Home audio & video forum: DVD Recorder Help...What Do All These "+'s, -'s" Mean?....

If you use a DVD recorder that can record in the "-" format the discs will play on even older players. This format seems to be the same as commercial DVDs and I do all my recordings in this format when they are to be shared or archived as they can be used on virtually any player. As for a good lower priced DVD recorder I can highly recommend the Panasonic DMR-ES20. It is a new model out just a few months. In the $200 and under price range it just can't be beat for performance or quality. Also it can record and play DVD-RAM discs. This feature makes the machine perform similarly to a hard drive . You can record one program and watch another you already recorded ON THE SAME DISC AT THE SAME TIME. Also these discs, although a bit expensive, can be re-recorded up to 100,000 times. You can also watch what you are recording with only a few seconds delay. My machine seems durable, reliable, and looks great. I tried 3 other machines [even a Toshiba] before settling on this one. It can record in DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R, and should satisfy all but the most discerning or professional. It automatically cleans up those old video tapes as they are copied. Dan

Don't even consider buying a combo DVD recorder and VCR. You won't be able to copy back and forth in most cases and the results will be far less than satisfactory. With copyguarded material there is generally no way to add a Macrovision or any other copyguard eliminator . Buy stand-alone units as they are always more versatile. Also, when you have a problem with one recorder the whole thing is out of commission while it's being repaired. Upgrading either unit is a snap with stand-alone units, while in combos you have to replace everything to upgrade or replace.