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Review : RCA DVD-Recorder DRC8005N
Last Friday I noticed that a local store had a DVD-recorder for a hundred bucks off. I had just read several articles on various set top DVD recorders and thought that it would be pretty cool to use one as a personal video recorder. The sale ended that day and I had to make up my mind. I decided on a RCA DVD-Recorder DRC8005N that normally retails for $300 for just $200.
Now this is not a computer DVD-Rom drive but a stand alone DVD+R and DVD+RW alternative to a VCR. The unit is quite a bit larger than a normal DVD player and is just a bit bigger than an Xbox but it is no where near as heavy or dope. The design of the unit is a big silver box with a couple lighted buttons, a display but it is pretty quiet and has a variety of inputs and capabilities.
The unit can record to DVD+R discs but it really shines with DVD+RW discs. This unit has real time MPEG-2 encoding at full broadcast resolution and frame rate. There is a six levels of compression quality but the ones that I use is (2) Normal and (5) Basic. Normal setting gives you four hours of recording on a disc and Basic gives you six hours of TV recording on a disc. I like to record to a DVD+RW for most stuff so you can delete recordings when you are done to them. Then if I want to permanently save it I will put the DVD+RW in my normal Samsung DVD player and record back onto a DVD+R. Sure you can only record six hours of TV on a disk but you can get a DVD+RW for about two bucks a pop and greatly expand the time you can tape. I mean record. There is no tape.
The built in operating system is pretty good and easy to use. The series of menus lets you do a bunch of functions and the recording timer feature is easy to use. There is no program guide or intelligent recording suggestions like a Tivo but if you know what you want to record on what channel it works out just fine. I use the TV listing at Zap2It.com to find out what is going to be on. The OS will let you know if there is a scheduling conflict and if your recordings will not fit on the current space on your disc. It can be as simple as hitting a single button to record but I am glad that I read the full documentation to find out the details.
You can record DVDs video from a VHS video tape, video game system or just about any video source. The unit came with all the cables that I needed including a cable TV splitter. I might use this to take screen shots and clips from video games. The software chastises you if you try to record Macrovision encoded video content but non-encoded DVDs can be copied just fine. I copied an older Godzilla DVD with no problems but when I tried to copy a Hollywood made DVD it gave me a hard time and refused to comply. I might try a de-Macrovision filter if I can find a good one or I will keep my DVD coping to my future iBook. So you can't pirate commercial DVDs but you can record TV and other video sources and do what ever you want with them. I might use some DVD-ripping software to create digital video files should I need to but it is neat to to record six hours of TV to a disc and be-able to watch it on a notebook computer or any place you have a DVD player.
It creates chapter stops automatically every ten minutes and it creates a nice menu with random frame captures when you finalize a DVD+R to use on normal DVD players. The DVD+RW disks do not need to be finalized and worked just fine on my PC and other DVD player. However I will point out that a DVD+RW worked on my smaller Sony PSTwo but a DVD+R disk did not work and gave me a red error screen.
It has a very utilitarian remote control that could have been sexier and sleeker but it does get the job done. I have read reviews that complain that there is no Firewire port and the clock display changes to import when it is turned on but I don't care about that because I already have a real clock and I don't have a Firewire video camera. The Auto-clock settings does not work with my cable company so I had to set the clock manually but only once.
There is a USB port in the front of the unit and you can hook up a memory card reader to read and copy pictures and MP3s from memory cards. I guess you could use a DVD+R to archive pictures from your digital camera with out using a computer. Since you can burn 4.7 Gigs of MP3s to a DVD+R you could use this unit as a set top music player that can pack more songs than some of the smaller iPods. I don't know how often I will use this feature but it is a cool idea. It even works with any USB storage devices and it could play MP3 files and JPGs on a thumbdrive.
I love to check out what is going to be on tomorrow and that night and will set up a day of recording in advance. It lets you watch TV when you want and it make me feel like I am getting my money's worth out of my cable TV. It would be really nice to use with a Tivo to archive your recordings forever on DVD. It is not as easy as using a Tivo but there is no monthly fee and you can keep your recorded video forever. The only thing I could want in a DVD-recorder that this does not have is a hard-disk and a smart TV guide but this is a nice steady unit for a first generation of consumer electronics. I am pretty happy with this. This lets you watch TV when you want to and keep that recording forever and that is quite sci-fi.
Jake at February 11, 2005 
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Comments
Hmm.. maybe the reason a DVD+R won't play on your PSTwo is because of how your DVD-recorder masters the discs. I use 3-2-1 Studios software to back up my DVD's and they play fine on my PSTwo once burned to DVD+R.
Posted by: InsaneDavid at February 11, 2005 02:02 PM