Choosing a TV Capture Method

Intro to Set Top DVD Recorders

Set Top DVD Recorders are another option for recording television broadcasts. These devices allow you to record TV onto recordable DVD formats, that can be played back in the recorder itself, a DVD player or DVD-ROM computer drive. Like VCRs, they feature timer recording and a built in tuner to record TV broadcasts. Most record on either DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW formats. Although multi-format recorders are becoming more readily available. These allow for recording on + an - DVD formats.

Some of these recorders also have built in hard drives that allow you to record a television broadcast directly to the hard drive, edit the recording and then burn to DVD. If you plan on saving most of the shows you record, the ability to record straight to a DVD is appealing. Even better, if the DVD Recorder also includes a Hard Drive (known as a DVD/HDD Recorder), you can record to the hard drive and then record to DVD, all with one machine. With Set Top DVD/HDD Recorders you're also limited in the size of the hard drive. DVD Recorders that only record to DVD are very affordable, while you can expect to pay a lot more for a DVD/HDD Recorder.

These devices are widely available from manufacturers like JVC, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, and others.

Intro to PC TV

Personal Computers today are extremely fast and come with huge hard drives. Capturing television broadcasts or tapes is easier than ever, as long as you have the right hardware and software. There are many options available, but the method can be broken down into two categories: Capture with an internal video card or the use of a BoB (Break Out Box).

Using an internal video card involves cracking open your computer case and physically installing the card, or buying a PC with a card pre-installed. BoBs connect to your computer by either a USB 2.0 or IEEE 1394 (firewire) port. Either device will allow you to connect a video or television signal to your PC.

Once you have the signal connected to your PC, software to guide you in the capture of the signal is required. Most video capture cards and BoBs come bundled with the necessary software. Depending on which software package you are using, the TV broadcasts and videos can be burned to either CD or DVD. Other software packages allow a user to control the TV broadcast and let the computer work like a DVR.

Computer hardware and software pricing continues to drop rapidly, and the availability of many different applications for TV capture on a PC is a plus.

So which method should you choose?

Ultimately, this depends on how much you want to spend and what your particular needs are. For those looking for total control of their television viewing experience, or if you record a lot of TV shows and need the flexibility a hard drive capable of recording hundreds of hours of programming, a DVR like TiVO or ReplayTV would be a great choice.

If you have a collection of VHS tapes that you would like to preserve on DVD or you like to save entire seasons of TV shows, a DVD recorder, along with a built-in hard drive would be the choice for you. Or maybe you record a few TV shows a week, and aren’t concerned with DVR functionality, like pausing live TV, then you may be interested in a Set Top DVD Recorder that only records to DVD. These are slowly replacing the VCR in homes across the world and are becoming very affordable (under $200 for some units).

If you’re a computer whiz, or if you just like the idea of watching and recording TV on a computer, PC TV is your choice. If you already own a computer, turning it into a digital video recorder requires a combination of hardware and software. This option can be one of the most affordable and effective if you want to spend the time to install and work with the various hardware devices and software applications you’ll need. You’ll also need a large hard drive to store the TV shows and video you capture.

In conclusion, the choices for recording television have expanded way beyond the VCR. DVRs, DVD Recorders and PC TV are all viable options for consumers. There is a TV capture method that fits all budgets and I encourage you to do some research and find a method that's right for you.