Do I need a dvd recorder with a digital tuner if I have cable?

It's pretty much up to your cable system. Most of the cable systems today transmit both digital and analog signals. You can pick up the analog signals with a cable-ready analog tuner, and additional digital signals with a cable-ready digital tuner, for TV, DVD recorder, or DVR. Additionally, cable systems are supposed to support the "CableCard" standard. This allows you to get a special card from the cable company that allows you pick up much of the content that's scrambled or locked out, channels that you would otherwise need a cable box to receive. You have to check with your cable service to be sure if they have this yet, but by law, they are supposed to handle CableCard, and a Digital Tuner/CableCard compatible recorder will ensure you can record as many channels as possible I'm not sure you can even buy a DVD recorder with analog-only tuner any longer, unless you buy used. There's a law in effect that required all TVs over some small size to carry digital tuners last year, and all other devices (DVR, VCR, etc) to carry digital tuners this year. CableCard may still be an option, so shop carefully. I do know that the HD Tivo supports both (I can't use these myself, I only get satellite.. I have two standard definition Tivos).