Sony VRDMC5 DVDirect DVD Recorder Reviews

• Does The Job but Beware

  
  By A161WPQXD3QCMK on 2007-09-12
  This just arrived and if you are considering purchasing this item know that notwithstanding the description above this burner does not connect to a computer via USB port. Amazon says they got the description from Sony. Sony says Amazon has it wrong but confirms that it is not designed for a computer connection like their previous models.
  
  I'm sure it will work fine as a stand-alone burner but I was disappointed that there was an explicit representation made in the description that is not accurate.
  
  

• Simple & Super easy to use

  
  By A28UJR9LWGJN6C on 2007-11-12
  I wanted to transfer all my old VCR tapes and camcorder tapes of my daughter from years and years ago. I absolutely couldn't believe how easy it was to use. The LCD screen makes it really simple to see what you are recording. Not a lot of buttons to confuse a person. I've hook the VCR up to it and away it goes. I'll be glad when I'm all done with this project, but I 'll know all my memories are safely stored on DVDs. (So much cheaper than taking them to a camera shop!)I would definitely buy this model with the LCD screen as opposed to the previous model which did not have a screen. It's really helpful. Naturally, Amazon is awesome. Click the button, order it, and next thing you know, it's at your front door.
  
  

• Excellent for Video Transfers

  
  By A39GP5OIGKKIMS on 2007-09-30
  I bought this Sony DVD recorder a few weeks ago to transfer 10 years of family VHS, 8mm video, and mini DV to DVD's so I could then use Adobe Premiere Elements for editing, etc. I'm about halfway through the conversion process, and it's going like a breeze. Out of about 40 DVD's burned I've only had one get rejected with a "cannot record" message. The resulting files on the DVD are chopped into 1GB MPEG files that are recognized when I add them to the Premiere editor. Prior to trying the Sony I could find no information about what file format the DVD's would have...so I took a chance, and got lucky. The DVD files have an extension of VOB. I looked this up and it's just an MPEG2 video file...so that's why Adobe has no problem with it. It's great way to copy your family videos to DVD, and have the peace of mind that they will not be gone forever if your old VHS and 8 mm camcorders die. It would be a shame to have to buy an old format machine just to see (or eventually copy) your old media.
  
  

• Almost Perfect!

  
  By AFXJI0E4BXZ1J on 2008-01-23
  Okay - I love this item for what it can NOW do for me and how EASILY it finally ended up doing it. I gave it four instead of five stars because of what I had to DO to get it to work the way I needed it to.
  
  I have fourteen years - wedding, holidays and 3 children - worth of Video Cassettes ranging from 1994 - Sony, HG120, NTSC, Video 8 tapes TO 2008 - Sony, Hi8MP Digital 8 tapes.
  
  My old camera was a Sony and the current camera is also a Sony: Steady Shot Digital 8, Model DCR-TRV460.
  
  The Sony VRD MC5 DV Direct DVID Recorder I have can, and NOW DOES, burn DVDs from my Sony Handycam with both types of tapes via a Sony DV Direct Cable. However - it did not, out of the box, purchased in December 2007, burn my old tape formats to DVD with Audio. The Audio was gone and I could not get it to burn!
  
  I had to waste about ten DVDs trying to figure out what the heck I did wrong. I scoured the manual, I bought two types of DVDs, looked here on Amazon, went to the Sony site. NOTHING on WHY the audio was missing!
  
  When I finally found a way to contact Sony - live chat did not work and I could not get anyone on the phone - via email they went back and forth with me in email telling me that the Software Version on the Recorder had to be updated. They gave me a link that I could not find by navigating the site on my own, thus needing their intervention. I found the download, and followed directions, I tried burning the file to CD in many different ways and STILL the software would not upgrade! They never called me or gave me a number, it took days to try to figure out what was happening and they finally told me how to call someone.
  
  I did it again while I was on the phone with them. Still the Recorder did not recognize the CD I was burning or the file I downloaded from the site. They made me call back, I was transferred twice, someone took my info and it took from 1/11/08 to 1/22/08 to get a CD that they burned at Sony and shipped to me.
  
  I just came up today, followed the very same directions just with their CD and the software upgraded without a hitch. I just burned a tape from 1994 and the audio is there!!
  
  After spending three years and more than $700 in software for my computer, a DVD Burner for my computer and finally a standalone Sony VHS/Camera player and VHS/DVD burner but none, and I do mean NONE of them - were able to do the job. Even the standalone unit never consistenly burned quality DVDs from the Camera and you had to tie up your tv for hours while it burned to DVD only for the "finalization" of it to not "take" so you had an empty DVD which was not R/W. Waste of time!
  
  Please note that I am a technical person so not ignorant. I am just short on time so I wanted something that would get all my old moves onto DVD with a PHD - Push Here Dummy - functionality and the Sony VRD MC5 device did it.
  
  The struggles, aggravation, wasted time it took me to get to today were worth it but PUH-LEASE Sony. Get a grip and put the information out there. Be proactive! Make it available! Communicate! Tell the vendors that sell your product what they are going to have to tell their shoppers do to get it to work. Update your manual. Whatever you have to do - no consumer should have to hunt like I did for weeks to try to find a way to fix something Sony knew about when they shipped the devices.
  
  
  
  
  

• Sony DVDirect

  
  By A1PUJ8MHSRA5Q2 on 2007-09-13
  It works great when you play your video from a camcorder to create a DVD. Be aware that if you create a slideshow with photos (from your digital cameras card) it can take quite a few hours depending on the amount of pictures on your card.For example I made up a DVD containing 1600 images and it took about 6 hrs to complete.
  
  Great looking item with video display, very easy to set up and a small foot print.
  
  
• New York
  By A130O3LCGVR4OR on 2008-01-13
  Sony VRDMC5 DVDirect DVD Recorder
  
  I never have written a review for any product.
  I was very disappointed in this product. I transferred my 8mm tapes to the discs, which was very easy, but there wasn't any sound. I called Sony customer service, they told me there were was a glitch in some of these models causing the sound not to be transferred. They informed to load a patch from the Sony website. I did this and followed the directions to load the patch to the DV Direct, the DV Direct would not load the patch.
  I will be sending this product back. It is a good product for it's easy use, but I would wait to buy this product when they resolve the sound glitch problem in their models.
  
  
  
  
• Perfect for old VHS movies to DVD!
  By AUKHH1TO2IJJZ on 2008-03-09
  I wanted to transfer a lot of old home movies from their original VHS format to DVD. Some were almost 20 years old and I was worried they would soon degrade. I almost took them to Walgreens but checked their prices and decided it would be more cost effective to try and do it myself. I read the reviews for this Sony VRDMC5 and decided it sounded like what I needed...just a basic transfer from VHS to DVD without editing. I am thoroughly pleased with this purchase! I just finished the last of my VHS tapes to DVD and it took almost a week, but that's because I was just doing it in my spare time. It is real time recording, but I had it hooked up on a small table out of the way and was able to start the recording and walk away to do other things, returning occasionally to check progress. It automatically pauses and stops recording if your VHS picture ends (on/off fuzz in between recordings) and once the VHS recording is totally done, the VRDMC5 stops until you get back to decide what to do--put in another VHS tape to record on that DVD, finalize the DVD, or shut it off and come back to it later. I haven't used it in any other capacity but plan to transfer 30min. DVDs from my Panasonic camcorder to it and make larger DVDs. I took the advice of some of the reviewers and was very careful about which discs I purchased. I've been using SONY DVD-R and they work perfectly. After I finalized a DVD, I played it in my DVD player on an HDTV and the picture was superb! It was really amazing, it certainly didn't look like an old VHS transfer from 20 years ago! I then took the DVD and put it in my computer and made copies of the DVD to send to family and friends. It really saves me a huge amount of money and hassle taking the old tapes to Walgreens. The LCD is excellent in allowing you to see what you are recording and to be able to manually stop recording and start when you want to. I wouldn't recommend any model without this feature. I used an old VCR to hook up to the VRDMC5 and it was fast and simple to hook up and get started. Instructions are clear and straightforward. This is a great Sony product!
  
  
• useless for serious photography
  By A1NMQQOOVQ987A on 2007-10-13
  Although not noted in any of the literature I have seen, formats that can be used with this device are very limited. It apparently can not read or record RAW files and possibly not tiff files. I sent it back before trying because more than 3/4 of my images are shot in raw. I believe it will also not read video images shot with many (any?) of the compact digital cameras intended for still photos. ( Almost all of the compact still cameras have a video feature.)
  Interesting that they would introduce a new product which can not deal with popular features that have been around for years. Even worse I have not seen any warnings to consumers in the standard promotional materials
  
  
• Very Limited Success, too many issues
  By A1H8NQQWFYT5J6 on 2008-03-31
  This device was clearly created to copy bulk media from Sony cameras to DVD. Probably does that fine...I don't know since, like most people, that's not the exact hardware combination I have.
  
  I wanted to cheaply convert my large VHS library to DVD. Old movies and tv shows recorded in the VHS days. But this only works in the trivial case: if you have a <60 min recording you insert a blank DVD start playing, hit record, format the disk when you're done and voila...success. As other reviewers note this does work fine and is very easy to use. So far so good.
  
  BUT almost every other user scenario is a mess! It fails if:
  
  (1) You have a long show and try to use a Double Layer disk the failure rate is ~90%. I have thrown out most of these very expensive discs. The Sony unit just fails and playback constantly shows "skipping over damaged area". Which means you have to use a normal 60 min disc at HALF resolution. As you can guess the VHS quality is already pretty low. I'll guess that I may never be able to watch these on the higher definition screens of tomorrow.
  
  (2) You try to break a larger recording into pieces -- or create several titles on one disk from among the multiple recordings on a VHS tape. The Sony unit has a little screen (thank you) but no audio output. So, if you want to stop recording and create multiple titles you have to lean over and watch it like a cat watching a mouse hole. You might do this for a critical tape but while converting a library? Ridiculous!!! I've tried using a separate timer, etc., to warn me but this should be a built in process, not a parallel process. Be prepared to spend hundreds of low-quality hours providing the monitoring and control function that should have been included with this machine.
  
  (3) No way to label individual titles. That's right. If you do manage to catch breaks in your recording and create separate titles for the DVD menu they will just be Title 1 through Title N... VERY useful when you try to find something later to play back. What's worse, there's a variable lag in the "start recording" button of 1 to 3 sec's so even if you press the button when the show title is in the screen you're more likely to get an opening frame a few seconds later. Most of my Sherlock Holmes recordings now don't say "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" in the DVD menu... they have an ambiguous picture from the title animation rather than the text. And, as I said earlier, just below that is the equally informative "Title 1" text. The best solution is to carefully write information on the DVD media with a felt tip pen -- not much better than the VHS labels from 15 years ago that I am replacing!
  
  I am only discussing VHS-to-DVD transcription since that's what I've done. Please read other reviews to understand pros and cons of some of the other features like photos, etc.
  
  BOTTOM LINE -- this is a "not ready for prime time" product. Wait for a few generations. I only hope that you will still be able to buy a VHS player once this product has matured to the point where extensive transcription usage would be more rewarding than frustrating.
  
  
• Delivers what it promises
  By A1C0VQQEXY5T2X on 2007-10-30
  The Sony VRDMC5 is a very good stand alone DVD recorder and so far has done a good job at quickly converting MiniDV tapes to DVDs. My quibbles that keep me from giving it a 5-star rating are that it was designed to work with specific Sony camcorders rather than all camcorders, and that if a defective DVD is inserted it returns the message "INSERT DVD CREATED BY THIS UNIT" rather than something that indicates it wants a different DVD. Sony Customer support doesn't know this, by the way, or perhaps they do now...
  
  
• miserable service from Amazon - no idea if product is good
  By A3SVF1OZ4OIIG4 on 2008-01-06
  I ordered this item Oct. 10 to create gifts for Christmas of new DVDs from old family VHS tapes. Almost immediately Amazon informed me it was shipping soon. Three months later,and over a dozen delay notifications it is yet again delayed, and Amazon refuses to let me cancel the order because it is "already in the shipping process." Return will be an inconvenience (if it ever comes!) and will tie up my credit unnecessarily until they process the return. I find it outrageous that they claim their computer system cannot handle canceling an order that has not been shipped or charged yet to my credit card. Emails and phone calls were no help - I was told on the phone in mid-November it would ship in 48 hours. They have misrepresented the availability of the product from their supplier, and should own up to it and allow me to cancel the order.
  
  
• One hand gives the other takes
  By A28XOVR6U2KWBH on 2008-01-06
  I bought it to save all my VHS to DVD. It's simple to use. Mostly! When it works well it's easy and the quality is good.
  
  Drawbacks. There's a mini screen to see what you are recording or to check what you have recorded. But there's no fast forward so if your recording cut out and you want to know where it cut out, (See more below)you need to watch the whole recording on the small screen with no sound. Not very efficient! you have no way of seeing where it cut out on a regular player because until you have finalised your DVD, the DVD won't play on another machine and once you have finalised it you can't record on it anymore.
  
  The machine cuts out if you copy a tape that is in poor condition and the picture quality distorts for a few seconds. You then get an error message on the small screen saying "no signal" although the signal is once again fine but the the machine having once cut out refuses to acknowledge the signal is back.
  
  Then there are some homemade tapes that the machine wrongly decided are copyright protected and refuses to copy.
  
  More over I resent that the copyright protection does not let me copy the thankfully few prerecorded VHS tapes I own. I really resent having to pay for them again if I want to own them once the VHS machine is gone.
  
  So all in all the machine does some of what it should, the software could be tweaked up a bit to be more robust in discerning if a signal is coming through, it needs a fast forward feature and the copyright protection is a bit draconian. Given the machine records in real time it's not as if one is going to start a cottage industry copying movies with it. I'd prefer if it made the discs it burns copy protected so they can't be duplicated. Wouldn't that be a good compromise?
  
  I would probalby not buy this product again.
  
  
  
• I'm very disappointed at the Sony DvDirect VRD-MC5 DVD Recorder
  By A28RKCIE3GGTZ9 on 2008-02-24
  I'm very disappointed at the Sony DvDirect VRD-MC5 DVD Recorder which I have just purchased for downloading the video clips I made using a Sony HDR-HC3 HDV 1080i camcorder. The VRD-MC5 does not and cannot record the high-definition 1080i in the AVCHD format on a DVD.
  
  Instead, the Sony VRD-MC5 down converts the high-definition video to the standard definition (SD), that is, a low-definition output on a DVD. This is because the VRD-MC5 records a DVD in the AVCHD high-definition format only via its USB port. The Sony HDR-HC3 HDV 1080i camcorder (perhaps some of the later models of the Sony HD camcorders) does not have an USB video-output port. It uses an iLink port for the high-definition video output. Although the DvDirect VRD-MC5 recorder does have an iLink input, it can only produce SD DV output on a DVD (for reasons I can't comprehend). This incompatibility is not stated anywhere on the product Website, nor in the product Operating Instructions that comes with the device.
  
  The review in the PC Magazine of this Sony device published online dated 12-05-07 by Cisco Cheng is particularly misleading (see http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2228675,00.asp). It specifically stated: "The VRD-MC5 also supports high-definition camcorders like the Sony HDR-HC3 HDV 1080i Handycam, which uses Sony's proprietary AVC HD format." This statement is misleading because although it can downgrade the Sony HDR-HC3 HDV 1080i Handycam video to an SD low-definition video on a DVD, it does NOT support the AVCHD format with the 1080i high-definition output of the Sony HDR-HC3 HDV 1080i Handycam. (This incompatibility may also be true for other versions of Sony HDV Handycams. Others can verify.) It seems that the reviewer of the PC Magazine had never tried the HDR-HC3 HDV 1080i Handycam with the VRD-MC5 before the review was published. This misleading review really set me up for a fall as I always do a careful research on the features and usability of an electronic product that I'm considering purchasing. I usually believe that the reviews in the PC Magazine are very good and accurate.
  
  So, if you are thinking about purchasing the Sony VRD-MC5, first check to see if your HD camcorder has an USB video output. If it doesn't have one, you won't be able to burn a DVD with the AVCHD high-definition format with the Sony VRD-MC5.
  
  That being said, if you don't care about the 1080i high-definition feature of your camcorder, the VRD-MC5 is an excellent device for recording SD DVDs with very good quality. It is also easy to operate as advertised.
  
  
• DVDirect less than advertised.
  By AJAZLHS8NE9O9 on 2007-11-30
  Although this product probably works well in conjunction with Sony HD-cameras and most Digital Camera memory cards, to say it works with DVR's is inaccurate, as content is protected and NOT recordable.
  
  It does not rise to MPEG3 or higher, and cannot be used to make copies of legitimate DVD's. Really this product's only redeeming value is to dub VCR tapes and Sony HD cameras to DVD, all other functions can be done better and cheaper on a different platform.
  
  Overpriced and over-advertised.
  
  
• Great for VHS to DVD transfers
  By AX5WSHD1U2ANF on 2008-01-13
  I have only scratched the surface of what it can do, but the manual is rather extensive and perhaps intimidating. But setting up to burn a DVD from a VHS tape was intuitive, and about the only thing I had to reference was the chart in the manual for recording time. So far, I have only used it to transfer VHS tapes to DVD.
  
  The main glitches I have found is a loss of signal in some of my tapes. No idea why, but that makes the DVD into a coaster. It is a real time transfer, so a 1 hour VHS tape will take 1 hour to burn the DVD.
  
  The small LCD screen shows exactly what is being burned into the DVD, so it is easy to pause and edit out something. And when recording, the record button is outlined in a red light, so if the signal is lost, it is easy to see at a distance. The LCD screen also contains a complete menu, and it is intuitive.
  
  I normally burn the DVD, then put the DVD on my computer to check if it is a good copy, by fast forwarding portions. So far, I have not found any faults in the transfer process other than signal loss. And normally, when the signal is lost, it is lost for good, not just an intermittent loss. And that loss usually occurs within the first 10 minutes of recording or so. When the signal is lost, the recording stops, so it is not as if you record 58 minutes of blank screen.
  
  There is no connection between the device and a computer.
  
  
• Great!!
  By A24BTJZGC5TS2V on 2007-11-12
  I LOVE THIS!! I have been able to transfer different types of tape to dvd without an issue!! Easy to use - even without reading directions!!
  
  
• Fantastic!
  By A1THUD5TOTIX1Y on 2007-12-05
  I bought this Sony device about 10 days ago, and have transferred every single Hi 8 mm cassette that I own to DVD. Each DVD+R holds one hour of video in HQ mode. I was using it in five minutes without reading any instructions. I agree that there are not that many buttons, which is nice. I have not tried double layer DVDs. I paid $180 plus tax at Best Buy.
  
  
• Only burns in PLAYBACK mode
  By A270592UN9167C on 2007-10-12
  Be aware...this product won't burn your DVDs while you are recording the tape. You have to be reviewing the tape.
  
  
• Sony VRDMC5 DVDirect DVD Recorder
  By AUJYPTEYJ55BZ on 2007-10-30
  Ive only had it a few months, but it works very well. I say buy it if you have a lot of vhs tapes you want to copy to DVD's
  
  
• exccellent!
  By A1YDFE89HAESWK on 2007-12-12
  It works exactly as advertised. Caveats: does not work with a PC, as the USB input port works only with some Sony camcorders. The Firewire does not work with other camcorders either. So, basically, unless you have a Sony camcorder, you will use this only for recording via s-video or composite (does not have component input). Great product, otherwise, but I would buy an earlier model if I would not have a Sony HD camcorder.
  
  
• Do NOT purchase from Electronics Expo!
  By AQF5EO4US0C6X on 2008-06-05
  Do NOT purchase this product from Electronics Expo. I thought this was compatible with my camera and when I received the recorder found that it was not. Normally, it would not be a problem to return but Electronics Expo has made it very difficult and charges fees even for unused items. Purchase elsewhere! Amazon should filter out companies like this if they want continued business.
  
  
• didn't work
  By A1KRZB2K7O6XC on 2007-12-03
  I could never get it to recognize any of the devices I connected to it using the S-Video cables &. Not sure why...
  
  
• Major compatibility issues, beware!
  By A2GQL4VH929OFG on 2008-03-08
  I needed something to easily dub my old VHS tapes to DVD and this seemed like the ticket. I was able to to encode and finalize a DVD pretty easily and no error warnings came up but the DVDs would not play on either of the two DVD players in my house. (One is only 2 years old) I called Sonly support, (That's another story which I won't
  even go in to) and they suggested I try a different brand of DVDs. No luck. So then I was told that there was
  compatibility issues with this unit and I needed to download and instal firmware to fix the problem. (btw, if you
  have a Mac, you can't download the firmware!) After a couple of hours of downloading the firmware and successfully installing it, no difference at all. The DVDs would still not play correctly. Anyway, major disappointment. back to the store it went. I've since purchased a set top VHS to DVD converter and it works
  PERFECTLY, I only wish I had gone that route in the first place.
  
  
• Best AVCHD burner ! ! !
  By A1UGHF2NDXQDRB on 2008-04-12
  The Sony VRDMC5 DVDirect is utterly fantastic !! I bought a Sony HDR-SR11 High-Def. camcorder on the day it was released by Sony, Mar. 6, '08. Sony HDR-SR11 10MP 60GB High Definition Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom I bought the DVDirect a couple days later on sale at Best Buy.
  
  You can't always trust what you read in these reviews. Most of the negative reviews for this Sony DVDirect are from those that didn't read the "details" before purchasing. I read the details, and there were no surprises. The DVDirect works so well, I haven't even installed the software that came with the camera. The DVDirect does NOT use your computer, and doesn't need to.
  
  Turn it on, it prompts you to connect your camcorder, VCR, or flash card. You push a button and insert a blank DVD. It prompts you to burn the entire contents of the hard drive, or by date, or individual clip, or playlist. Then you push the big button. I burned a 58 minute High-Def video (AVCHD file in HD-FH, the highest quality), in about 10 minutes. The burned disc pops out automatically, if you recorded in AVCHD. I played it in my Play Station 3, as it requires a Blu-ray Disc player. It results are jaw-dropping on my Vizio 52". It is better quality than broadcast high-def!
  
  It also makes photo DVD's, from a camcorder or most types of flash cards. There is a preview window. With all of the still-inadequate AVCHD editing software out there, the DVDirect almost makes them moot.
  
  My only caution. . . I do not know how it works with other brands of camcorders, especially those that are not HDD.
  
  
• So simple to make videos and photo albums.
  By A10663R1HSJZ3F on 2008-03-11
  Just bought from Amazon and received yesterday. The only issue was that the AVCHD would not transfer from Sony Memory Stick made on the Sony HDR-CX7. After calling Sony Tech Support, they had to research it and call me back. They did call back and told me the firmware needed to be updated. Check Sony's site for the latest firmware. Once I did, it works like a charm. Goal was to make it quick and easy; turnkey for my wife and kids to make videos without geting bogged down with computer editing. For simple stuff it works great AND can make HD discs that play in blueray. I know it works in our PS3 and I cannot address other players. You can alos down-covert from HDV to SD. So far, in just 4 hours, it has exceeded my expectations and I am pretty picky when it comes to electronics.
  
  
• HD video capable!
  By A242R12B1WL0BB on 2008-03-12
  After being told numerous times by retail 'experts' that I needed a Blu-Ray writer to record my Sony HD videos (shot on a Sony SR5 model) off of the hard drive to DVD, my wife and I researched a little more (aka read the manuals) and found the following: our Sony model only records up to 1080i. Blu-Ray is 1080p so I couldn't write to 1080p even if I had a writer specific to that format. Sony (and Panasonic) support the AVCHD format for their camcorders which is native 1080i and this writer supports that. Even when I went to buy this writer, the retail store person still wanted to debate that I needed a blu-ray recorder instead. Needless to say, I bought this and a PS3 since you DO need a blu-ray player (just not a writer) and last night after a couple of hours, my wife and I had copied the videos from our camcorder hard drive and watched them in pure HD (1080i) and they were amazing. Great product Sony!
  
  
• amazing
  By A24SUFFNGMVWU7 on 2007-11-12
  This is so easy to use. VHS tapes, digital from a digicam, vhs tapes, video card from stills. What a remarkable device.
  
  
• Not for me!
  By A2PTB1YAEFYGYN on 2007-12-06
  I found this machine complicated to use, came with no cords and I eventually returned the machine to Amazon because it was not compatable with my VCR player. I called the company for technical assistance and they said they didn't know how to help me. I spent $30 on cords trying to get it to work, without success. Know what you are doing before purchasing.
  
  
• Careful if planning on importing VIDEO from an SD-card!
  By A33PPOYYHQGUE0 on 2007-12-08
  I am giving this a 4 star just for being pure genius by Sony. I will not be using this as I prefer to use software and edit my videos and DVD's ; however, this is the PERFECT gift for many of my family members who are just looking for SIMPLICITY. I was testing it out with my MP4 video files from SD card using the nice little SD card slot on the unit. Unfortunately,the unit only recognizes still images (photos) on SD cards! I know there are other ways to transfer via cable(s) but I was really excited about the SD card slot...great for photos but does NOT allow you to transfer MP4 video files! If it did, this would be a 5 star rating no doubt.
  
  
• Great DVD Recorder
  By A3PWQ96BIA568E on 2008-01-12
  I was told of this DVD Recorder by a friend. I have tried most Computer Software DVD Burning programs but once the recording was made the DVD would not play in most or any of our 4 DVD players we have in the house. Once I received this product I immediately read the instructions. I hooked up a VCR to this recorder and began recording an old video tape. The screen on the recorder with instructions to begin recording made doing this a no-brainer. As I finished recording the video tapes it took to fill up the disk (DVD+R) it finalized the disk so it could be played on your DVD Players. I had heard that before from software programs. I took the disk to DVD player hooked up with my HD TV and was so happy when the disk loaded and was ready to play. The picture quality and sound quality was great since it was recorded from an old video tape. Not only did the disk play in that player but it also played in all othe DVD players in the house. This is a fantastic program and finally someone got it right. Thanks Sony for a fantastic product that does everything you say it will do. I could not be happier.
  
  

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• Sony NPFH70 H Series Actiforce Hybrid InfoLithium Battery for most Sony Camcorders
• Sony BCTRP Battery Charger for DCR-HC, DCR-DVD, HDR-HC3, HC5, HC7, HDR-UX5 & UX7 Camcorders
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