I understand what you are saying digitalfreaknyc, but I do have the direct componant connection and can record in either full frame or widescreen depending on the source, which will be widescreen. It's all Dolby Digital 2.0 and I have no issues with recording in HQ at a little over and hour and then splicing the material together to make one file or if I decide to upgrade my recorder, just record to a dual layer disc and then do the editing on my computer. Besides, I don't know of any other way to do it seeing as how the box can't be hooked up to my computer to transfer the data. If anyone knows any tips and tricks to doing this, please let me know and I will do it just to get the best quality I can get.