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DVR Devices - What are they all about?

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Okay, I'll preface this by saying I've never owned a Tivo or DVR or anything like that.

My question is, is there a device that you can hook up to record video from cable television that does not involve a subscription-based service and does not involve using your computer (at first)? For instance, are there any recorders that will record a digital video file of a tv show that I can then (after recording) transfer the file to my computer to burn to a DVD?

What I want, essentially, is a digital VCR that will allow me to transfer files to my PC for manipulation/authoring, without having to pay a monthly service, while still getting high-quality. Does such a thing exist?
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Super Mario Bros. - The Wicked Star Story
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Not in the US market at this time that I'm aware of.

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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You can build a media center pc, which if it's only geared toward this purpose then it could be really cheap to build.
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Originally posted by: DarthBalls1138
You can build a media center pc, which if it's only geared toward this purpose then it could be really cheap to build.


And that would involve just hooking up a capture card to my tv setup, right?
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Super Mario Bros. - The Wicked Star Story
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Originally posted by: Rikter
Not in the US market at this time that I'm aware of.


That's a shame. Pretty ridiculous when you think about it. "Here is a new video storage format - now, average consumer, you must pay a monthly service to do what your VCR used to be able to do! Muah ha ha ha!"

Now, aren't there DVD players that can also record straight to DVD? Are those any good?

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Super Mario Bros. - The Wicked Star Story
"Ah, the proverbial sad sack with a wasted wish."
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Yep, there are a ton of them and the quailty varies unit to unit, some Pioneer units (and other brands also) have 100+ gig HD's built into them and allow you the preset a record time and the adjust the video record bitrate to match said record time. BUT most units have 3-4 record modes like 2hr, 4hr, 6hr (VCD quaility) and 8hr (same). My Lite-On records/captures better them my old Pinnacle and ATI All-in-Wonder PC cards but then I was never good at the whole filters thing

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK