Sony DVDirect: A New Videotape-to-DVD Option
Thu Mar 8, 2007 12:40PM EST
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On Yahoo! Tech, we've written about a few ways to transfer videotaped memories to DVDs. Many require movie-editing software and extra PC hardware; some simpler solutions may result in poorer quality copies of cherished images. The variety of the products and results is so great that Chris Null advises sending out your most prized tapes to professional services that do it for you.
Technology columnist David Pogue writes in the New York Times about a new, promising DIY solution: Sony's DVDirect VRD-MC3, which transfers video from a variety of formats to DVDs—with or without a PC.
Several inputs on what looks like a portable DVD burner allow you to transfer video from all kinds of video cameras, and it also has slots for digital camera memory cards so you can put photo slideshows on DVDs. Clearly, the DVDirect seems simple to use, but it's lasting impact may be the quality of the reproductions and the price. Pogue vouches for the quality, and at $218, it's an affordable solution for people who want the do-it-yourself experience of converting old tapes to new DVDs without the complicated hours of setup, trial, and error. Check out his full review.
As Pogue says on an accompanying video, the DVDirect is "idiot-proof but not glitch-proof.'' Sometimes, it produces blank DVDs after hours of appearing to be copying beautifully.
That occasional frustration aside, the DVDirect sure seems worth checking out, and I'll try to do just that.
Related:
Another Way from VHS to DVD
Converting VHS Tapes to Digital Files or DVD
Use Your Camcorder to Convert VHS Tapes to DVD
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1 Posted by larmo33 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse
I have posted before about my Panasonic Diga DMR-E75V. I have had it for two years this month. It records and plays DVD-R and DVD-RAM disks. It also dubs DVDs to VHS, (okay.. I can hear the "HUH?!" factor kicking in.) Well, sometimes I have to dub content from a DVD to VHS, because I need to save space on the disk, and can watch the content on a tape at a later time. Also, (sad people that they are), I have friends that still do their viewing on VCRs. At any rate, I've found my Diga, and I assume machines like it, are very reliable. My model did cost over $450.00, but it has never failed and the ability to adjust to an extremely low speed, (that will only playback on the unit itself, (or one like it?), is an additional plus. Friends that I have dubbed VHS tapes to DVDs for, have had no problems viewing the content. DVD-R is the only format that allows other players to play the content. DVD-RAMs can only be played on DVD-RAM machines. Lastly, Panasonic offers a two sided DVD-RAM disk in a two sided cartridge, which offers a total of 12 hours of content recording. The disk can also be removed from the cartridge if desired. More expensive than the Sony? Yep, but with no failed transfers, and a LOT of flexibility. Do some research. There are a good number of machines out there that are easy to use and that are extremely versatile. I was really happy when I heard that one of the major companies, was coming out with a computer burner drive that connected to the computer and allowed you to dub VHS to DVD. In retrospect.., I never heard that it made any big splash. Later.., I thought, "Why?". There's nothing wrong with a stand alone machine that can be connected to my TV like a Tivo and that gives me excellent record time and VCR recording simplicity, and the disks can be played on a computer. Good luck.