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While reviewing Pioneer's PRV-9000 DVD recorder (see the July 2002 issue of Video Systems) I learned two valuable lessons. First, compared to computer software with a DVD burner, a standalone recorder is a delight to use. Simply connect a camcorder or deck, press a few buttons, and then burn a DVD-R in realtime. I burned dozens of DVDs using the PRV-9000 without a single golden coaster.
Unfortunately, while these DVDs had great image and sound quality, they lacked professional polish. Segments didn't begin or end cleanly because there was no way to make frame-accurate transfers from tape. Moreover, the "top menu" was a text list on a plain background. They simply didn't look like commercial DVDs.
When I learned Panasonic was selling a DVD recorder with a built-in hard drive, it seemed to offer the perfect solution. One could transfer video segments to the hard disk and then trim each segment. After adding chapter marks, the segments could be transferred to DVD-R. Before I reveal whether my hopes were fulfilled by the addition of a hard disk, let's examine Panasonic's DMR-T3040 feature set.
The T3040 has a 40GB hard drive that holds up to 52 hours storage in EP mode or 8.5 hours in maximum-quality, XP mode. It records to 4.7GB DVD-RAM or 4.7GB DVD-R discs. If you are planning to distribute DVDs with the expectation they'll play on most set-top DVD players, you must use DVD-R discs. The recorder has two rear-panel inputs and one front-panel input. Each input has a composite and an S-Video connection. To clean up poor source material, the T3040 features a time-base corrector and, for the composite and TV inputs, a 3D Y/C separation circuit. Although the T3040 has a TV tuner, it's virtually useless for most Americans because it lacks a cable/DBS mouse and a way to obtain a program guide.
There is also a front-panel IEEE 1394 DV port for digital transfers from camcorders and decks. You can record directly to hard drive, DVD-RAM, and DVD-R. Unlike the Pioneer, the port will not output DV from either the hard drive or the optical disc player.
Moreover, the port will not accept DV from a computer's FireWire port. That means you must dub to DV tape and...