The Public Opinion Soapbox

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3042 Location: Chambersburg

I want to be able to burn dvds. H and my p.c. s both have them, but I'm really hoping that there exists a quality product for reasonable price that is meant for the typical home theater system. I know absolutely nothing about them.

Suggestions?

Opinions?

Snide Remarks?
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Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2569 Location: Chambersburg

If you have DVD-R optical drives in your computers, then that's really all you need. And at that point it's all about software. I'm no expert on the topic, but let me know what you're trying to do and I think I can help. A piece of home theater hardware that burns DVD's is probably not worth it if your home computer is capable of doing this.

Do you want to burn content from TV onto DVD, or are you trying to copy content from existing DVD's?

sassy moose · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 284 Location: Virginia

My boyfriend has something like six DVD recorders. (It's a long story.) I bought him a decent one last Christmas from Best Buy for about $160. It's a Philips. It burned out fairly quickly (by the summer), but it was used a considerable amount and moved around a LOT. It burned out when it was recording something in a car in the middle of August in North Carolina. It also randomly started working again recently. So for your home theater purposes, it should be totally good. He has another Philips one that was a little less expensive that's worked just fine for a while.

From what I remember, most of the standard ones were in the mid- to upper-$100s.

If you want to burn any old VHS home movies over to DVD, you could get one of those combo thingies.

The boyfriend's not here, and if it wasn't 3:15 in the morning, I'd call him. He can give you more information this afternoon.

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3042 Location: Chambersburg

You both are too kind Very Happy

I want to make room on my stupid TiVo, but can't seem to delete somethings. I've considered dubbing VHS to DVD also, but wonder how badly the quality would svck. Maybe old home movies (if I could find any) as well.

Of course, I would never dream of making copies of existing dvds cause that would be wrong. *cough*shiftyeyes*

So, Coppy, what's the best software?

Ooh and does anyone know how to tinker with video editing if you know nothing about it?!

You smart people are awesome!!!

Thank you!
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Nevermind.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2569 Location: Chambersburg

If it's a matter of making room on the Tivo, an in-home-theater DVD recording would probably be your best bet, like the kind sassy mentioned.

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3042 Location: Chambersburg

' kay so tell what's some good software anyway?

tellmetellmetellmetellme
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sassy moose · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 284 Location: Virginia

From the boyfriend:

"I would recommend one with a digital tuner, which is just about every one out there now, but there are a few stragglers without it. And make sure it has an HDMI output. Most of them do, but check.

From my experience, Panasonic works. My LG didn't work very well.

For basic video editing, you can try iMovie. If you're just putting together some home movies or something, that should do it easily. If you really want to branch out, you could get Final Cut Pro, but it's expensive and pretty complex if you're new to it. You can do all kinds of crazy stuff with it."

Hope that helps!

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3042 Location: Chambersburg

Thank You! (both of you)
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A Talking Horse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 143 Location: Cove Gap

Dont these Tivo things have USB or some other PC interface?

Also - check you computer, some of them Video Inputs and Outputs...

Im currently streaming C-SPAN on my PC - but viewing on my TV...
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sassy moose · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 284 Location: Virginia

When I got my computer last year, I got one with a TV tuner, because I didn't otherwise have room for a TV in here. It has its own built in Tivo-like thing, but for an extra $200-ish, I could have bought something to interface it with the Tivo downstairs. So I don't know if you can just plug in the Tivo or if you have to buy one of those media center things.

cookieclaygirl · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 2136 Location: shippensburg