» Why do I need a HiFi stereo VCR for home theater?
» All I watch is regular TV — I never rent movies. Why would I want a HiFi stereo VCR?
» My old VCR flashes "12:00" after every power outage; do new VCRs do the same?
» Do any of your VCRs have features that make timer recording easier?
» How easy is it to make unattended recordings with a digital video recorder (DVR)?
» If I want to transfer my home videos to VHS, which VCR features should I look for?
» When I put my old VCR in Pause or Slow Motion, the picture gets jittery; are new models any better?
Q: Why do I need a HiFi stereo VCR for home theater?
A: A HiFi stereo VCR plays the Dolby?-encoded soundtracks on the videotapes you rent or buy. Music, dialogue, sound effects, and surround sound are already in these video soundtracks. The VCR sends all of this audio information on to the Dolby Pro Logic? or Pro Logic II decoder in your audio/video receiver.
Q: All I watch is regular TV — I never rent movies. Why would I want a HiFi stereo VCR?
A: In addition to thousands of movies on VHS, many popular TV shows are also broadcast in Dolby Surround. A HiFi VCR's MTS stereo TV reception allows you to enjoy the same exciting multichannel sound with over-the-air and satellite TV programming as you do with VHS movies.
Q: I have a stereo receiver and stereo speakers instead of a home theater system. How can I get better sound when I watch movies or television?
A: Try running the sound from your VCR or hard disk video recorder through your stereo receiver and speakers — it's a huge improvement over the built-in amp and wimpy speaker(s) in your TV.
Q: Every time there's even a brief power outage, my old VCR flashes "12:00" and I have to reset the clock. Does this happen with new VCRs, too?
A: Most models we sell include some type of memory backup. During typical brief power interruptions, your time, date, channels, and timer recording settings will be maintained. Models with auto clock set carry this convenience one step further: as long as the VCR is plugged in and hooked up to an antenna or working cable service, the VCR will automatically reset the time and date.
Q: Do any of your VCRs have features that make timer recording easier?
A: Absolutely. We carry several models with built-in VCR Plus+® simplified timer programming. Setting up for unattended recording is as easy as punching in a show's "PlusCode®," which is found in TV Guide® and most local newspaper listings.
Q: I own a digital satellite TV system. Are there VCRs that can control my DBS receiver so I can record satellite programs when I'm not at home?
A: Sure — DBS receiver/cable box control is a very popular feature these days. Some VCRs accomplish DBS/cable box control with a small, separate, wired infrared controller (Sony calls theirs a "Cable Mouse"); others have a built-in infrared "blaster" to communicate with cable or DBS boxes.
Q: How easy is it to make unattended recordings with a digital video recorder (DVR)?
A: Really easy. Most of these recorders can control your cable box or DBS receiver, so if you subscribe to a service like TiVo®, you simply use the on-screen program guide to select the show you want to record. You can even tell the recorder to automatically find and record a program every time it's on.
Q: I shoot a lot of home videos with my camcorder and would like to transfer them to VHS. Which VCR features should I look for?
A: There are several key features: front panel audio/video inputs for convenient camcorder hookup; jog and shuttle functions for quick and easy tape maneuvering; a flying erase head to ensure seamless, glitch-free edits; and audio dubbing and/or insert editing for replacing just the audio or video portions of the tape.
Also, you might consider transferring your home movies to Super VHS instead of VHS. You'll get 60% higher horizontal resolution — especially nice if you're shooting digital video, since an S-VHS copy will preserve more of the original detail. Keep in mind, though, that S-VHS tapes will not play back on most regular VHS VCRs.
Q: Whenever I put my old VCR in Pause or Slow Motion, or any other special effect mode, the picture gets jittery, with fuzzy bars across it. Are new models any better?
A: Most definitely. Those problems are due to the limitations of two-head VCRs. All of our current VHS models feature four video heads. With one pair of heads dedicated to recording and playback in SP mode, and another set dedicated to EP mode, you get consistently excellent picture quality with virtually noise-free special effects.
Q: I've been seeing more and more dual-well DVD/VHS decks. Will these machines let me copy DVD movies onto blank VHS tapes?
A: In the vast majority of cases, no. Macrovision® copyright protection technology, found in nearly all the DVD titles you rent or buy, won't allow you to record copyrighted material onto a blank tape. For this reason, most combo decks aren't even designed to copy from the DVD well to the VHS well.
But a DVD/VHS deck is a great space-saving solution for people who want to be able to watch both VHS tapes and DVD discs. (For more information, see our article about DVD/VCR combos.)
Q: I do a lot of recording, and I'm tired of rewinding and fast-forwarding tapes. Is there a more convenient format?
A: Two technologies — digital video recorders (DVR) and DVD recorders — offer alternatives to tape-based recording.
DVRs record TV shows onto a built-in high-capacity hard drive, like the one inside your computer. These handy devices let you pause and replay live television and, when used with a program guide service such as TiVo®, can find and record shows automatically. (But since a DVR is limited to its internal memory, you'll also want to use a VCR or DVD recorder for permanent archiving.)
DVD recorders are becoming more and more popular as an alternative to VCRs. Recording to disc frees you from the hassle of rewinding and fast-forwarding tapes, and also lets you record in studio-quality resolution. If you're interested in learning more about disc-based video recording, check out our article on DVD recorders.
