DVD Recorder questions

[Videot]

I'm aware that there are at least 2 basic types of digital recorders, those
that record off air onto a DVD & those that still record of air onto a
DVD and/or onto hard drive as well.

Is the signal that goes onto either the DVD or Hard drive always the full
standard definition MPEG2 720 x 576 signal that's either 4 x3 or 16 x 9.?
Is MPEG2 the only codec these recorders are capable of? Are any of them
capable to recording and/or encoding in real time using other codec's like
MPEG4 & it's variations like DIVX? If this is possible since it's encoding
in real time that any 2 pass codec's can't be used.

Thanks in adavance

[·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`Dingbat·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`]

"Videot" <videot@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:4256004e$0$29865$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> I'm aware that there are at least 2 basic types of digital recorders,
> those that record off air onto a DVD & those that still record of air
> onto a DVD and/or onto hard drive as well.
>
> Is the signal that goes onto either the DVD or Hard drive always the full
> standard definition MPEG2 720 x 576 signal that's either 4 x3 or 16 x 9.?

Yes
The same 720 x576 encoding is used on units regardlaess of whether you have
a a DVD Recorder, a DVD recorder with HD, or a PVR (HD only).
They all use the broadcast/industry standard known as
'SD-Video Entertainment Video Profile'.
(For once there is one standard - Across the board)

> Is MPEG2 the only codec these recorders are capable of?

No. (read on)

> Are any of them capable to recording and/or encoding in real time using
> other codec's like MPEG4 & it's variations like DIVX? 'If this is
> possible since it's encoding in real time that any 2 pass codec's can't be
> used.

> Thanks in adavance
>

Pansonic's Flagship model will record All programs in MPEG2.
There is also an option ro simultaneously record all programs in MPEG4, 320x
240 or 176.144 (depending of what quality you choose)
The MPEG4 programs are encoded using the MPEG4 Video Codec and the G.726
Audio Codec.

If you choose to not record both at the same time, you can always 'copy' an
MPEG2 to MPEG4 later (after removing commericals if you like)
You can save the MPEG4 to DVD-RAM, DVD, HD or the removeable SD Card

If you record to DVD/SD-Card then it is a simple matter of placing the
DVD/SD Card in your PC's DVDDrive/Card Reader and transferring program
across.

There are currently no 'off air' recorders capable of recording in the DiVX
format.
The only way to achieve DiVX currently would be to place a recorded DVD into
your PC and copy MPEG2 version to HD and then re-encode to DiVX

Dingbat