Choosing your DVD player-recorder

Compatibility with current standard video and DVD are the first criteria for selecting a DVD player-recorder. Here in order of importance, a list of things to check before buying.

Playing standard video / audio / photo

A DVD player-recorder, even basic, must be able to read the most popular formats. Examples of video formats / photo / audio used: DivX, MPEG 4 (video), Dolby Digital, MP3, WMA (audio), JPEG photos (slideshow)

If your player interprets a limited number of video formats, note that it is possible, with certain software (like Nero) convert their formats to make them readable (eg VCD).

Multizone reading.

Readers Multizones interpret any zoning DVD (restriction of DVD playback on some imported).

Registration / media compatibility: DVD-RW or DVD RAM?

Cost.

These two recording modes (often combined) have different performance that affect the price of the player. For greater flexibility, prefer option DVD RAM.

Basic compatibility

DVD-R / DVD + R (reading) and DVD + RW / DVD-RW (recording). These formats are now supported by most readers, even cheap (100-130 euros). It is a basis for reading and recording (1000 re possible, 6 hours of storage) on your DVD player.

The DVD-RAM, optional?

The players supporting DVD-RAM (kind of hard disk rewritable 100,000 times) are more expensive. Their interest is that they can simultaneously play a video and record a program. But 100,000 again, is it really useful?

Configuring Video and Audio

Connexion video.

SCART RGB (via TV), HDMI (digital transmission of multiple signals), YUV output for connection to flat screen or video projector. More optional, the DV which can transfer video from your digital camcorder to DVD

Connexion audio.

RCA connector (Hi Fi), decoders for high-quality sound (Dolby Digital, DTS).

Connection options.

A USB port is useful to your reader. To play audio / video / photo from a USB drive or a hard disk.

Interactivity and storage capacity

Interactive options
If you want to convert your drive-in réenregistreur interactive platform (instead of a PC for example) on your TV screen, then the reader should bear the following formats: VCD, SVCD and DVD-ROM.

Hard drive

A high-capacity HDD (400 GB) allows your DVD store more videos (archiving). But also to ensure the continuity of records. Please note that 100 GB of memory is already a record nearly 25 hours of programming.