I've just supplied a couple of $200-range Sony DVD recorders and a Samsung DVD recorder/VCR combo, both items chosen by others, to a client whose wife has been recording hours of soaps on videotape and watches them through the day.

So I have some basic idea of how they actually work.

I'm looking for one for myself and wonder if you have any recommendations.

I don't want one that's part of a computer; my main use at this time will be to make discs of TV shows from my non-HD DVR for later play.

I'd like to know if any of them have component inputs, and if any of them record digital sound tracks, i.e. "surround sound where available."

Thanks.

I have never seen one that records digital audio tracks. If anyone knows of any I'd really like to know about it. I haven't seen any with component inputs either.

This almost meets all of your requirements:
[Link: pioneerelectronics.ca]

The Pioneer DVR-550H-K has a 160GB HDD. You can put a show on the hard drive, edit out the commercials, then record to DVD. It does 1080p, has component and an HDMI. You can also put CD's on the hard drive.
The catch is I'm not sure you can burn a CD once it is on the hard drive. Here is the same player, but in a region free version:
[Link: dvdoverseas.com]

In the description of the 550H-S it says this:
"Once you copy music files to HDD, you cannot send it anywhere. You cannot copy music files from HDD to discs. You cannot copy contents with copy protection."

You also said:
"make discs of TV shows from my non-HD DVR for later play." Technically this machine is a DVR. Just not a satellite or cable box DVR.

Regardless, it is a very interesting machine. Has discrete on off as well.

bookaroni beat me to that recomendation. i have a similar model a couple years old now. still going strong and i love it. heres a link where i had recomended it and went into alot more detail of its features-

[Link: remotecentral.com]

Stealth X,
You have the Pioneer DVR-640H-S? The region free version? I want a region free version as well. But the 550H-S will probably do. I wanted to order one this week. But I'm going on vacation and won't be around to receive a UPS package.
So I have a couple questions in the meantime. Can you burn non-copyright cd's to the HDD, them make cd's?
The other is about the USB port. Can movies be transferred from the Hard Drive to an external Hard Drive using the USB port?

sorry bookaroni, i think i have the dvr-633(?) i'll have to double check tonite. i've never tried to copy a CD with it, and i dont THINK it has a USB port. at least it didnt make that feature apparent when i was learning its functions if it does! i'll check it out tonite and see if it will copy a CD.

TTYL.

I'd be copying from a DVR to the DVD recorder. If I'm quick with the PAUSE button on the recorder, can I edit out the ads that way? I know I wouldn't have an edited version on the DVR that I could then copy in full, and any sloppy edits would require me to start over, but can the PAUSE on the DVD recorder be used that way?

True. That's just like today's TiVo. Most people would prefer a TiVo to a DirecTV DVR, and TiVo has new units out. But they don't have satellite receivers in them and I think they can't control satellite receivers, so just saying TiVo doesn't communicate the whole story. In fact, I guess, technically a DVD recorder that doesn't have a hard drive is a Digital Video Recorder as well. It Records Video Digitally, after all. We've just gotten used to using that term only with the devices that have hard drives.

I've found most DVD recorders are very precise with the pause key.

Pause. I remember trying to use the pause button for editing out scenes (commercials) with a Go-Video dual deck VHS/8mm box. Even a automated video editing package that came with it had you do tests to calculate what the delays were for pausing and starting up the recorder. Thank the Lord of Consumer Electronics that those days are behind us. ;-)

absolutely you can, the pause is EXACT. whats even more precise and easy to use is the editing software that is built into these units. you can leave it to record your show, ie:set timer for 1hr, then go back in and edit out commercials. this method is very precise as it allows frame by frame editing.

my Scientific Atlanta DVR (or PVR as we call them in Canada) has a "record to VCR" feature which allows you to play a program from a separate video out while simultaneously watching another program. ie: i watch whatever i'm watching via the regular output to my telly, while at the same time i have another episode playing via a separate output to my DVD recorder. i can then go and edit out whatever i want and rip off fully editied copies to DVD at about 10minutes/disc in high speed mode.

I look forward to the day my cable co offers a DVR with editing features and a DVD burner.

Hmm. Which units? The Sony and Samsung DVD Recorders that I supplied to my client have a pause button, but they said nothing about having any software. Is this only something that comes with DVD Recorders that have hard drives? I'm guessing that's what you mean because you say DVR and PVR.

He may have meant firmware when he said software. DVD recorders with hard drives are computers. They probably run some form of linux. The firmware built into them is what you would use for editing.

One thing should be mentioned. None of these machines are made for the U.S. market anymore. The only "drawback" to all of these models ... no ATSC/QAM tuner(s). Hence the reason they are not made for the U.S. market. ATSC tuners are now required for players in the U.S. Or they will be soon. Not sure if there is an exact date for manufacturers to include ATSC tuners or not.

Here is a list of the many DVD Recorders with specs:
[Link: 220-electronics.com]

The Pioneer DVR-745H has a 400GB Hard Drive, but priced at $835. That is the largest HDD in any machine that I know.

Best Buy in Canada sells the Pioneer DVR-550H-K:
[Link: tinyurl.com]

Stealth X,
Do you still see these machines on the store shelves in Canada? They have all but disappeared in the U.S.

havent looked for one on shelves since i bought mine.

yeah firmware is what i meant over software. and FYI my previous Panasonic DVD recorder also had very similar firmware for editing on DVD RW's and DVD RAMS.

also FYI any reference i made to a DVR or PVR i am refering to the unit i record FROM and am not refering to my DVD HDD Recorder.

just an update, YES they are available here in Cananda.

in fact my Pioneer DVR 633-h just crapped out after over 2yrs of faithful service. (may sound like a short life at 1st but if you had any idea how much i used it, i'm surprised it lasted this long)

I'll be happily replacing it this evening with the 250gb DVR 650 H-K. alot more features than my previous model, ie:download audio CD's at lossless quality so can be used as a music server, also the ability to transfer picture and music files from PC via USB to the hard drive, 250gb over 160gb, to name a few.

i actually found this same unit available in the UK but WITH A 500gb HDD!!! guess they figure us north americans cant handle all that storage space! lol

heres a link to the 650 h-k

[Link: pioneerelectronics.ca]
DVR 650 H-K