Asia, inexpensive adapters are easily available off-the-shelf for S-video and composite conversion. Lastly, there are high-speed USB ports and memory card readers for value-added multimedia playback. The former is usually compatible with a myriad of devices including thumbdrives and media players. Connectivity: Composite-A/V | S-video | SCART | Component-video | HDMI | DV/IEEE1394 | USB | Card reader |
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