Are DVD recorders as reliable as VCR's?

DVD Recorders...looking for information - see details.?

• I'm looking for a way to convert my little Camcorder tapes into DVD's. Is that capable with all DVD recorders or is there a specific type? I have the standard red/white/yellow cable that plugs into the VCR to play from my camcorder right now and want to be able to plug it into the DVD recorder to make DVDs of these videos. Also, will these DVD's play on any DVD player? I mean they have all these different formats that is confusing. For example: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RAM, SVCD, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD, CD, Video CD. Or would I be better off doing this from my computer? I have CD burner but didn't get a DVD burner. I'm really looking for the best way to do this that is the cheapest and also the right format to play on any DVD player. Also is there ways to make chaptermarks or scene marks when recording? Sort of like they have on normal DVD's where you can skip ahead to various other parts of the video.

• Answer:

  Not a simple question to answer. In short, if you want the simplest and cheapest way to do it, it's possible to get stand alone dvd video burning drives. See this Sony product http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/DiscBurners/DVDirect However, this will be a straight transfer of the video on your tape to the DVD. It doesn't allow for any sort of video editing. If you want to do something of that nature you'll need a PC, possible a video capture card, DVD burner, and NLE. If you have windows XP, then you already have a free NLE to play with called Windows Movie Maker 2.0. It can be used to make simple movies. If you have a MiniDV camcorder with firewire output and your PC has a firewire port IEEE1394 then all you need is the appropriate cable to connect it to the PC so no video capture card is needed. As for a DVD burner, I'd suggest NEC, Pioneer, or Sony. All of these DVD burners are top quality. As far as compatibility. There is not guarantee, not all DVD players will play a burned DVD. That being said, the most compatible media is DVD-R. FYI CD, VideoCD, SVCD aren't DVD formats, but can be used to create video cds for playback on appropriate hardware. Good luck.