Dvd recorders with hdmi: Is there a DVD Recorder with HDMI Input?

Why don’t video recorders have HDMI inputs?–Ask the Editors

DVD recorders have HDMI out, but not HDMI in. Why the disparity? Crutchfield

CNET reader “deesmac” asks:

Why doesn’t a DVD recorder have an HDMI in, as well as an HDMI out?

It’s a great question. High-Definition Multimedia Interface provides the advantage of passing a high-bandwidth all-digital high-definition video and audio signal on a single cable, as opposed to the tangle of component video plus audio cables that were required for HD. (If those terms are Greek to you, check out the connectivity section of the CNET TV Buying Guide.) HDMI is now the standard connector for HDTVs and all of the HD-capable components that connect to them–DVD players and recorders, DVRs, game consoles, Blu-ray and HD DVD players, and even camcorders and PCs. But all of those are video sources that only have HDMI outputs. You’ll find HDMI inputs only on AV receivers, HDMI switchers, and–of course–TVs. So, why the disparity?

Not surprisingly, the dearth of HDMI inputs on recording devices is by design. The HDMI specification includes a copy-protection scheme known as High-Definition Copy Protection. So to use HDMI (and get the snazzy HDMI certification logo on your device), manufacturers need to ensure that their products are HDCP-compliant. That pretty much means that HDMI inputs are limited to display devices (TVs) and repeaters (AV receivers and switchers). Those repeaters are so-called “passthrough” devices–they can do little more than pass the HD video signal onto the next device (invariably, the TV). But, by definition, that HDCP-encoded video signal is designed to be unrecordable. That’s why there are no recorders with an HDMI input. (You won’t find HDMI inputs on Slingbox products for the same reason.)

So what’s the alternative? Recorders with component video inputs are few and far between: Philips had component-in on its otherwise lackluster DVD recorders in years past, as did Sony on at least one model–but both companies have since dropped the feature. The upcoming Hauppauge video encoder supposedly can accept and process 1080p video via its component inputs. Likewise, several Slingbox models (as well as competing placeshifting products from Sony, Monsoon/HAVA, and Pinnacle) can accept component video–including HD streams–and pass it through to a TV or AV receiver. However, for recording you’re pretty much stuck either with “closed box” HD DVRs or utilizing the so-called analog hole: the composite or S-Video output from your DVR, cable, or satellite box will still output an analog video signal–not in high-definition, of course–that’s easily recordable. Which is why they’re the only two inputs you’ll find on your DVD recorder. (Speaking of which: make sure you use S-Video in–the quality is noticeably better than composite.)

The irony here, as usual, is that honest users who just want more convenience, better quality, and fewer wires are the losers–even as digital piracy remains as rampant as ever (thanks to PC-based recording, not set-top recorders). Still, don’t expect Hollywood studios or electronics manufacturers to change their tune on this one. For the same reason, I wouldn’t hold my breath for a set-top Blu-ray recorder in North America anytime soon (despite the fact that they’ve long been available in Japan).

That’s the [relatively] quick answer. But if I’m wrong, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time. If anybody knows of a recorder with an HDMI input (or even a component input), let us known of your discovery by commenting below.

Note: This post has been updated to include a reference to older Philips and Sony DVD recorders that offered component video inputs (thanks, Wes#1 and Matt).

Professional DVD Recorders | HDMI & SDI Input

Choosing the right DVD recording equipment is essential. That’s why Niagara Video provides DVD recorders with different inputs, a wide variety of customization options and security features so you can lock down your videos.

Professional DVD Recorders

At Niagara Video, we offer a wide selection of DVD/optical recorders with the options and features necessary to fulfill a wide variety of recording needs with different input types.

HDi and HDi-SDI Models

Our models offer rack mounting for professional installations and are compatible with component and composite analog inputs, as well as HDMI digital inputs for the greatest level of accessibility in commercial, industrial, and military facilities. Our HDi-SDI models also offer functionality with an SDI digital input, and our specialized HDi-MIL model has no hardware, does not retain the video in memory after being powered down or network interface to provide secure operation.

HDi-250 Recorder

This recorder offers high definition capabilities of up to HD1080p at 60 frames per second. It has intuitive front panel VCR-like recording controls and control via the serial port or network port to allow for third party control systems. The equipment itself is easy to integrate into industrial spaces due to its compact rack-mounted design.

This device can record to a DVD format or to a mp4 file format using DVD+R, DVD-R, and DVD+RW optical discs or to a USB storage device.

 

HDi-SDI Recorder

Our SDI recorders are high-performing HDi recorder models that also allow for SDI input. These models offer the same connectivity, recording options, and security customization options that our HDi-250 series offers to commercial, military, and industrial organizations.

Check out our HDi data sheet for more information on the HDi series.

Commercial & Military Customers – Recorders Industrial Applications

Our DVD/optical recorders offer long-lasting, reliable performance across multiple industries. We provide recorders to organizations in the following industries:

  • Broadcast
  • Faith
  • Government agencies
  • Military and defense

For military applications, we offer a Military Standard Drive unit with the following security features:

  • No network, hard drive, or USB for total security containment
  • Permanent file deletion once the device powers off
  • Output option of optical disc only

These specialized options are available in both HDi-250 and HDi-SDI recorder models.

 

DVD Recorders with HDMI vs. SDI Input

The most significant difference between our two units is their input selections: HDMI and SDI.

HDMI vs. SDI Video Connections

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a commonly used video standard, especially in consumer and commercial environments. It is uncompressed and universal, making it ideal for easy sharing and viewing. The signal can reach approximately 50 feet. There are HDMI products that can extend these distances so we are referring to a standard HDMI interface and cable.

Serial Digital Interface (SDI) offers a much longer reach of up to 300 feet, and it’s much more prevalent among professional broadcast and publication organizations. SDI connections offer a positive locking BNC connector which does not have the problem of coming loose, like an HDMI connector.


Why Niagara Video?

At Niagara Video, we focus on creating and supplying units to each customer that have the features and output they need to develop high-quality and secured disks. We work hard to give our customers excellent equipment that offers:

  • Cost-effective products
  • Versatile output and ease-of-use
  • High-quality images and reliable products
  • Excellent customer service

If your organization needs high-performance and/or secure DVD/optical recording equipment, we’re here to help.

Niagara Video has been a leading provider of reliable, high-performing recording equipment for over 20 years. We specialize in creating and supplying high-quality equipment to broadcasters, content delivery networks, and network providers around the world. Contact our team today to learn more about the models that best fit your organization’s needs.

8 Best Amazon DVD Burners for Burning DVD or VHS Files

Which DVD burner is the best choice for recording your favorite TV programs and watching them later? If you need to burn media files from your TV, camera or other media files and burn them to optical discs for backup or playback later, a DVD burner is your right solution.

When looking for DVD recorders from Best Buy, Amazon or eBay, there are different brands, LG, Toshiba, Magnavox and others. It is difficult to choose one to produce the best audiovisual quality. This article introduces the top 8 DVD recorders you can get from eBay, Walmart, Amazon, and more.

  • Top 1: Magnavox MDR865H HD DVR/DVD Recorder
  • Top 2: Sanyo VCR with VCR and DVD Recorder
  • Top 3: Toshiba D-RW2 DVD Player/Recorder
  • Top 4: Toshiba DR430 DVD Recorder with HDMI Output
  • Top 5: DVD Duplicator Sata CD-DVD Burner
  • Top 6: Sony DVD Recorder DVDirect VRD-MC6 DVD Burner
  • Top 7: Panasonic DMR-EA18K 9 DVD Recorder0008
  • Top 8: Funai ZV427FX4 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo
  • Recommended DVD burner software: AnyMP4 DVD Creator
  • Frequently asked questions about the
  • DVD burner

Top 1: Magnavox MDR865H HD DVR/DVD Recorder

Amazon Price: From $420. 00

Pros

  • subsequent recording on DVD.
  • 2. Record HD broadcast over the air.
  • 3. HD broadcast recording over the air.
  • 4. Support recording up to 500 hours of HD content on a 500GB hard disk.
  • 5. Expandable with USB storage capacity.
  • 6. Offer mobile applications for iPhone and Android users to control the process with a smart phone.

Cons

  • 1. The manual and remote deserve low ratings.
  • 2. This DVD recorder with tuner is a bit complicated and needs more steps to set up.

Top 2: Sanyo VCR with VCR and DVD Recorder

Amazon price: $499.00

Pros

  • 1. Line-in capacity for cable/satellite TV.
  • 2. Provide an easy one-cable connection with the DVD Recorder’s HDMI input.
  • 3. Save your home video and burn it to DVD for lossless preservation.
  • 4. Convert standard DVDs to HD quality for playback on HDTV.
  • 5. Easily copy and store videos to DVD with one-touch burn.

Cons

  • 1. The manual is hard to read, although you can download the 96-page manual from the Internet.
  • 2. The price of this hard disk DVD recorder is slightly higher than other DVD recorders with the same specifications.

Top 3: Toshiba D-RW2 DVD Player/Recorder

Amazon Price: From $149.99

Pros

  • touch .
  • 2. Support playback of CD-R/RW, VCD, MP3, WMA, JPEG and more.
  • 3. Create digital photo slideshows with JPEG Viewer and save them to DVD.
  • 4. Offer 6 compression modes for recording from 1 to 10 hours on optical disc.
  • 5. Automatic creation of titles, chapters and thumbnails during DVD burning.

Cons

  • 1. This DVD burner for VCR Combo cannot burn content to dual layer DVDs.
  • 2. The quality of the recording created by the DVD recorder for TV after compression leaves much to be desired.

Top 4: Toshiba DR430 DVD Recorder with HDMI Output

Amazon Price: $825.00

Pros

  • 1. Record video to DVD up to 1080p.
  • 2. Supports a wide range of disc types such as DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and 1080i, 1080p, 720p video.
  • 3. Integrate a one-touch recording tank to easily burn programs to DVD.
  • 4. Play recorded titles or chapters while burning a DVD.
  • 5. Pack a battery that can last about 2 hours after being fully charged.

Cons

  • 1. The manual is very poorly organized and many features are not mentioned.
  • 2. This DVD burner is expensive compared to its features.

Top 5: DVD Duplicator Sata CD-DVD Burner

Amazon price: $155. 92

Pros

  • 1. Burn DVD without computer and software.
  • 2. Copy contents from one disc to another with 1:1 ratio.
  • 3. Maintain a high standard of safety and reliability with the UL and TUV certified Power Duplicator.
  • 4. Available for both business and home use.
  • 5. Support for a wide variety of disc types, such as DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-Video, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, etc.
  • 6. It only takes 4.7 minutes to copy an entire 6GB DVD.
  • 7. Built-in multilingual support.

Cons

  • 1. This DVD VCR can’t fix or skip offsets, so some users reported that it stopped during the process.
  • 2. It does not support Blu-ray or other latest disc technologies.

Top 6: Sony DVD Recorder DVDirect VRD-MC6 DVD Burner

Amazon Price: Start at $198.98

Pros

  • 1. Burn home movies and digital images to DVD easily.
  • 2. Record HD video from Sony AVCHD HDD / MS Handycam camcorders.
  • 3. Make slideshows of your digital photos and burn them to discs.
  • 4. Compatible with a wide range of camcorders, VCRs and DVRs.
  • 5. Support 4:3 in full screen and 16:9 in widescreen video.
  • 6. Easy to use, even for beginners and non-techies.

Cons

  • 1. The Sony multifunctional DVD recorder does not have a VHS tape slot.
  • 2. It can’t skip bad parts with the program output DVD.

Top 7: Panasonic DMR-EA18K DVD Recorder

Amazon Price: US$199.99

Pros

  • W , CD, CD-R, CD-RW, etc.
  • 2. Equip an SD card slot to burn the contents of the SD card to DVD.
  • 3. Copy digital videos up to 1080p to DVD via HDMI.
  • 4. Work well with all brands of Panasonic TVs.
  • 5. Get high quality DVD burning video for DVD players.

Cons

  • 1. This DVD recorder does not include a TV tuner.
  • 2. It does not display chapters or other information when burning a DVD.
  • 3. This has been officially discontinued.

Top 8: Funai ZV427FX4 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo

Amazon Price: US$487.99

Pros of

  • lby Digital.
  • 2. Recording line via satellite box with high quality.
  • 3. Archive of home movies from VHS cassette to DVD.
  • 4. Record in DVD-R and DVD-RW format for most DVD players.
  • 5. Compatible with DVD / CD / Kodak CD Picture Disc and VHS tapes.

Cons

  • 1. Freeze DVD playback after a certain point in the video.
  • 2. Make some noise when burning a DVD.
  • 3. This does not work well with older VCRs.

Recommended DVD Burner Software: AnyMP4 DVD Creator

AnyMP4 DVD Creator is a professional tool for burning digital video and audio files to DVD on your computer. If you need to burn DVD with various video files from your computer, this is a DVD burner to burn MP4 to DVD on Mac and Windows, create DVD folder and ISO files with various video formats.

  • 1. Download video clips and audio files from a computer or portable devices.
  • 2. Burn media files to DVD-5 (4.7GB), DVD-9 (8.5GB) and DVD in one click.
  • 3. Support DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM.
  • 4. Edit video and audio before burning to optical disc.
  • 5. Offer a wide range of custom options such as video quality, aspect ratio and more.

DVD Recorder FAQ

Does Walmart sell DVD recorders?

Yes. Walmart sells DVD recorders and you can purchase one of them.

Is a DVD recorder the same as a DVD player?

No. A DVD recorder is an optical disc burner that records analog and digital signals onto blank DVD media. A DVD player is a device that plays DVDs.

Can you record movies on a DVD recorder?

Generally speaking, you can’t burn video to DVD because of DVD protection. However, others have the option to burn movies digitally and then burn the digital files to DVD.

Conclusion

If you are looking to purchase a DVD burner from Walmart, Best Buy, or other platforms, this article is a good reference that you should consider. Of course, you can also check out some used DVD recorders for sale on other platforms if you want one for a lower price. Besides DVD video burners, you can also find AnyMP4 DVD Creator from the article. If you have questions about the best DVD recorders, you can leave more comments in the article.

8 Best Amazon DVD Recorders for Burning DVD or VHS Files

Which DVD burner is the best choice for recording your favorite TV programs and watching them later? If you need to burn media files from your TV, camera or other media files and burn them to optical discs for backup or playback later, a DVD burner is your right solution.

When looking for DVD recorders from Best Buy, Amazon or eBay, there are different brands, LG, Toshiba, Magnavox and others. It is difficult to choose one to produce the best audiovisual quality. This article introduces the top 8 DVD recorders you can get from eBay, Walmart, Amazon, and more.

  • Top 1: Magnavox MDR865H HD DVR/DVD Recorder
  • Top 2: Sanyo VCR with VCR and DVD Recorder
  • Top 3: Toshiba D-RW2 DVD Player/Recorder
  • Top 4: Toshiba DR430 DVD Recorder with HDMI Output
  • Top 5: DVD Duplicator Sata CD-DVD Burner
  • Top 6: Sony DVD Recorder DVDirect VRD-MC6 DVD Burner
  • Top 7: Panasonic DMR-EA18K 9 DVD Recorder0008
  • Top 8: Funai ZV427FX4 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo
  • Recommended DVD burner software: AnyMP4 DVD Creator
  • Frequently asked questions about the
  • DVD burner

Top 1: Magnavox MDR865H HD DVR/DVD Recorder

Amazon Price: From $420. 00

Pros

  • subsequent recording on DVD.
  • 2. Record HD broadcast over the air.
  • 3. HD broadcast recording over the air.
  • 4. Support recording up to 500 hours of HD content on a 500GB hard disk.
  • 5. Expandable with USB storage capacity.
  • 6. Offer mobile applications for iPhone and Android users to control the process with a smart phone.

Cons

  • 1. The manual and remote deserve low ratings.
  • 2. This DVD recorder with tuner is a bit complicated and needs more steps to set up.

Top 2: Sanyo VCR with VCR and DVD Recorder

Amazon price: $499.00

Pros

  • 1. Line-in capacity for cable/satellite TV.
  • 2. Provide an easy one-cable connection with the DVD Recorder’s HDMI input.
  • 3. Save your home video and burn it to DVD for lossless preservation.
  • 4. Convert standard DVDs to HD quality for playback on HDTV.
  • 5. Easily copy and store videos to DVD with one-touch burn.

Cons

  • 1. The manual is hard to read, although you can download the 96-page manual from the Internet.
  • 2. The price of this hard disk DVD recorder is slightly higher than other DVD recorders with the same specifications.

Top 3: Toshiba D-RW2 DVD Player/Recorder

Amazon Price: From $149.99

Pros

  • touch .
  • 2. Support playback of CD-R/RW, VCD, MP3, WMA, JPEG and more.
  • 3. Create digital photo slideshows with JPEG Viewer and save them to DVD.
  • 4. Offer 6 compression modes for recording from 1 to 10 hours on optical disc.
  • 5. Automatic creation of titles, chapters and thumbnails during DVD burning.

Cons

  • 1. This DVD burner for VCR Combo cannot burn content to dual layer DVDs.
  • 2. The quality of the recording created by the DVD recorder for TV after compression leaves much to be desired.

Top 4: Toshiba DR430 DVD Recorder with HDMI Output

Amazon Price: $825.00

Pros

  • 1. Record video to DVD up to 1080p.
  • 2. Supports a wide range of disc types such as DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and 1080i, 1080p, 720p video.
  • 3. Integrate a one-touch recording tank to easily burn programs to DVD.
  • 4. Play recorded titles or chapters while burning a DVD.
  • 5. Pack a battery that can last about 2 hours after being fully charged.

Cons

  • 1. The manual is very poorly organized and many features are not mentioned.
  • 2. This DVD burner is expensive compared to its features.

Top 5: DVD Duplicator Sata CD-DVD Burner

Amazon price: $155. 92

Pros

  • 1. Burn DVD without computer and software.
  • 2. Copy contents from one disc to another with 1:1 ratio.
  • 3. Maintain a high standard of safety and reliability with the UL and TUV certified Power Duplicator.
  • 4. Available for both business and home use.
  • 5. Support for a wide variety of disc types, such as DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-Video, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, etc.
  • 6. It only takes 4.7 minutes to copy an entire 6GB DVD.
  • 7. Built-in multilingual support.

Cons

  • 1. This DVD VCR can’t fix or skip offsets, so some users reported that it stopped during the process.
  • 2. It does not support Blu-ray or other latest disc technologies.

Top 6: Sony DVD Recorder DVDirect VRD-MC6 DVD Burner

Amazon Price: Start at $198.98

Pros

  • 1. Burn home movies and digital images to DVD easily.
  • 2. Record HD video from Sony AVCHD HDD / MS Handycam camcorders.
  • 3. Make slideshows of your digital photos and burn them to discs.
  • 4. Compatible with a wide range of camcorders, VCRs and DVRs.
  • 5. Support 4:3 in full screen and 16:9 in widescreen video.
  • 6. Easy to use, even for beginners and non-techies.

Cons

  • 1. The Sony multifunctional DVD recorder does not have a VHS tape slot.
  • 2. It can’t skip bad parts with the program output DVD.

Top 7: Panasonic DMR-EA18K DVD Recorder

Amazon Price: US$199.99

Pros

  • W , CD, CD-R, CD-RW, etc.
  • 2. Equip an SD card slot to burn the contents of the SD card to DVD.
  • 3. Copy digital videos up to 1080p to DVD via HDMI.
  • 4. Work well with all brands of Panasonic TVs.
  • 5. Get high quality DVD burning video for DVD players.

Cons

  • 1. This DVD recorder does not include a TV tuner.
  • 2. It does not display chapters or other information when burning a DVD.
  • 3. This has been officially discontinued.

Top 8: Funai ZV427FX4 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo

Amazon Price: US$487.99

Pros of

  • lby Digital.
  • 2. Recording line via satellite box with high quality.
  • 3. Archive of home movies from VHS cassette to DVD.
  • 4. Record in DVD-R and DVD-RW format for most DVD players.
  • 5. Compatible with DVD / CD / Kodak CD Picture Disc and VHS tapes.

Cons

  • 1. Freeze DVD playback after a certain point in the video.
  • 2. Make some noise when burning a DVD.
  • 3. This does not work well with older VCRs.

Recommended DVD Burner Software: AnyMP4 DVD Creator

AnyMP4 DVD Creator is a professional tool for burning digital video and audio files to DVD on your computer. If you need to burn DVD with various video files from your computer, this is a DVD burner to burn MP4 to DVD on Mac and Windows, create DVD folder and ISO files with various video formats.

  • 1. Download video clips and audio files from a computer or portable devices.
  • 2. Burn media files to DVD-5 (4.7GB), DVD-9 (8.5GB) and DVD in one click.
  • 3. Support DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-RAM.
  • 4. Edit video and audio before burning to optical disc.
  • 5. Offer a wide range of custom options such as video quality, aspect ratio and more.

DVD Recorder FAQ

Does Walmart sell DVD recorders?

Yes.