IT-Review

Sony Presents DVDirect VRD-VC10 DVD Recorder

Sony DVDirect (DVD Direct) device can connect directly to a camcorder or VCR for transferring tape-based video footage to DVD for playback on most home DVD players and PC DVD-ROM drives.

The DVDirect device by Sony (Model VRD-VC10) is designed to help camcorder owners transfer home movies onto DVD without a computer. The DVDirect burner can also be attached to a PC, and comes with the necessary software for advanced DVD video authoring projects, as well as the creation of data, music, and video DVDs and CDs.

The DVDirect device can burn up to 12 hours of MPEG-2 video onto compatible double layer DVD+R DL discs or up to six hours onto standard single layer DVD+R or DVD+RW discs. The device can also automatically insert chapters onto DVDs through DVD+Video Recording (+VR), or "start and stop" recording, so users can jump to specific parts of a DVD during playback and edit video footage on the fly.

When attached to a PC with a USB 2.0 connection, the DVDirect burner also supports dual-format, double-layer burning. With 16X maximum recording speeds for DVD+R, users can burn a full write-once disc in about six minutes. Double layer burning allows consumers to record up to four hours of MPEG-2 video (at 4.7 Mbps) and up to 8.5GB of data onto a single-sided, double layer disc. Additionally, Sony's DVDirect burner can support 4X DVD±RW, 48X CD-R and 24X CD-RW recording speeds, so users can select the speed and media that best suits their needs.

Some specs:

Stand-Alone Recording Mode

Supported media: DVD+R, DVD+R DL (Double Layer), DVD+RW
DVD recording mode: DVD+VR
Supported video format: MPEG2
Automatic chaptering: 5, 10 or 15 minutes
Synchronized recording: Auto-start/stop recording with most camcorders/VCRs
Recording times:
     HQ (single layer: 1 hour, double layer: 2 hours)
     SP (single layer: 2 hours, double layer: 4 hours)
     SLP (single layer: 6 hours, double layer: 12 hours)
Supported sound format: Dolby Digital (AC3)
Inputs:
     Composite video (yellow RCA jack) x 1
     S-Video x 1
     Analog audio 2ch (red and white RCA jacks)

Computer-Attached Recording Mode
Supported media types & speeds:
     DVD+R DL: 2.4X CLV (max.) writing
     DVD+R: 16X CAV (max.) writing
     DVD+RW: 4X CLV (max.) rewriting
     DVD-R: 8X Z-CLV (max.) writing
     DVD-RW: 4X CLV (max.) rewriting
     DVD-ROM reading (single layer): 16X CAV (max.)
     DVD-ROM reading (dual layer): 8X CAV (max.)
     CD-R: 48X P-CAV (max.) writing
     CD-RW: 24X Z-CLV (max.) rewriting- CD-ROM: 48X CAV (max) reading
Interface: Hi Speed USB 2.0
Dimensions: 164 x 66 x 234 mm (H x W x L)