Samsung DVD-VR320/XEU Multi Format DVD Recorder and VCR Best Buy

A bit disappointing - 29 Jul 2006

1 out of 1 found this review helpful.

Quite easy to use but the rewinding process is slow and the recorder makes a bit of noise in the background.

I can't say that I am unhappy with this product but if i had to buy one again, I would select a different one.

Good Player, Ignore the one start Comment - 20 Nov 2005

29 out of 34 found this review helpful.

My father has just bought this recorder and in all fairness it seems a good item. It even has a DV input so you can convert your DV Camera to DVD.

I see one comment reguarding the problem with playing recorded DVDs on other stand-alone players. I have a solution for this.

DVD recorders store the information differently than on normal DVDs. Some DVD recorders just store the Mpeg file only. While Others store some of the indexing etc. DVD-RAM disks and DVD-VR mode store the information simillar to a DVD format. While some modern DVD players recognise this format others dont

The information format is in a *.vro format as oppossed to *.vob format of normal DVD. All VR-mode recorders use this format - its not just Samsung. You need to convert this format on your PC then burn a DVD

There is software to do this. TMPGEnc DVD Author is chaep and easy that will read a *vro format and convert it the *.Vob. You can even put DVD menus etc.

When you have done this Burn it to recordable DVD- or DVD+ DVDs and watch it on you DVD player. Most, if not all modern DVD players will read recordable DVD's.

Hope you find the info usefull

Covers nearly all of the bases - 20 Nov 2005

23 out of 24 found this review helpful.

I needed a DVD recorder that was capable of playing DivX and this is what I chose. Having a VHS slot was just an added bonus.

The system plays DVD's well, using progressive scanning if your TV is compatible with progressive scan (most newer ones are) and records from a multitude of sources without any real fuss. A one-touch recording system allows you to record your VHS tapes onto DVD and an interactive menu allows you to navigate the disc, format it, finalise it, protect it etc. You can record using videoplus, one touch and timer record too.

The disc navigation function is really neat. On one side you have the chapters or files that are on the disc and on the other side you have a preview of what is on that chapter.

As well as DVD movies you can also use DivX movies on CD's or DVD's plus you can view photo cd's too, play MP3 discs and audio CD's.

You need to make sure that you choose the format of the blank DVD's carefully. It only works with DVD-RAM, DVD-R and -RW rather than +R and +RW and you need to make sure you finalise the disc before you can use it on anything else. If you are a veteran of PC DVD burning, this should come as 2nd nature.

As far as outputs and inputs go, there are some on the front for DV (looks like small end of a USB cable!), aux in and out, there's 2 scart connectors on the back, an optical out for surround sound and a few more aux in and outs - plenty if you ask me. Plus an input/output for your antenna.

I was surprised how big the unit is. If it was a centimetre longer it wouldn't have fit into my stand under the TV!

Even the manual is pretty good. It tells you pretty much everything you can and can't do. My only criticism is the unit doesn't play NTSC tapes, but I'll live.

Samsung DVD-VR320 combo - 08 Sep 2005

159 out of 167 found this review helpful.

Awful. I am frustrated, angry and out of pocket. I was having sound interference with trying to copy video tapes to a DVD recorder, therefore got this combo which I thought would eliminate that, which it did. However, the point of buying it was definitely to copy my valued tapes onto DVD. I found (apart from it not having a menu) that after recording the DVD, I was unable to copy the DVDs using my computer. Either the copies would fail (and my office IT department tried on their equipment too with no success) or if the copies did write they were unplayable on any other machine, including the computer, except the Samsung. On top of this I have just found out that the copies themselves recorded on the Samsung either won't play at all in other players, or they play a little but keep freezing. I had transferred a number of tapes, and just checked that the players would recognise the discs and fastforwarded a little to check all was well, but now find that all these discs are useless as they freeze unless I play them in the Samsung. I must have wasted something like 3 dozen blank DVDs transferring my tapes and trying to do copies for friends. As I have two other players plus a portable player, I need discs that will play. The Samsung helpline was totally useless telling me that I needed to copy the discs in x2, which I had, and although I have written to Samsung I have as yet had no reply. I guess this machine might be ok if you are just using it for the odd thing, and not wanting to copy or keep what you are recording (what happens if you have kept discs and then eventually change the machine?) but if you want to do this you are probably better off simply buying a cheapie. My friend keeps apologising for her Goodmans combo, however not only does it create menus, the discs copy (I have copied several on my computer) and appear to play in just about anything. I think this Samsung will be junked unless I hear something positive from Samsung.