DVD Recorder

Used as a computer peripheral or a standalone device, a DVD recorder is an optical disc recorder that facilitates the recording of videos on a blank, digital versatile disc. These devices generally use laser technology and record at different speeds. The recording speeds of these recorders is measured in MB/sec and is denoted as ’X’. In computer-attached DVD recorders, 1X is equal to 1.321MB/s. In standalone components the recording is done in real time at 1X speed.

DVD recorders that read are weaker than DVD recorders that write; however, most of them can read both CDs and DVDs. Generally, a DVD recorder supports DVD-RAM, DVD-RW or DVD+RW standards. Most computer-attached internal DVD drives are designed with traditional parallel ATA interfaces with serial ATA, while the external drives mostly use the latest USB 2.0 or IEEE1394 (fire wire) ports. Standalone DVD recorders support various DVD media formats including DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL.

Some manufacturers, like Sony, Panasonic and LG electronics, have now introduced models where the hard drive is in-built for simpler operations. These DVD recorders come with the basic DVD authoring software pre-installed, making operations easier and keeping it under the control of the unit. Manufacturers have started producing DVD recorders with in-built ATSC tuners that produce outputs of higher image quality. These ATSC tuner-based DVD recorders provide a greater number of channels and better quality in audio and video output using aerial broadcasts. In the UK, Freeview (DTT operator) offers up to fifty, primarily free-to-air, television channels and over twenty radio channels.