Is there a Dual Tuner DVD-R?

[KLJennings]

Is there a dual tuner dvd recorder tivo out yet? I don't want to get the TiVo DT if I could get one with a recorder. Thanks!

[TydalForce]

So far the one DT is the only one

I suspect that in the near future, we'll probably see a DT DVD-R model, but who knows how long of a wait...

[gastrof]

The only real benefits of any TiVo with DVD-recorder are
1) being able to transfer to DVD at high speed (much faster than real time) as a digital transfer
2) (on the non-Humax machines) having TiVo Basic, so not needing to pay for the service to have the machine work.

You can't edit the recordings at all, and if you pad the start and stop times (to make sure you get a show despite network early starts and late stops), the recording may end up too big to fit on a single disc, and you'd end up needing two. (Even for a one hour show.)

All in all, using a separate DVD recorder is the better move, in my opinion. You have to copy to DVD in real time, and by way of analog cable connections, but it also gives you so much more control over WHAT you're putting on the discs, and how much you fit on the discs.

You'd be able to use such a machine with a non-DVD dual tuner TiVo.

[megazone]

I own two DVD-R TiVos and I disagree. I really never have used padding. That's really a non-issue. True that you can't edit before saving to disc - but most people don't bother anyway. And if you really want to do that, then transferring to a PC is a better option than a standalone DVD burner anyway. Editing software is more powerful, and it is a digital copy from the TiVo - not another analog loop with the associated quality loss.

The integrated DVD-R units also burn TiVo-style menus on the disc. You basically end up with DVDs that have the TiVo interface, all the show info, etc. They're very nice.

And burning an entire DVD in 15 mnutes (20 with prep and finalization), is nice - and you can burn the DVDs while watching other shows on the TiVo, so it doesn't tie things up like transferring to another recorder.

Really, using another standalone DVD recorder is the WORST option of the three because of the unavoidable quality loss of going digital-analog-digital in the transfer. Plus tying the TiVo up for the realtime transfer via playback. Burning on-board or transfer to a PC has no quality loss and doesn't tie the unit up.

[dbthornton]

I would say one of the main benefits is not having another electronic box in the entertainment center. This was a main selling point in getting my wife to go for Tivo. Of course, now she loves it more than me! :) Can't wait for a DT DVD recorder, especially after last night's gyrations over the Amazing Race final and Lost.

Dbthornton

[petew]

I agree with dbthornton. I like having a single integrated unit more than the ability to record DVD's since TivoToGo would be an alternative ( I batch download to linux using Galleon)

[TydalForce]

When I got fed up with my old DVD player, I splurged on this really snazzy Sony DVD player.

Ever since I got my DRT800, the Sony DVD player has pretty much just been this shiny box separating the TiVo from the VCR.

Probably better this way, I think the VCR's getting jealous.

[Brainiac 5]

The only real benefits of any TiVo with DVD-recorder are
1) being able to transfer to DVD at high speed (much faster than real time) as a digital transfer
2) (on the non-Humax machines) having TiVo Basic, so not needing to pay for the service to have the machine work.There's also:
3) You avoid the quality loss associated with converting to analog and back to digital and reencoding. (Assuming we're talking about vs. using a TiVo and a separate DVD recorder.)

You can't edit the recordings at all, and if you pad the start and stop times (to make sure you get a show despite network early starts and late stops), the recording may end up too big to fit on a single disc, and you'd end up needing two. (Even for a one hour show.)Yes, this is absolutely the most goofy thing about the DVD recorder units. In fact, when the Pioneer units came out for $2000 or whatever they cost, I was quite eager to hand over my money for one, until I read about this limitation. I couldn't believe there wasn't at least a way to remove a bit at the beginning or end of a show. I did eventually get a DVD unit, but not until I happened upon a Toshiba for real cheap.

Megazone - I have to disagree about padding being a non-issue. The channels and shows you watch may stick to their schedules, but many others do not. I'm sure a search on the help forum would easily find a lot of complaints about TiVo "cutting off the end" of shows (since I've read many such posts in the past).

My sister never pads, whereas I pad almost everything I record. She has called me a number of times to ask what happened at the end of such-and-such a show, since her TiVo didn't get the ending.