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Rating: 
Summary: Great cd-r recording, if you fix overheating problem
Review: Before I start let me clarify that this Video-CD recorder is NOT for everyone. For instance, my mother could never use it... it has too many buttons and there is no single-button operation (except for Video-CD playback). Recording involves pressing the menu button, selecting the video and audio source, hit record, waiting for the "Record ready" message, and then pressing the "confirm" button.With that in mind, for the video and techno-geek, this unit is very nice. I will start by listing the good points: 1. You can record around 73 minutes of video on 650mb CD-R media
- or 79 minutes of video on 700mb (80 min) media.
2. You can use CD-R OR CD-RW (rewritable) media.
3. The unit has composite video (RCA plugs), stereo sound (RCA) inputs and outputs in the back, and a secondary set of inputs in the front.
4. The unit has s-video input and output connectors in the back.
5. The unit has digital audio input!
6. In addition to TV programs, movies, etc, you can also record CD-Audio to cdr-audio media.
7. The unit records in MPEG1 video cd format but with EXCELLENT image quality, much better than the dazzle 1 or other PC-based mpeg1 hardware encoders. There is no pixelation, if the source image quality is clear and good.
8. You can play back recorded programs on CD in the unit OR on any Pentium 1 - 100Mhz or higher PC running Windows, Linux, or MacOS.
9. You can see what the recording is going to look like by hooking your Terapin's video-out to the Video-IN of your TV (what you see is what you get, no surprises!). ..and here's the bad:
1. You need to "finalize" the disc before a disc runs out of space, otherwise, you can't play it back on a PC.
2. The unit overheats. The manual recommends turning the unit off to let it cool down after 4 hours of continued use. This can be easily fixed by opening the unit (voids warranty), and drilling a few holes to let the hot air get out. Yes, the company should have thought about this, but after you do this, the unit works flawlessly.
3. There is no TV-out or TV-tuner in the unit, you need to hook it to a VCR via the rca video and audio connectors to tune into tv/catv programs
Rating:
Summary: videophile
Review: Love the product. Very surprise that the company did not mass produce this product. This product could have replaced the VCR.
I have not tried the latest DVD-Recorder. Since the CDRW price is so low relatively to the DVD disc, this product is a great alternative. I use it for mostly storing vacation videocam from the VHS-C to the disc (great storage of memories). Again, great product.
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