If you are one of the users looking for a DVD recorder with hard drive or a VHS to DVD converter, below is the list of devices that can be a suitable option for you. Have a look.

Top 3 DVD Recorders with Hard Drive

Toshiba RD99DTKB Hard Drive DVD Recorder

In case if you are not a big fan of pioneer DVD recorder with hardrive, the Toshiba RD99DTKB is an ideal option for you. With a price tag of just below $200, this DVD recorder also comes with support of Freeview+. Users can rewind, pause, and record live TV whenever you want.

The single digital TV tuner within the device offers access to all the Freeview OTA channels. Coming to recording live TV, the 250 GB hard disk drive of the device provides recording time of almost 200 hours in SD resolution. It does not support HD recording. On the other hand, you can burn the recordings on DVD discs if you want.

The Toshiba RD99DTKB is also good at playing DVD media. If you have a library of old DVDs, this player can upscale poor-quality content to 1080p and offer a superior image quality. It comes with a USB port, so you can plug in portable HDD or an external thumb drive to play music/videos and view photos.

Considering the device is quite obsolete currently, you cannot expect any smart features such as internet access or auto-recording. On the other hand, its user interface is straightforward and easy to understand. If you have an older TV that does not have an HDMI port, you can instead depend on the SCART video output.

DVD Recorder with Hard Drive:Toshiba RD99DTKB Hard Drive DVD Recorder

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Freeview+
  • 250 GB hard disk drive
  • Video upscaling
  • Ability to burn the recordings on DVD discs

Cons

  • Does not support HD recording
  • No Internet access
  • No auto-recording

Panasonic DMR-EX97EB-K DVD Recorder

The Panasonic DMR-EX97 (EB-K) is an exceptional DVD recorder with hardrive. It also has Freeview HD features. In addition to this, it also has two different TV tuners within, so you can record two different live channels simultaneously. The device has 500 GB of hard drive, which can hold almost 120 hours of HD recording.

Luckily, it has a USB 2.0 port as well to connect portable HDD or a flash drive and increase the recording time. The “Series Recording” feature allows you to schedule recordings for the TV shows you want to watch. You can access the recordings later from an organized list.

Furthermore, the Panasonic DMR-EX97 provides quick navigation. It can also upscale low-resolution content over HDMI to 4K. The device is Miracast certified. Apart from Wi-Fi, it comes with an Ethernet port, too.

DVD Recorder with Hard Drive:Panasonic DMR-EX97EB-K DVD Recorder

Pros

  • 500 GB of hard drive
  • Freeview HD features
  • USB 2.0 port
  • “Series Recording” feature
  • Quick navigation
  • Upscale low-resolution content to 4K
  • Miracast certified

Cons

  • Costly
  • Sometimes the content freezes while using hard drive

Sony RDRHXD970 – 250GB Hard Drive DVD Recorder

The Sony RDRHXD970 is the next DVD recorder with hardrive in our list. It has a built-in Freeview tuner and provides record, pause, and rewind options. The device can record only on SD quality, but the 250 GB internal hard disk drive can record more than 300 hours of your favorite episodes.

The DVD R/RW drive in the device can playback and read DVD videos, and also burn recordings on blank disks. The device supports neither Freeview Play nor Freeview HD, which is expected considering its date of launch.

When launched earlier in 2007, the Sony RDRHXD970 was one of the best DVD recorders in the industry. Users can buy this today for less than $150 or even lower. Obviously, it does not connect to the internet or provide any of smart features, but it is a great addition to an older home entertainment setup. The device has SCART, HDMI, a USB port for playing back external media, and DV (for camcorders). The recorder even comes with a one-touch dub button.

DVD Recorder with Hard Drive:Sony RDRHXD970 – 250GB Hard Drive DVD Recorder

Pros

  • Built-in Freeview tuner
  • 250 GB internal hard disk drive
  • Can playback and read DVD videos
  • One-touch dub button
  • SCART, HDMI, and DV (for camcorders)

Cons

  • Can record only on SD quality
  • No Freeview Play nor Freeview HD
  • Does not connect to the internet
  • Does not provide any of smart features

Bonus Tip: Easier Way to Create DVD Discs - DVDFab DVD Creator

The major disadvantage of using DVD recorders is being reliable on the physical machines in this modern age, where everything is based on software. The age-old DVD recorders are now replaced with different software tools that not only burn DVDs but also comes with tons of other features. One such good and best software is DVDFab DVD Creator. This tool is the best alternative to DVD recorders. In addition to this, the tool can burn DVDs as well as allows you to make your own DVD menu through customized options and stylish templates.

DVDFab DVD Creator

DVDFab DVD Creator

DVDFab DVD Creator can create DVD disc / ISO /folder from any popular video format. It also boasts many stylish templates & customized options for making your own DVD menu.
Win Download
100% safe&clean
Mac Download
100% safe&clean

Below are some features of this tool:

  • Input video formats: MKV, MP4, AVI, M2TS, TS, MOV, WMV, WMA, etc.
  • Output disc formats: DVD-9, DVD-5, DVD±R/RW, and DVD±R DL.
  • Output standard DVD with high-quality video.
  • Customize DVD movies using flexible menu templates.
  • GPU acceleration with 50x faster DVD burning speed.
  • Synchronize detailed meta info.

Follow the below steps to know how to use DVDFab DVD Creator.

Step 1: Download and install this DVD maker on your PC. Launch the tool and select Creator from the option bar present at the top. Now, click Creator Mode Switcher and select DVD Creator. Upload the source video you wish to burn using the Add button present on the main page. Or, you can also do this by drag and drop function.

DVD Recorder with Hard Drive: Alternative: Use DVDFab DVD Creator

Step 2: When the source video is uploaded, tap "Advanced Settings" and select the output quality and size you wish. You can also click the "Menu Settings" button to personalize their menu.

DVD Recorder with Hard Drive: Alternative: Use DVDFab DVD Creator

You can freely customize all of the elements and widgets within the menu templates.

DVD Recorder with Hard Drive: Alternative: Use DVDFab DVD Creator

Step 3: Choose the output directory in Save to Path, and tap the Start option to start burning your DVD. The tool will provide info when the burning process is done.

FAQs

Q

Can you play CDs and DVDs on a DVD recorder?

DVD recorders can also act as a normal DVD player, which are able to playback various video and music formats from DVDs and CDs. Some DVD recorders can also playback Blu-ray discs and support Ultra HD content on supported TVs.

A
Q

Does a DVD recorder require an internet connection to work?

Absolutely not. Online content is broadcasted over the air, same as radio stations. The receiver linked to the DVD recorder picks up the signal waves, which does not need internet. In case your DVD recorder supports Freeview and you want use it, only then you will require to connect it to the web using Ethernet connection or over a Wi-Fi.

A
Q

What does a Freeview DVD Recorder do?

It is created for doing almost the same thing as a normal DVD recorder but instead has a built-in Freeview tuner. Users can record the programs when needed and watch the over-the-air channels.

They get saved on the internal hard disk drive of recorder that users also can burn to DVDs. If the DVD recorder comes with Freeview+, users can rewind and pause live TV from the remote. Users can watch HD channels with Freeview HD on recorders and online content over Freeview Play on-demand (which needs internet).

A
Q

Is it possible to copy files from the DVD recorder to an external storage device?

It totally relies on the features that DVD recorder offers. As long as there is a USB port with the recorder, users must be able to transfer and read your recordings to an external storage device from the device. In spite of all that, it all comes down to the company. On some recorders, file transfer over USB is turned off on firmware-level.

A

Conclusion

In a nutshell, you just had a look at different options that can be the best DVD recorder with hardrive. In addition to this, you also had a look at DVDFab DVD Creator that can be the best alternative to DVD recorders. The tool can burn DVDs as well as allow you to make your own DVD menu through customized options and stylish templates.