Showing posts with label zoom portable digital recorder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zoom portable digital recorder. Show all posts

Friday, October 31, 2014

VideoSecu 4 Channel DVR Audio Video H.264 Network Embeded Stand Alone Security Digital Video Record

VideoSecu 4 Channel DVR Audio Video H.264 Network Embeded Stand Alone Security Digital Video Recorder Support Remote View iPhone Google Phone with 1500GB Hard Drive for CCTV Home Surveillance System 1YTNo problems with it. Meets expectations. Picture is clear and the interface is intuitive. Unit is quiet and the remote works across the room. I'm very happy with it.

Hardware seems to be fine, but we now have nearly a week invested in trying to get the included software to run properly (still no luck). VideoSecu has been worthless, finally formally giving up by saying they won't support the software at all and we're on our own. Manuals are written in English by non-English-speaking writers and they are a nightmare. For instance, once you change settings in one area there is no option to save those settings. Hours later we accidentally figured out that they labelled the "save settings" button as "setup". The software and manuals are riddled with this crap. Our advice is to find a company with a full support structure and a history of support. You'll be glad you did.

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I had this unit for 1 year, I'm experiencing multiple network issues, I recently updated to windows 7, and a new cable modem, and since have not been able to connect from LAN, or WAN. The tech support offered very little support.

I will be going with another system other that this brand

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I bought this thinking it would be easy to use. Its quite complicated! There are so many features. Its hard to keep up with them all. Setting it up to cameras is a no brainer but when it comes to programming and just plain using it its confusing. If you dont have a lot of time to learn the system it can be a pain. But I am not giving up, I am studying the manual and eventually will know how to do it all!

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This DVR had the best price, and setup was a breeze. I haven't hooked it up to the network yet, but after looking over the instructions, I don't expect any problems.

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Safety Technology HC-STICK Stick Hidden Camera with Built-in DVR and Audio

Safety Technology HC-STICK Stick Hidden Camera with Built-in DVR and AudioI am still not sure enough as of yet and still trying out. The size is slim and small like a remote. The little I did tape worked well. The instructions were a little hard to follow and not large print or a easy read. The price was great. I may order another item like it, that I can do more with. You need to be able to film outdoors and inside but not have it be noticed. If your trying to catch someone doing something they should not be or hidden security. Amazon the place to look. They are nifty that way.

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Friday, August 22, 2014

Worlds Smallest High Resolution Mini Video Camcorder (DVR), Incl. 2gb Micro SD Card and USB Card Re

Worlds Smallest High Resolution Mini Video Camcorder, Incl. 2gb Micro SD Card and USB Card ReaderI recently purchased one of these mini video camcorders from DBROTH. I am amazed at how good the resolution is and how easy it is to use. I am planning a vacation where I will be doing some sightseeing, driving through the mountains. I plan to use the mini camcorder to record some of the roadtrip. I recently tested it and found that if I turn my passenger-side visor down and rotate the clip up, I can clip the mini camcorder to the bottom of the visor and it provides a very good "front seat view" of my drive. The microphone picked up my voice fairly well as long as I didn't have the radio turned up. I also noticed that the microphone picked up static noise which I figured out later was the A/C vent blowing air in that direction (the microphone must be more sensitive than I expected).

I took about 30 minutes of drive-time video today and used the card reader to view the video when I was done. It was very easy. I like how small the camcorder and card reader are, I can slide them in my purse or pocket and take them with me just about anywhere.

For the money I paid and the quality of the product, I give this mini camcorder 4 out of 5 stars. The package arrived in the time promised and with the items described in the ad. I'm pleased with my purchase. I have had fun testing it and look forward to sharing my roadtrip videos after I return from vacation.

B.D. in N.C.

First of here are some specs of the camera.

-It shoots at 25 frames per second for 640 x 480 video

-Has a built Li rechargeable battery which lasts a little more than 2 hours

-Low illumination, high resolution image with 2000k pixels

-High Speed recording and quick light response

-Convenient for an online video chat

-Supports AVI video formats

-It features Manual recording & Sound activated recording

-Mic is located at the top of device

.Overall i love this product, while i just used it on small occasions, its proven to be very durable from drops. I'm not suggesting you to try dropping it, I just had accidents with it falling from my hands is all. I used this to record my paintball & airsoft games, its pretty handy and due to its size isn't very bulky.

The price is perfect for this product

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OMG the picture is outstanding, and the mic allows me to whisper in my helmet, and you can still hear me. I'm going to get another one for my husband. Great for hiking trips, helmet cams, perfect for just keeping in you pocket to whip out if you see something you want to capture. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS!!! Much better than using your cell phone to film anything!! If you not sure, just get it anyway. You will find a way to use this! I'M SO HAPPY THAT I DID!!

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Overall, this is a much nicer camera than we were expecting. The image and sound quality are better than expected, and the camera has a nice feel, with metal housing, not cheap plastic. We can get about 15 minutes of recording on the included 2GB card, and fully charged, the battery seems to last about 2 hours. I just ordered an 8GB card for longer recordings.

The instruction manual is very poorly translated into English, for example "If indicator sketch map state is crush out, motion is full of charge". The LED lights are hard to see, so it's hard to tell when the camera is actually recording. The USB connector is especially squirrelly, and like another reviewer mentioned, we have to plug it in and unplug it a few times in order to get it to work. And we can't figure out how to change the date stamp.

We're pretty happy with the camera itself; I wasn't expecting much out of a tiny fifty dollar camera, but the instruction manual and software could use improvement.

Update March 2011: There are apparently different versions of this camera floating around. I ordered a second one and it's a totally different than the first. It's plastic and came in a different box (it reads "World's Smallest Voice Recorder"). I'm sending it back because there are parts missing from the box, and it looks like it may be used. I would order a second if I knew that I was getting the same camera that I got the first time around.

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Great small compact micro camera, better than I had expected. The micro camera I received has a metal alloy housing with sliding buttons, (cheap copies have plastic housing with push buttons.) Audio is of decent quality at a reasonable but short distance. Image quality and field of view is quite good. Very decent image quality in low lighting situations with quick light response. High resolution 2000K. When panning quickly image appears slanting. Not weatherproof. Well built for most uses.

Features: Manual or sound-activated recording (at 65 decibels, 250 hours standby time, resumes standby mode 2 minutes after detecting sound). Box states 30 frames per second (680*480 AVI video format), but manual states 24 fps. Box states 16G maximum memory, but manual states 8G max. Comes with 2G Micro SD card. Two hour batteries life. Built-in rechargeable batteries. LED indicator light. Come with several accessories. USB 1.1/2.0 support. Multi card reader.

Great for outdoor activates (if you are into high action or rough sports, you may need something more sturdy).

Friday, July 25, 2014

PTC 6 ft High Speed HDMI 1.3 Category 2 Certified Cable w/Ferrite Cores (Gold Plated Connectors) -

PTC 6 ft High Speed HDMI 1.3 Category 2 Certified Cable w/Ferrite Cores - Supports PS3, Xbox, Blu-Ray, HD-DVR, HD-DVD, all HDTV resolutions - 1080p and beyondUsing this cable to connect my up-converting DVD player to our new TV. Works fine with great audio at 1080i and 1080p. I tried it with my laptop as well, just because and it worked well too.

The included dust caps are a nice feature as well. I have two of these and the extra sits coiled up behind the TV for when friends bring over game systems and such, so the dust cap was a welcome freebie!

Just bought a 55 inch Sony. Shopped around for different HDMI cables and thought I'd try these out before a spent big money on the more expensive cables. The price difference is ridiculous so I wasn't expecting much. I was plesantly supprised. The cables all (I bought 5 for my various devices) worked fine and delivered a great picture. Why spend more?

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Sunday, June 29, 2014

BestDealUSA Battery for Sony NP-730 NP-F750 NP-F730H Camcorder

BestDealUSA Battery for Sony NP-730 NP-F750 NP-F730H CamcorderThis is just a charger, not a spacecraft.

OMG, can you imagine it works and charges a battery? Yes, it does.

What you can't imagine that every time you take the batter off the charger, the part of the charger slides off the rest of the body and stays connected with battery. Every time you have to separate this part from the battery and place it back where it belongs: = back to the rest of the charger.

I'd recommend another seller, but I'm afraid all the chargers are the same : made cheap somewhere in China

Friday, June 27, 2014

HD Video Camera Pen

HD Video Camera PenMy primary complaint about this product is that it came with very poorly written and confusing instructions. I decided to figure it out on my own but because my computer didn't recognize the Pen, I was unable to see either way if I was using it correctly.

I also had to download the driver twice. The first time failed to install correctly and my second attempt installed without error, but my computer still didn't recognize it. Because of this I was unable to view the quality of the video.

I contacted the manufacturer tech support but it took too long to get a reply; and the reply I did receive was of no help to me. I also visited the website to see if there were drivers and a manual available, but none existed for this product.

I returned the pen because it isn't worth the trouble. If I had received the proper support then I would've kept it. The pen is nice looking, a little on the heavy side, and the parts are of good quality. Unless you're already familiar with this type of device, I don't recommend it.

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Kaito Electronics Inc. KA801 DSP Shortwave radio with MP3 Player and Recorder

Kaito Electronics Inc. KA801 DSP Shortwave radio with MP3 Player and Recorder
  • Powered by a high-capacity rechargeable Li-ion battery pack with DSP.
  • FM Band - 87.00 - 108.00 MHz
  • AM/MW Band - 522-1710 KHz
  • Shortwave Band - 2.30- 23.00 MHz
  • Keeps you connected to a comprehensive frequency range including FM, AM, shortwave.
  • Four options to tune your radio stations- Auto - Scan , manual tuning, digital tuning and ATS (Auto Tuning Storage).
  • Stores up to 255 preset stations using memory tuning feature.

I currently work on the midnight shift and needed a radio and recorder(to tape some talk shows and sport games), and the Kaito KA801 performs exactly as advertised. Not only will it record FM stations, but also AM radio, which there are not many recorders that will do both. The radio DOES NOT have a recorder with a start/stop timer, however it has EXCELLENT battery life, which allows you to tape a program, let the recorder keep taping until you get a chance to stop it, then you can delete what you don't want to listen to. I actually had the recorder taping over 12 straight hours on one day, and the battery was still good. The radio has powerfull sound, just in case you want to hook it up to some larger speakers. The only negative about this radio is, it does not have any equalizer settings, so if your using headphones or the main speaker on the radio, you don't get to customize your bass and treble. The radio is of good strong construction, does not seem to be made of any cheap plastic, all in all, a great radio/recorder for the price..

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If you need to record FM or AM radio speech programs, it doesn't get any better than this. It can record continuously for days, on one charge, using the built in memory. But you cannot set up a time for it to record in advance--you have to push the record button. I have not done much recording audio speech through the air, though, but it seems as ok as you can get by recording from your seat.

The reception is better than any other FM radio I've seen, regardless of price. The earbuds are miserable, but if you use a different set, the sound quality is as good as it gets for FM, and extremely good for MP3 (play only). Recorded speech quality is very intelligible, rather good. But the speaker on the front is not loud, and the speaker's sound quality is terrible--like the transistor radios of yore. It works great with MacIntosh Apple OS X as well as Windows.

However, you have no control of how to name the audio or Radio recordings you make (file001.wav, file002.wav, etc.) so it is hard to locate the file you want to play, and you cannot control the order, unless you select the files one at a time. It is also not very easy to find the place you want in a recording. You can rename the files in the Radio while connected to your computer, though.

The recordings are Windows WMA files, which means that on a Mac, only QuickTime will handle them. However, ALL2MP3 is a free MacIntosh program that converts WMA files quickly and easily to MP3, and then you can import it into Itunes, and even burn multiple Audio CDs from a long file. If you study the manual carefully, you will find it is easy but not obvious to manipulate all the functions.

I have tried other products, but for recording long talks or speech, this radio towers over them. If you want to record music, use something else. I generally do not favor Chinese products, but this one is well engineered, over all.

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Is good because it's small enough & light enough to keep with you.

Am Reception is good enough, even away from citys. FM is even better. Shortwave: not much without an add on antenna....

Bigger radios may get better reception, but if you don't take it with you it doesn't matter....

Very Good:

Size

Weight

Rechargable battery life ((Note: The old Nokia BL-5C battery & desktop charger work for this, (EBay $10 to $20))

Nice to have a spare charged battery for outings, even though the battery is good for 1520 Hrs.

Usability (Impressed by the many features of this small wonder)

Quality (still like new even after carrying it in my shirt pocket for 6 months)

Backlight

Memory for stations is permanent (no cussing & re-entering all your stations if battery goes out)

Recording interesting programs

Not as good as some larger radios:

Pulling in really distant stations (smaller radio=shorter AM antenna)

Bottom Line: If I didn't have one I would want one....

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This is a great radio and a great recorder, but you cannot preprogram it to record a specific radio program at a specific time in the future. You can program it to start recording sounds in the area at a specific time in the future, and you can record a radio program that is playing at the current time.

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Instruction booklet is a little hard to follow. I deal with computers all day long but the supplied manual leaves much to be desired. I had to read again and again to understand each mode. Company needs to have someone that can create the manual for an non-geek, Took about 1 hour to understand what I needed to do. Unit is good and very nice design but again instructions need improvement!!!

Avid Technology Dazzle DVD Recorder HD V14.0

Avid Technology Dazzle DVD Recorder HD V14.0
  • Featuring a high-quality video capture device plus powerful Pinnacle Studio HD v.14 editing software
  • Quickly import videos and photos
  • Add professional polish with an extensive library of effects, transitions, and soundtrack options."

I bought this for a university project where I needed to record game-play on a console. I also bought a double-ended A/V RCA cable and three male to female A/V splitters at RadioShack. I bought this with the understanding that it doesn't record in HD, but there is some freeware out there with which you can convert from standard to HD video. No problems installing the software on my laptop (Vista, service pack 2, 64-bit).

It says it won't run on 64-bit but I've had no problems whatsoever. Very easy, hassle-free setup. I won't be using the program to edit the video, though. It's okay, but I have better programs already for editing video.

I already tried it out with my Nintendo 64, SNES, GameCube, Wii, Xbox 360, PS2, and PS3. It worked with each console; no issues. There are ways to use it with HDMI cables which can be looked up on YouTube.

I definitely recommend this for the aforementioned purpose or for making videos you intend to post to YouTube (or similar video sharing sites).

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I've used Dazzle's for a while and they're decent capture cards. They record in pretty good quality up to 480p video, and look great on YouTube or DVD's or whatever else you might need them on. It's also useful to recording old VCR's and converting them to digital or DVD format, if desired. The software that it comes with is not the best for editing, it's pretty terrible actually, but it gets the job done when recording.

However, don't be fooled. The title says HD, without any explanation as to why it says HD. The only signals this capture card can record are Composite or S-Video, both of which are STANDARD DEFINITION. You need HDMI, Component, or a Television Antenna Cable to display HD. Composite and S-Video can only go to 480p naitively, anything higher is upscaled (which means fake) while Component can go to 1080i, and HDMI and Television Antenna can go to 1080p and beyond. In other words, DO NOT buy this if you want to record in HD. You'll have to buy a more expensive capture card, such as a Black Magic Intensity Pro or Shuttle, or the popular Hauppauge HD-PVR.

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I got this device so that i could start doing some youtube commentaries because i didnt wanna get a pvr just yet and waste all that money on nothing. If you want to do youtube but dont want to waste much money on recording devices just yet, then this is your product. If you dont like the program it comes with then just edit your videos with vegas pro or windows movie maker. even if the quality isnt like an hdpvr it still gets the job done and so far iv gotten alot of subs with it so ill just call it O'l reliable

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As many people have pointed out, this is NOT an HD capture device so if you're using it for games you will not get the best quality.

I'm using it to transfer old VCR tapes and for that purpose it is okay. One thing I really like about this as opposed to similar "cable wart" devices like the Elgato, is that it can capture in lightly-compressed DV rather than MPEG-2 or MPEG-4/H.264. Most of the cheaper devices go directly to H.264 which is fine for some, but I like to capture in as high a resolution as possible and then re-render in my editor (Sony Movie Studio) to the appropriate publishing format. This is a HUGE advantage if you use other other video editors.

The Studio 14 software has all the basic features for the beginner, but I only use it for capture and do all my editing in other applications. Which brings me to the first negative, you can only capture using the Pinnacle software, you CANNOT capture with this device using Vegas, Premier, or any other video software. The hardware is somehow tied to the Pinnacle software. This is relatively minor since it isn't that much work to switch between apps for capture and editing, but still it's annoying.

The other negative as a few have pointed out is that the captured audio is markedly quieter than with my other capture hardware (an old Canopus ACEDVio). There are ways to make this louder if you're using other editors, but again it's annoying and inexplicable.

It has a few sliders to adjust brightness, sharpness, and color during capture which could be useful but I haven't played with them much. Captured images seemed brighter and with better color balance than with the ACEDVio, though I don't think it's because the hardware is better, they're just applying different filters during capture.

I got the cheaper $50 version with Studio 14 because I use other editing software. For that price, it isn't bad and I couldn't find anything in that range that can do DV capture. The sound level and the software requirements are annoying but not enough to make me return it. But if anything comes along that can do DV capture with better sound and has a normal device driver for use in other mainstream editors, I would jump on that in an instant (Hello Elgato).

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I recently purchased this item as a capture card for making machinima with my Xbox 360 and it works just as I hade expected good quality. The item says HD, but that only refers to the program it comes with, the device itself capture SD video, as it uses composite cables. I feel it was a great purchase for beginning Machinimators who are not yet ready to drop 200+ dollars on an HD PVR. Although many reviews say it has problems, I bought the item on the suggestion of a friend, and have been completely satisfied.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Replacement Battery Charger Kit for Vivitar DVR-390H DVR-410 DVR-525HD DVR-530 DVR-545 DVR-550 DVR-

Replacement Battery Charger Kit for Vivitar DVR-390H DVR-410 DVR-525HD DVR-530 DVR-545 DVR-550 DVR-550G DVR-565 DVR-565HD DVR-710 DVR-7300X DVR-830XHD DVR-840XHD Vivicam 3930 4000 Digital Cameras CamcordersAt first I was skeptical but it took only 4 hours to charge the battery and we were able to start to use Vivitar DVR 550. This was charged not using the wall outlet but the lighter extension. So my husband who owns this device was excited and he used it to record his talk on 02/06/11 and I used it first to take pictures for a merchandising assignment. Thank you.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Panasonic PV-D4761 DVD/VCR Combo

Panasonic PV-D4761 DVD/VCR Combo
  • Space-saving combination DVD player and 4-head, hi-fi stereo VCR
  • Optical digital audio output passes Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround signals to compatible AV receivers and speaker systems
  • VCR's Commercial Skip feature lets you hop past commercials
  • S-video and component-video DVD outputs; shared DVD/VCR composite-video output
  • Measures 16.9 x 4.6 x 14.9 inches (W x H x D)

The first bad thing about this unit is the manual, which is so poorly written that Panasonic wisely added a tech support number at the end of it. Since I'm reasonably handy with electronics, I got it set up after about 30 minutes without tech support, but found that I was having difficulty accessing the DVD special menus and chapters. After about 2 hours of frustration, I gave up. On calling tech support the next day, they informed me that the machine was probably defective. The DVD player was making a whirring noise on startup, and was skipping on audio CD's to boot. Add to that the fact that the "illuminated remote control" is misleading advertising. Only a handful of basic functions are illuminated (unless my remote was malfunctioning too -a distinct possibility). The picture quality, (the little I saw of it) seemed fine. CD's played on the DVD sounded tinny, although the sound on the 15 minutes of DVD I got to watch seemed good. Most of all, the manual and the layout of the remote were too confusing for words. It couldn't be any worse!

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I'm very proficient with electronics and even I had problems reading through the instruction manual I gave up after 2-3 minutes and hooked it up without it. It was easy enough. This DVD/VCR combo has every feature you could want including 5x search forward & backward, this was great especially with the DVDs. There are two disappointing facts however: the lighted remote only lights 8 keys NOT including numbers, volume or channel keys. Also the VCR picture quality was miserable in comparison to the Phillips DVD/VCR (but the Phillips ate my VCR tape, I didn't try another). This was very disappointing coming from Panasonic but I've experienced poor picture quality with their VCR PV-8664 as well. so much so I'm returning it this eve. I paid ... at PC Richards here in NY over priced due to poor picture quality, poor manual, and only eight keys lighting on the remote, but you've gotta love the features (though not enough to keep it).

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Basic set up to replace an existing vcr is simple and straight forward. Manual is extensive and could be inproved but info is all there. Unit seems very well made. Performance and controls are very good. The Panasonic CT-27D11 might be a good match to get the most out of this unit.

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The item has performed very well. Needed something to play VHS and DVD for the kids and I only had limited space. The machine is easy to use and the front A/V inputs make it easy to hook up a video camera to watch home movies.

all in all we are very satisfied.

I didn't get one of these players, a friend has this one and I recently got time to use it.

The DVD playback is decent and so is the VHS. Although this DVD player alone wouldn't sell for much... and the VCR would'nt sell for much either..

The truth is that I really don't get the point of this. heres why... 1)Most people who bought this already owned a VCR so buying the extra VCR is pointless. 2)Its more expensive, You can easily pick up a decent DVD player and a VCR less then you're paying for this.

I understand that you're saving the hassle of all the wires and its looks more neat and compact this way, but is it really worth the money?

My advice: Just buy a DVD player. if you have a VCR with a bunch of VHS movies.. great keep them, you'll still have the VCR to watch them. If you don't have a VCR then most probably you don't own any VHS tapes, in this case, still buy the DVD player, DVD's are the future VHS is fading out fast and you probably won't buy a VHS anyway if you get a DVD/VCR. If you don't have a VCR and own VHS tapes then go with one DVD and one VCR you can save some money if you go this way.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

DIRECTV C31 RVU Genie Approved Client for Use With DIRECTV HR34 HD DVR (C31)

DIRECTV C31 RVU Genie Approved Client for Use With DIRECTV HR34 HD DVRI replaced a standard HD box with this client. I really like the fact that I can access all the features of the Genie from this device, including DVR recordings.

I also like how small it is. And it has a built-in RF antenna for use with the RF remote, which I like using.

The only downside, and it is somewhat expected, is that every command is delayed from when you push the remote button, which is a little annoying. Also, programming is about 4 seconds delayed from the Genie. This doesn't matter to me, but some people say it is bad if you have 2 TVs in the same room, like a game room.

You can pause, rewind, and fast forward through previously played TV. Syncs easily with Genie Server, Customer service was great, and easy to hook up. I'll post a future update if things change but other than that, it works great and provides a great picture (1080I). Haven't seen if it can switch to 1080P yet but not even sure if DirecTv can handle that as of yet.

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Thought I was going to have to pay 170.00 for this 80.00 later got it in just a few days and hooked right up. Great deal.

Read Best Reviews of DIRECTV C31 RVU Genie Approved Client for Use With DIRECTV HR34 HD DVR (C31) Here

Recently had the Genie HD DVR and client installed on two HD TV's. Within hours after installation the system began to act up. Playback of recorded content resulted in frozen screens and loss of audio. The DVR requires rebooting to remedy this problem. Calls to customer support have gone on for hours with only promises of a fix on the way. During my conversations with customer support it became obvious that they have been aware of these problems for months. When I requested replacement equipment, I was told that it would cost an additional $400. I've been a DirecTV customer for 18 years and this is how they reward me for my loyalty. I encourage anyone considering this system to do your research and don't rely on DirecTV to provide full disclosure on this equipment.

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I bought this a few months ago and I believe it was sold from a different vendor,so my experience might have been a little different than others. My unit actually came with a remote (this one specifically says it doesn't) and I was quoted $200 from direct TV to have it installed. I bought the unit for $100 and that's all that it cost me (plus another $6 per month for the additional TV). It took a while to set it up and I spent a fair amount of time on the phone with Direct TV but I didn't have to have someone come out to install it (I was able to confirm that the outlet in my bedroom was indeed connected to the dish) and it was worth the $100 I saved. Maybe 1 or 2 times have I had any issues with it and doing a hard reset of both my HR 34 Genie and the C31 has resolved the issue other than that it's worked perfectly. All the content available on our main HR34 is available on the C31. As long as you don't mind spending 30 min on the phone with direct TV I recommend but this as an alternative to doing it directly through Direct TV.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

VideoSecu 540TVL Built-in 1/3" SONY Color CCD Outdoor Infrared Security Camera Home CCTV Surveillan

VideoSecu 540TVL Built-in 1/3' SONY Color CCD Outdoor Infrared Security Camera Home CCTV Surveillance High Resolution 12mm Lens Day Night Vision 54 Long Range IR Leds with Free Power Supply CNBI purchased 2 other night vision cameras and was disappointed. I spent the extra money to buy this camera and was very impressed with the picture quality. I can see across my street at night with no problem. The night vision picture is very clear and bright. During the day it is so clear it's like looking out a window.

I didn't give it 5 stars for one reason. The price is great but it does not include the power supply cord or any cable. That's just a ridiculous way to sell this item. It's like selling a car without the keys included. It costs $25 for the power adaptor and another $25 for cable and connectors, not to mention a trip to Radio Shack.

Also, you need to take it apart to focus the lens after you set it up. There were no directions in the box to tell you how to do that so I had to call the company.

I would still buy it again (I'm recommending it) but let the buyer beware that you need to spend at least $50 additional in order to hook it up.

This camera is definitely superior over all others i've seen in both price and quality.

There is a BNC female connector on the back plate (male BNC adapters for RCA cables are available at Radio Shack, as is the 12v power converter. Save more money and time. Positive polarity.)

I noticed the camera rattling and loose inside. If your camera begins to rattle, open up the back plate and carefully remove the whole assembly with the plate-attached metal stair-step stand that supports the camera. You can adjust the stand by twisting any loose columns. But be careful not to unfocus the camera.

Do not try to open the front of the camera, unless you absolutely have no choice like to replace the IR ring!

The IR ring (infra-red led lights attached to a curcuit board) is held in place separately in the front of the camera with a small white pin connector with wire leads to the camera board. This is convenient because when the IR leds may burn out after a few years, you can just disconnect and replace the ring for cheap.

The sun shade slides only if the front and back end screws are loosened. At the top-back of the camera, there are 2 built-in screw fittings that confused me at first. (Be sure to refer to the picture here that shows how the wall connector is put together, or you will become frustrated since there are no instructions or diagrams on how to use the supplied hardware.) Do not try to move the angle of the shade, since the only way it moves is from front to back on slides.

The reason this or most surveillance cameras on the market today do not have any audio is because the public privacy law has changed to make eavesdropping illegal in many states. But if you are so inclined, find mini-microphones, transmitters and receivers on the hobby shop sites selling motorized airplanes that employ digital cameras. You might find better prices for mini-box color cameras as well with portable power supplies.

Enjoy!

Buy VideoSecu 540TVL Built-in 1/3" SONY Color CCD Outdoor Infrared Security Camera Home CCTV Surveillan Now

I just installed this camera today. The picture is good but the field of view is very narrow. I can only see a width of about 18 feet wide at a distance of 60 feet. The IR ring is visible at night and makes the camera stand out, something to think about.

Read Best Reviews of VideoSecu 540TVL Built-in 1/3" SONY Color CCD Outdoor Infrared Security Camera Home CCTV Surveillan Here

This is a great camera overall and the company has great customer service. Shipping was pretty quick too. I didn't realize how zeroed in it would be. My mistake in not paying attention to the "long range" in the description or understanding that. I used it anyway further back with good results.

It was ok with me that there was no audio because I purchased a high range mic for cctv separately and attached it to the back which worked with the video cable that I also purchased separately.

I purchased this to obtain license plate numbers of cars parking near mine on my street where I park without paying a fortune for those type of cameras on other sites. I figure if someone does something I can obtain the plate number too. It does do that (only during the day) at about 25 feet even when the cars are moving at about 15 mph and you pause the DVR. I have a CPCAM 4 channel DVR. From where I had it mounted (25 feet) the view was just the plates verses the car and plates so I used another camera for that and moved this one back.

Also at night the plates are washed out (at 25 feet) but due to the small area where I can mount the cam at the right angle to view the plates I couldn't experiment with the camera being back further as to not wash out the numbers so I can't judge what it would do a little farther back. The night vision is that good so I think if too close it washes it out.

Good high resolution also. When I first installed it and trying to get the right angle I had it halfway on the back part of my car . (I could see the rain drops on the car and the camera was 15 feet away.) Now I moved it back 50 feet and I can get my whole car in from the side as well as the persons face who is standing next to my car.

I would say this is a good deal for the price and quality (big and sturdy) with a really good thick bracket. I would definitely purchase this again if I had the need. Make sure you need it for long range and not close up unless it is a small zeroed in area.

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I purchased two of these to replace the cheap, low quality cameras that came with my DVR System. They work very well. Easy to hook up, comes with good stands (though I mounted mine on light stands via the 1/4 inch threaded hole on the bottom) and work as advertised. These have decent rangeI was able to get about 30 feet in a building with no other light sources.

These are not super high end cameras, they don't have settings or features to adjust. They are plug and play cameras that work well.

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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Flip Video Power Adapter

Flip Video Power AdapterThe Power adapter puts to much charging power into the battery pack and over heats the pack and causes a shut down of the camera. The best bet is to buy a second battery pack and charge it through the USB port.

Adapter caused the camera to "over heat" or stop charging.

However, my main concern is, why bother to get this gadget at all?

Charge with a usb connection when you can and, when no usb port is available, just use regular AA batteries!

Adapters, over-heating, errors, possible damage, another country......it ain't worth it.

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I realized soon after getting my flip HD that I can find so much to shoot that I burn up a battery pack and need to recharge it and that sometimes it's most convenient to recharge it via a wall outlet rather than a computer. Here are some examples,,,

We went on a week long cruise and I had no computer access but I could recharge with this because there were electrical outlets everywhere.

I was shooting a wedding reception for a friend and forgot to recharge before leaving but by the time the wedding was over I grabbed my fully charged unit where I plugged it into the church wall behind a table and I was ready to shoot the full reception without losing any power.

We went to Myrtle Beach and stayed in a friend's condo. No computer there to recharge but I just popped in my camcorder at night before going to sleep and it was always ready to shoot in the morning.

I have even found outlets at the airport (near soda fountains and vending machines) in a pinch.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that my camera runs out of juice easily, it is, instead, that the cameras owner forgets to recharge it as often as I should.

Negatives: Wish this was made so I could just stick my spare battery pack into it rather than having to plug the actual camcorder into it but I suppose most don't have spare battery packs so that is no big deal. However it would be nice if it somehow left open the option to do both so that I could keep shooting while it charges

it is really lightweight and has,so far, worked perfectly for me.

Read Best Reviews of Flip Video Power Adapter Here

I only received this item because it was free with the purchase of the Flip video camera. As soon as I took it out of the box, I was grateful that I didn't pay anything for it. It gets the job done, but it's pretty awkward to plug in and have the camera propped up precariously against the charger so that the whole unit will stay in the wall (and subsequently charge). I've heard that it's better for these types of devices to be plugged into an outlet, rather than charging them through the computer's USB port, so I suppose it's useful for that... but it's just an adapter with a USB port, which means that the wall charger for my iPod and iPhone will get the job done just as well.

I would not pay $25 for this item. In fact, if given the chance, I would probably choose a different free accessory. If you're anything like me, you don't need this, and you'll only be irritated that you got it.

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The description provided by Amazon says "Compatible with the following models out of the box: M31120B, M3160S, U32120 models, M2120M, U2120 models" My model is U32120. However, that model is not listed on the box and this device does not support third generation Flip.

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Sunday, February 9, 2014

KJB Security DVR007 PI - Cam Stick

KJB Security DVR007 PI - Cam StickCompact clip-on mini digital video and audio recorder (DVR) smaller and lighter than a disposable cigarette lighter. The mini DVR has a one touch record button that records real time video using the 3GP video format with a resolution of 352x288 using a CMOS image sensor. The video can be viewed on your computer with a free software download from quicktime.com or real.com (currently Windows Media Player does not support the 3GP format) or can be played back on cell phones that support 3GP video format by simply connecting the included USB cable into the DVR and an open USB port. The unit is powered by a built in Lithium-ion battery that is charged when the unit is connected to a USB port. The color camera with audio can be placed up high or concealed down low, allowing you to clearly see and hear anyone in the camera's range. The tiny size of the recorder makes it ideal for a variety of uses. The DVR also has the added feature of taking still pictures with a resolution of 640 x 480. The DVR will record continuously for two hours (until memory is full or the unit is manually turned off). The mini DVR has 2GB of internal memory. A Micro SD card (not included) can be used to add 2 GB of additional memory. This unit weighs 0.67 ounces. Measures 2.87" x .78" x .43".

Monday, February 3, 2014

Toshiba SD-5000 1080i Upconverting DivX Certified DVD Player

Toshiba SD-5000 1080i Upconverting DivX Certified DVD Player
  • Upconverting DVD Player
  • Video Upconversion Displays a Pure Digital Signal at 720p or 1080i
  • HDMI is a Convenient Single Cable Connection
  • Multiformat Playback Capability
  • 4.80 Lbs (WxLxH) 17.00" x 9.50" x 2.16"

I tried this model out with my Sony HDTV using the HDMI connection. Watched a recent movie with quite a few dark scenes and was surprised at how bad the picture was. It almost looked like a cartoon. At one point the playback slowed, became very blocky and froze! It was so bad I had to stop the movie and try the disk in our Sony Playstation 2. The picture from the PS2 showing the same scenes was fantastic and it doesn't do up-conversion of course. On the positive side the Dolby and DTS sound from the Toshiba was great. I returned the Toshiba and purchased the Sony DVPNS75H and now am very pleased. The picture quality on the Sony is far superior much brighter and sharper.

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I formerly owned the SD-6980, but the device failed while under warranty. I liked that device a lot, especially its card reader port. I received a new SD-5000 from Toshiba to replace the obsolete SD-6980. The DVDs upconverted to 1080i really look like the images I receive from HD cable. The SD-6980 did a good job too, but you could see grainy areas or images that weren't perfect. I love the SD-5000 . The downsides I found from this device are no Optical port for audio, and of course no card reader. I used coax for my surround sound and its fine. The quality of the picture easily outweighs the cons.

In dark scenes though, the blacks tend to pixelate...likely and upconversion issue. Also the player has an issue where it may lock up for 5-8 seconds during playback. Its annoying, but you can live with it.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba SD-5000 1080i Upconverting DivX Certified DVD Player Here

I bought this nice looking, upconverting DVD player for $70 from a large electronics retailer. Thankfully, they had a good exchange program.

I was really excited about this DVD player even though I currently only have component cables and wouldn't get the full benefits of the upconversion. My old Philips DVD player crapped out after 4 years and I needed a new one so I went with the Toshiba SD5000 because it was small and inexpensive and had a sleek black glossy look to it.

I got home and plugged it in, really easy to set up and everything, watched ONE movie, and then *POOF*... the DVD player wouldn't play another DVD. Every DVD I put in after the first DVD would not be read. I tried with 3 DVDs. Exasperated, I put back in the first DVD that I had already watched and that one wouldn't work either!

Based on the other reviews, I'm guessing the SD5000 had some quality control problems and the experience has made sure that I'll stay away from Toshiba for the time being. Buyer beware!

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I found that it skips here and there. It also freezes here and there.

It can be very annoying..

If I knew about this quality of dvd player, I should have bought phillips for $40 instead of this $80 sd-5000 toshiba.

HDMI resolution option is there but it didn't really make a lot of difference in pic quality between the 3 settings. I cannot even tell if the option is really working.

Well, I couldn't bear the frequence of these instances, so I ended up returning. The return shipping was free.

Picture quality at 1080i is good. However, there aren't many other pros. It won't resume a disc where you stopped, it has no time display on the front, plastic case feels cheap, no forward/back buttons on the main unit, and worst of all, every disc we've watched pauses for about 3-5 seconds. It must be the layer change, but I've never seen one that long. I think I'm going with the Sony NS75H, given it's stellar reviews. Too bad it doesn't come in black. Maybe I'll spray paint it. lol

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Windshield Recorder Digital Camcorder Small LCD Mini SD

Windshield Recorder Digital Camcorder Small LCD Mini SDThis item arrived as described. It is good for what it is but feels cheap so im not sure how long it will last. The camera takes decant video but is ok if you don't expect much.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Haier BDP100 Blu-Ray Disc Player

Haier BDP100 Blu-Ray Disc Player
  • Blu-ray playback up to 1080p; DVD Upconversion to 1080p
  • HDMI Version 1.3 and component video output
  • Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD
  • MPEG2/4, MPEG4-AVC, H.264, VC-1, dts-HD, BD-Java
  • BD/DVD/VCD/CD/CD-R(RW)/DVD+R(RW)/MP3/WMA/JPEG Playback

I got this player about a year ago, and can tell you that I'm very happy with the picture on my 32" Vizio at 270. I'm not so happy about having to deal with the unit refusing to turn on (remote or physical -unplug to reset), subtitles displayed after resuming a DVD, and I can't figure out why it won't connect to my home network (no netflix or pandora).

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It was given to my brother-in-law as a gift and I've heard nothing but praise of its features. The best raved feature is the netflix intergration by simply plugging into the router and setting up netflix on the player.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Zenith DVR413 Multi-Format DVD Recorder

Zenith DVR413 Multi-Format DVD Recorder
  • DVD-R/-RW and DVD+R/+RW recorder with digital-video input
  • Front-panel audio/video inputs accommodate camcorders, VCRs, DVRs, and other devices
  • Plays DVD-Video, CD, CD-R/CD-RW, and MP3 CD
  • Progressive-scan video output renders seamless, flicker-free images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs
  • Coaxial and optical digital audio outputs route Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound to a compatible A/V receiver

The unit seems to do all it says it will, though I have not delved into every feature, particularly the (expensive) RAM disk and its multitude of editing capabilites.

It plays commercial DVDs nicely, and I've transferred several 6-hour home-made VHS tapes to DVD (more to follow) which was the main feature I bought the unit for.

A few minor nitpicks:

1. Takes about 10 seconds to "check everything" after the power is turned on.

2. Pressing the "Open" (door) button does not turn on the unit OK, I'm spoiled by my $60 Mintek...

3. The flip down cover should have separate sections rather than the full width. There is access on the left side for a 5-inch section of composite, S-Video or DVI inputs and channel up/down, the 3-inch wide display (that will be brighter when uncovered) is in the center, then only 2 directional arrows on the right side that are an inch apart...

4. The remote is the longest of five I have (lots of functions, some under a sliding cover) though it is well-laid out and not very heavy for the size.

Very minor quibbles for a very nice unit.

Note: I've subsequently had a problem with the unit freezing up in the middle of recording, requiring a full power off (and losing the recording) three times in a row. This was on the 7th DVD I was burning, and all the previous ones went without a hitch. Called CS (open 24/7) and they said to unplug it for an hour or so to reset it. I will post if a problem is encountered again.

OK, it happened again. 60 days old, froze twice. At least Zenith is paying shipping on this trip.

Got it back 21 days later. Fresh out of the box, the unit does not format a disk, and the disk formatting portion of the menu is inaccessible (grayed out). Now, I get to take it to a local service center as the repair policy has changed. Arg. More updates as they happen.

Update: Turns out they are paying to ship it back to Alabama, as apparently the local service option was not correct.

Update2: Turns out "problem" is that "-R" disks come formatted (did not know that), therefore that particular menu item is disabled. Funny that 2 techs did not "catch" that on the phone, particularly when one of them specifically asked about the type of disk. Also, manual says that the "disk will be intialized" (which is not the same as "formatted" as the case for "+R"s I had used previously).

So, I'm recording a friend's cartoons. All seems well at the 3-1/2 hour mark :-)

Edit: Well, it finally started dying and I pulled the plug in early '08.

Buy Zenith DVR413 Multi-Format DVD Recorder Now

I don't know if I have a lemon or not, but it has been in the shop more than I have had it. It is now on its 3rd repair. Last time, they replaced the mother board and some other components. The first time, they replaced the DVD recorder drive (with a rebuilt one). IThe machine was purchased in July, did not use it until end of August and worked for only a month. I have no small children and I am a videophile who has been recording since the very first betamax. Here are the problems I have:

The timer recording works only about 50% of the time, but if you turn the machine on manually, the timer kicks in. Sometimes when I record DVD's for just a few minutes and change my mind, the recorder reads the DVD as full and will not record further on it. This last time, it started something new (after all the new parts), I hit record, the counter goes to 00 00 00 and it stalls right there. It will not shut off, open or anything; it is literally frozen. Unplugging renews it!

Basically, it is not a machine I can count on. The only saving grace I can see is that I can transfer my vhs tapes to dvd without worrying about the copyguard and even that can get temperamental.

Zenith is absolutely no help. Every time I call, regardless of the day or time, I get a message to leave a phone number and someone will call me back. So far, I've left phone numbers three times and no one bothers to call. So much for tech support!

Hedda

Read Best Reviews of Zenith DVR413 Multi-Format DVD Recorder Here

How can you ruin an otherwise fine player/recorder by not giving it an S-video in (except in the front input)? In that case, there is no digital sound besides the eye sore of wires in frontnot a good trade off. What were they thinking providing 2 digital sound outputs (coaxial and optical) when one or the other would suffice in a trade off for the S-video in? I tried the composite vs. the front S-video and the picture quality difference was stark. All of this being said, if you simply want to record shows that you'll dub over anyway, it's not the biggest deal. But for highest quality VHS archiving to disc, you may be disappointed. For less picky dubbers, it would be hard to find a quality multi-format recorder at this price point

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I was looking for a dvd recorder that I could tranfer my huge lot of vhs home movies onto dvd. After searching, I found most units to be around $300.00 or more. Was shocked to see an ad for this Zenith at our local big box store (Comparable to Best Buy / Circuit City) for $148.00 new. Looked up the specs and found this to have the features I was hoping for. This little gem works great. Simple 1-2-3 hook-up and I was on my way to transferring camcorder footage thru the front jacks and producing a quality edited archive. The dvd has a super picture when using the 1 or 2 hour recording mode. If your looking for a unit with a sleek styling, easy operation, great features and excellent picture quality results, LOOK NO FURTHER.

I was considering buying the DVR413.

However, the owner's manual is so poorly written that the basic capabilities of the unit cannot be determined.

All I wanted to do was find out if the chapters can be manually inserted afterwards, and/or named afterwards, for each disk type that it supports.

For example, the following nonsensical sentences are present:

1. Recordings can be edited the title/chapter

2. Any edited contents are not be compatible on regular

Zenith needs to employ someone who has a basic competency with the English language to review the manuals for errors prior to their being published. A decent manual is as necessary as a decent product.

I'm not interested in buying a product if:

1. I don't know what it does

2. the product documentation is so poor that the only option is trial and error, aka "hope & pray" it does what you bought it for, and if not, return it.

I manage and use about 1000 manuals for all of the electronic and optical test equipment for a large test lab at a major semiconductor company, and I have rarely if ever had to level any sort of criticism at any electronics vendor in 16 years of doing so.

Zenith should be ashamed of themselves for producing such crap. I am glad that I don't work for such a lousy and unethical company, nor amongst such incompetent and immoral employees and management who would allow such junk to be published.

I can only say that I'm glad I read the manual before buying it.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Marantz CDR-310 2-Channel Stereo/Mono Portable MP3/CD Recorder

Marantz CDR-310 2-Channel Stereo/Mono Portable MP3/CD Recorder
  • Lightweight and portable CD recorder with CD-DA/WAV/MP3 or AIFF compressed/uncompressed recording
  • Long-term recording in uncompressed and MP3 formats
  • Internal 1" 4GB hard drive stores audio before burning to CD
  • Burns audio or data CD-R, records up to 20 hours on 1 CD (MPEG Mono); burns audio discs for playback on standard CD players, data discs for transfer to computer or archival applications
  • Simplified operation with one-touch record feature; Pre-record mode enables active recording for up to 10 seconds when unit is stopped

The product discription is misleading. The recorder does not weigh 24 lbs. I'd estimate 3-4 lbs. You can pick it up in one hand. The first unit I purchased would record up to specs, but when I inserted a blank CD, it would only burn up to a minute or so then eject the CD. I tried several brands of CDs to no avail and called the USA Marantz rep who confirmed it was defective. B&H Photo readily exchanged the unit. The replacement worked fine except for the battery charge indicator, which does not report a correct charge level. Despite a full charge of the optional NiMH battery, the charge level shows half charge within five minutes after being turned on, then no charge after about another hour. The unit will operate for up to 3 hours & 55 minutes on a full charge, however, but the charge indicator is of no value until there is absolutely no charge left at all. Then the indicator flashes for several seconds, and the unit shuts off. The Marantz rep says they know this is a general problem with the CDR310's. I use my unit with a Shure VP88 stereo microphone and have recorded local music festivals and environmental sounds including rain and thunderstorms. The unit is fast and easy to use. Although I use it with a high-end set of Sennheiser headphones just to confirm my balance and level (& I just enjoy the amazing clarity & fidelity), the phones aren't necessary. The level display is highly user friendly, and the lighted display option is convenient. The controls/functions are extremely well thought out. If you're line-in recording from your computer or from any other input source (turntable, tapedeck, CD player, etc.) and you need to spoil a track, you can undo just that particular track without deleting the other tracks you recorded. I also like the ability to manual or insert auto-tracks. I can't think of anything you'd want to do that you can't do in the field with this recorder. You can record a group and burn a CD on the spot for them, then burn a master for yourself, erase your hard-drive, then go on to record other scenarios. With my Shure VP88, I get studio quality sound that astonishes people when I give them CDs as gifts. I am a quadriplegic with some use of my hands, and I can hold the recorder in my lap, manipulate the controls with one hand while I direct my microphone with the other. It's a snap! I love archival CDs and don't bother with MP3s, but you could record them if that's your thing. I subtracted one star only because of the unreliability of the charge indicator and due to the need to return the first unit. But, I am blown away by the depth and range of sound produced by this recorder and mic combination and its versatility and ease of use.

Buy Marantz CDR-310 2-Channel Stereo/Mono Portable MP3/CD Recorder Now

I am in aggreement with Vivatone66's review of this recorder and I think the review is thorough and good. I would add that I use the Marantz CDR310 for guitar lessons. When I give a lesson, I record it and then burn the lesson to a CD-R. This really helps the student remember what they learned in the lesson. When doing field recording for my own purposes, I use Memorex Black CD-R's which seem to have a noticeable increase in sound quality which in turn improves the fidelity of copies. Maybe it's just me, but that's my humble opinion. If you need to do recordings and don't need or want a 24 track studio mixer, this is a great device. It is one of the best tools of the trade that I own.

Read Best Reviews of Marantz CDR-310 2-Channel Stereo/Mono Portable MP3/CD Recorder Here

I have had this model for about five years and use it daily in my work and absolutely love it. It has never let me down and the quality is extraordinary. I tried a whole slew of cheaper models prior to this but they just didn't cut it. I will always buy Marantz from now on.

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I've been using this for a while know and there's been no problems. I use it for spoken word not too much music. The Battery is terrible though, I tried another holder and several different batteries but still haven't got too much out of it. otherwise it works well.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

4gb U-disk Shaped Voice Recorder Pen Red

4gb U-disk Shaped Voice Recorder Pen RedI purchased this product even with the limited information available on Amazon and it would fulfill at least some of my wishes. For $16 I didn't expect much. When I received it the crappy headphones and the horrible instructions worried me. but it turned out to be a really clever gadget for my needs. The recorder has 2 available modes voice recording and playback. It has a built-in microphone but no built-in speaker so you'll need to use the included headphones to listen to audio. You can also store music files to listen to music. It has about a 5 second delay when you start recording audio. so you won't be able to use this for instant recording. The USB feature is very convenient however always safely remove hardware. I had an issue where the recorder would not turn off after I removed it from the computer but this seems to be specific to use with Dragon dictation software. Overall this is a great buy. I only hope that at lasts.

This review is only for use as a wav-files "voice recorder".

I.e. I did not use it as an MP3-player.

Pros ( + comments):

easy to use

As indicated by another reviewer: After you switch on, you must wait ~8 seconds,

or else it cuts out what you said before

good sound quality

nice that you can listen to the recording with small headphones

(no need to wait until you can upload and listen on a PC)

long recording time

1. if I saw correctly: a 10sec wav-file had ~320kB ==> with 3.7 Gb capacity ~ 1900 mins ~ 32hours, BUT

2. somewhere in the manual it states: for WAV-format, "median" 192 kbps: that would make it 320 mins ~ 5hours.

3. The battery charge per the manual is good for 8 hours 'record' and 5 hours 'play',

I assume this is using their headphones

4. also per the manual, 48 hours "music" record time (for the 4Gb unit), wish I knew how they arrive

at that number .. **See note at bottom**

very SMALL (58 x 21 x 8mm) and LIGHT weight fits easily in a pocket, purse or wallet

(in case you missed this in high-school: 25.4mm = 1 inch)

useful feature: spring-loaded clip on backside to attach to shirt pocket or lapel

at $21.(incl S&H) inexpensive. Compare to $400.for some equally small "spy" items on eBay

Cons:

the earplugs/ headphones which came with it are NOT bad (as another reviewer has suggested).

BUT in my case the connector would not go in, all the way.

I decided to use another readily available set of phones, rather than break the recorder.

the "Manual" is close to incomprehensible (it appears this is true also for the Chinese)

Did not find an indication what time for a full battery charge (cryptic remark on the box "can 10 hours")

Can the battery be overcharged? Will it switch off?

Can the battery be charged using a universal 'Good-for-anything-USB' charger?

Will the unit be destroyed, if you do not charge it from your PC?

______________________

** Note added in proof:

I converted my recorded 10 sec WAV-file to MP3. I then compressed this MP3 file. The above 320kb (original-WAV)

thus became ~50kb (compressed-MP3). This, with no significant loss in audio quality. I.e. the "48 hours" in the manual

are probably when playing compressed MP3-music files.

Buy 4gb U-disk Shaped Voice Recorder Pen Red Now

No, it's not high quality, but it's surreptitious and can be held in a hand or clipped to a lapel to record conversations. Solid, and works well. A less flashy color would have been nice, though.

Read Best Reviews of 4gb U-disk Shaped Voice Recorder Pen Red Here

I am very pleased so far with this product. The direction for use is a bit choppy, however, the product is a plug and play and works as descrided. The sound quality in recording is very good. I would recommend this product. This product met my expectation.

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I only wanted to record notes for myself during a 10k run. It did that and it caught both sides of my conversations (and even other peoples). I ran it for 4.5 hours and probably could have gone longer. The pink color wasn't for me so I covered it in black gaffers tape. It was perfect for the size and price.