The digital recorder is the digital version of the VCR.
Also called PVR (Personal Video Recorder), DVR (Digital Video Recorder) or digitiscope, it records your TV programs for later broadcasting.
And if the functions multiply there, they always serve the same purpose: recording, storing, broadcasting.
The news ?
Easy programming, integrated storage, timeshifting or an on-board program guide.
Any TV recorder incorporates a decoder, in order to capture the video signals emitted by your television.
The VCR had an analog decoder, suitable for televisions… before.
The advent of digital TV, or TNT, quickly made analog VCRs obsolete.
The definitive abandonment of analog TV, meanwhile, made them unnecessary.
If it is still possible for you to watch your video cassettes, impossible to record your emissions: to do this, you need a recorder equipped with a digital decoder… in other words, the TNT tuner integrated by the digital recorders!
A digital recorder, for whom?
For all those who wish to record TV… and whose TV box does not offer equivalent functions.
For those, also, who wish to be able to intervene on their emissions: to stop a program, then to resume it as if nothing had happened?
Nothing could be simpler, with a digital recorder.
Finally, for those who wish to combine their VCR, Blu-ray player, hard disk and multimedia box in a single device!
The fidelity of the digital video recorder
Record TV
An essential function of any VCR, recording is the raison d'être of its successor.
A digital recorder should record series, matches, shows… or any TV program you might miss!
Absence or an interesting program at the same time, the cause does not matter: all you need is a button to record.
As for the programming, it is simple and intuitive, more accessible than with a VCR.
Store recordings
Who doesn't remember video tapes?
Fragile, greedy in place and impractical… not to mention the loss of quality over time.
The digital recorder, meanwhile, solves the problem of clutter!
With a built-in high capacity hard drive, your recordings remain stored in the device ... without complex manipulation of copying to another medium.
Save videos
Analogue stored your videos on a tape, which itself suffered from the ravages of time.
Digital technology does not suffer any loss of quality as it ages.
Why not take advantage of your digital recorder?
It is capable of recording all the video signals broadcast by your TV.
Therefore, if you play your old analog movies on TV, your recorder will convert them to digital signals!
A good way to save your videotapes or analog camcorder movies ...
The digital recorder revolution
Deferred direct (timeshifting)
This is the big novelty offered by digital recorders: offering real control over a broadcast broadcast live.
The phone rings in the middle of the game?
Press pause.
Your recorder immediately takes over, recording live for you.
When you press play, it resumes playing exactly where you left off.
Results ?
The impression of never missing anything!
The Electronic Program Guide (EPG)
No need to go looking in the TV log to manually enter information ... The Electronic Program Guide, or EPG, is accessible with a single touch on your digital recorder.
It displays the TV programs on the screen: a single click is enough to add the desired program to the list of recordings.
It only remains to adjust the recurrence in two keys, if your favorite series returns every week.
Automatic detection of advertisements
Your favorite series, precisely… Are you tired of watching it in dotted lines?
Automatic ad detection takes over.
You just need to activate it for your digital recorder to spot commercial breaks.
At each recording, it stops at the time of the advertisement and resumes at the end of the break.
You benefit from recordings without any advertising!
Play and save 3D
Your Blu-ray player does not play 3D?
Simplify the problem.
Rather than buying one back, opt for a 3D digital recorder.
Equipped with a 3D Blu-ray player, it plays all your 3D movies… better, it records those broadcast by your 3D TV!
By burning them on Blu-ray, you build up a custom 3D video library.
Play and record 4K
New Ultra High Definition resolution, 4K offers four times the resolution of Full HD.
With a suitable TV screen, the 4K digital recorder allows you to enjoy your content to its full extent: play 4K Blu-rays, transform your Full HD movies into 4K with Upscaling, or record the 4K videos offered by your TV .
To each his own digital recorder
Simple digital recorders
A digital recorder exists in its most essential version: a digital video recorder, easy to use and without complex functions.
It easily schedules and records your TV shows.
If you want to record, and only record, look no further!
Program your series, watch it a few days later, then delete it: a basic digital recorder is enough.
Digital recorders with DVD or Blu-ray burner / player
If some digital recorders integrate a DVD or Blu-ray burner, it is for the purpose of reading as well as backing up.
The interest?
Your device can record your programs directly on Blu-ray, save them there later… or broadcast your films.
Why not bring DVD / Blu-ray player and digital recorder together?
If you want to save space, opt for these all-in-one models, which can easily build your video library.
Digital multimedia recorders
Digital recorder, DVD player and media player?
Nothing stops the digital recorder!
These models support the playback of all your audio, video or image content: play a CD, a movie from a USB key, MP3s from your digital music player ... This time, three devices grouped into one that offers this digital recorder.
If you are looking for a player capable of broadcasting your USB media, digital cameras, camcorders… but also of recording TV or playing your Blu-rays, don't hesitate any longer!
Connected digital recorders
In the era of connected household appliances, digital recorders are going with the flow: flexibility and compatibility characterize this connected device.
Capable of broadcasting content from your smartphones and tablets in Bluetooth, it can also integrate a WiFi connection.
Do you like to control your devices without moving?
Opt for a digital multimedia recorder, integrating burner and Blu-ray / DVD player, as well as a WiFi connection!
This will connect all your devices to the same network.
You can thus access the contents of your laptops, hybrid PCs… and broadcast all formats on your TV.
When choosing your digital recorder, pay attention to certain points
The integrated hard drive
This is the essential difference between a VCR and a digital recorder: the latter can embed a hard disk, in order to store your recordings internally.
No manipulation, copying or transfer ... Your digital recorder does not have a hard disk?
In this case, plan an external storage solution or a recorder with DVD burner.
The double TNT tuner
Do not neglect this option!
This, even if you already have a TNT decoder, independent or integrated into your TV box… A second TNT tuner, in fact, is essential to be able to record and watch two programs simultaneously.
You do not have a TNT decoder?
Opt for a digital recorder with dual TNT tuner.
Storage capacity
If you opt for the hard drive built into your digital recorder, choose its storage capacity carefully.
How often do you record?
How long do you keep the files?
What is the resolution of your TV?
The higher the quality, the heavier the video files.
If you are Full HD enthusiasts, opt for a high capacity hard drive, offering up to 150 hours of recording.
The connection
Your digital recorder requires, at a minimum, a connection to your TV.
By definition, digital uses HDMI connectivity, the only one capable of conveying HD signals.
If you plan to connect additional devices to it, however, detail the necessary ports.
An external hard drive may require a USB port.
Your home cinema installation, an RCA, optical or coaxial output… or even a scart socket, if you want to connect your old video recorder to your digital recorder!
An optimized ... and long-lasting recorder
Complete
You have opted for a digital recorder, but are starting to doubt your choice ... Are your recordings accumulating, internal storage insufficient? Like any digital device, a recorder is upgradeable: USB or HDMI ports are generally sufficient to connect peripherals. No need to change the device, completing it is enough! Storage problems? An external hard drive, simply connected by USB to your digital recorder, solves the problem. Opt for a high storage capacity ... video files are increasingly heavy, a large capacity today will be too low tomorrow. If you decide to save your videos to physical media, it couldn't be easier. Connect a DVD / Blu-ray burner to your digital recorder, and keep your files safe. HD movies, concerts,digitized videos… Recording a TV show without being able to change channels quickly becomes boring. You only have a TNT tuner? An external tuner is responsible for providing a second TNT stream to your digital recorder. Connect it to your device with RF connectivity, and enjoy.
Maintain
Again, the digital recorder follows the same rules as other digital devices.
Treat it like you would treat your computer.
Starting, in particular, by handling it without abruptness!
Avoid shock, unnecessary weight or vibration.
Watch out for dust, IT's sworn enemy.
Likewise, watch the proximity of devices incorporating magnets: the magnetic field emitted can damage a digital recorder.
Do you pamper your computer's ventilation, in order to prevent it from overheating?
Do the same with a digital recorder.
Do not block its vents, and place it on a flat support.
In addition to better operation, avoiding overheating extends the life of your equipment… and reduces your energy bill.
