Sony VRDMC3 DVDirect DVD Recorder: Efficient and Versatile Disc Recording Solution Review

I received my Sony VRD-MC3 this afternoon. I immediately connected it to my Sony DV camera (model DCR-TRV900) using a Sony i.LINK cable (#VMC-IL4415/IL4435/2DV/4DViLINK). Once connected, all I had to do was press one button to rip the DV tapes to DVD. I copied three 60 minute DV cassettes onto Sony 1x-16x DVD-R (#10DMR47l4) and had no problems. I tried DVD copies on three different DVD players and they worked great. The picture quality was as good as the original tapes and looked very sharp on…

Very happy with this purchase. The unit is fairly easy to use and we successfully transcribed about 30 hours of old 8mm videotape to DVD in a matter of weeks with no bad transfers. We use Memorex DVD-R media. This recorder has a useful pause and resume function in case of signal loss such as: E.g. with some of our tapes when there were blank black gaps between some frames or when the tape itself was so distorted that it could not be displayed. Once the signal returns, recording will resume…

When I first set this up, ripping VHS tapes worked like a dream, even with a different manufacturer's VCR. I then tried with firewire according to the manual Hi-8 tapes of a Sony digital camcorder (DCR-TRV310) to copy. I get a message that recording will start after tape rewind, but when I rewind the recording doesn't start and I can't start it even if I manually press the "Play" button on the camcorder again or start it with a rewound tape . I can't figure out this issue as for example the…

I have now used this unit to archive an 8-cassette set of training videos that my staff had limited access to while stuck on VHS. The transfer process is very simple. Turn on the device, format your DVD (wide range of compatible DVDs), set the quality settings, start the tape and PRESS THE BIG RED BUTTON. Navigation in the main menu is easy. One thing that has led to multiple DVD coasters: don't forget to stop recording *before DVD burning limit expires*. Exceeding the time limit appears to…

I've had this Sony VRD-MC3 for about a year and it performs better than expected. Initially, I mainly used it as a standalone DVD burner without connecting to a PC. After the internal (on my PC) DVD burner started shredding lots of new burnable DVDs, I connected the Sony VRD-MC3 to the PC and Windows XP recognized it with no problems. It hasn't let me down so far, even with any DVDs where the internal DVD burner didn't work before. Now when I want to use it with a PC, I just go to the menu and…