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Toshiba’s DVD recorders are multi-
drive so you can choose the media
(disc type) you want to record onto –
integrated hard disk, or removable
DVD-RAM, DVD-RW or DVD-R
(depending on the model).
What is recordable DVD?
A DVD recorder allows you to record,
edit and play back material with
astonishing ease and absolutely no
loss of quality. Before recordable
DVD, if you wanted to record a
programme or home movie, you
were expected to compromise on
quality, with a tape of limited capacity
and susceptible to long-term
deterioration. Not to mention the
hassle of searching for a blank
cassette at the last moment, or the
risk of recording over something you
wanted to keep.
All that has changed. Recordable
DVD offers durable discs of varying
format and capacity capable of
storing great quantities of digital
information for your enjoyment.
A DVD recorder isn’t just about
recording programmes from TV,
or even digital images from
camcorders and cameras. It also
gives you complete control to edit
the bits you want, then archive the
final version on a permanent disc or
give copies to friends.
Which format?
There are several different recording
formats. A DVD recorder records
video and audio optically onto discs.
Discs are available in different formats
and can be either ‘re-writable’ (DVD-
RAM, DVD-RW) or used only once
(DVD-R). A DVD hard disk recorder
offers the added benefit of a built-in
hard disk drive (HDD), as well as a
removable disc option.
Hard Disk Drive
The most obvious benefits of a hard
disk are the capacity* and simple
editing/dubbing capabilities. You can
use the HDD for everyday recordings,
then edit and dub to disc if you want
to keep them or pass them on to
someone else.
*
(up to 206 hours on the RD-XS64)
DVD-RAM
A DVD-RAM disc is ideal for
recordings you want to edit and
archive. The disc may be single or
double-sided and is re-writable up to
100,000 times meaning the content
can be erased and the disc can be
reused with no risk of deterioration in
quality. For added durability, some
DVD-RAM discs are encased in a
plastic caddy, protecting them from
fingerprints and scratches.
The main advantages of DVD-RAM
are the recording and editing
versatility. With the Random Access
Memory (RAM) format, all available
space on a disc can be used,
unwanted sections of programmes
can be simply edited or deleted, and
new recordings made without
accidentally recording over
something you wanted to keep.
DVD-RW
A DVD-RW disc is also re-writable,
up to a maximum of 1,000 times.
However, recording is linear, just like
on a VHS tape, so although
recordings can be deleted and
replaced, they cannot be edited. This
means that there is greater risk of
over-recording and wasted space
than with a DVD-RAM disc.
DVD-R
Like CD-R, a write-once DVD-R
disc can only be used to record once
and the recording cannot be deleted.
The main advantage is that they are
cheap to buy and compatible with
most DVD players, recorders or
DVD drives, making them ideal
for loans to friends and multiple
copying (for example, a wedding
or holiday video).
Insight: DVD Recorders
A DVD Recorder is little short of the ultimate in digital entertainment versatility. TV, home video, family photos,
music, movies wherever and whenever you want... with a DVD recorder the choice is yours.
INSIGHT: DVD RECORDERS
25
20:00
Start recording a
real-time broadcast
The recording
is completed
20:15 20:30 21:00
You come home and watch
the recorded footage using
‘chase play’
Picture from
the real-time
TV broadcast
Picture in Picture feature
Timeslip feature
Picture being
played back
Edit menu DV
recording window
Instant connection
via DV input
20:15 20:30 21:00 21:15
Timeslip
Now you can make the TV schedule
fit in with your own schedule thanks
to the brilliant Timeslip feature that
gives you the option to ‘Chase’ or
‘Pause’ TV.
Chase TV means you can watch the
start of a programme at any time,
while it is being recorded. For
instance, watch the start of the
Grand Prix before waiting for the end
of the race.
Easy Navi*
With so many features and functions
on our Hard Disk Recorders, it would
be natural to feel daunted at the
prospect of finding your way around.
However, our HDD recorders* feature
a simplified Easy Navi menu option
which gives you easy access to
recordings and key features. Simply
press the Easy Navi button on the
remote control while watching TV or
playing recorded footage to display
the navigation menu on the screen.
From there it’s just one press of the
button to access all the operations
you need to playback, record or edit.
*(RD-XS24).
Hard Disk models also allow you to
pause a live programme at the touch
of a button, then continue from that
point when you are ready.
Meanwhile, you can keep an eye on
the real-time broadcast with the
‘Picture in Picture’ feature which
opens a small picture box showing
the live programme.
The menus are completely intuitive,
aided by thumbnail visuals of
programme content. The recorder
even recognises when a camcorder
is connected, automatically providing
the appropriate on screen menu to
download footage using the
recorder’s remote control.
Satellite Box Control
Multiple recordings from satellite
is just as easy. You simply select
the appropriate channel in the
programming window and be sure
to leave the satellite box switched
on. The recorder will automatically
switch the satellite receiver to
the appropriate channel for
each recording.