Toshiba D-R4 Multi-Drive DVD Recorder
Bring Back The VCR!
Purchased this DVD recorder six weeks ago. I already own an older Toshiba DVD player for over two years, but I wanted to replace three VCRs used for time-shifting and recording pay cable movies with the newer digital recorder tehcnology.<br />  The installation manual is long and detailed, but setup was not that difficult.  Unfortunately, I've discovered a dirty little secret that the DVD recording industry won't tell you:  the VCR, an older technology, records any pay cable movie without a problem.  The newer model DVD recorders, including this one, will record a cable TV movie only on a DVD-RAM disc and once recorded the DVD cannot be burned using your computer's DVD drive.  Why?  The motion picture studios have copy-protection software embedded in DVDs and pay cable broadcasts preventing copying of movies on the newer model DVD recorders.  If you are using a DVD-R or RW disc, you'll soon discover that your DVD recorder will pause at the beginning of any pay cable movie.  If you are monitoring the broadcast, you will see a message on your TV screen indicating the movie you tried to record is copy protected, followed by the recorder shutting down.  Your recorder received a signal at the beginning of the movie instructing the microchip installed by the manufacturer to shut it down, similar to the V-Chip installed by most newer model televisions for parental control.  The motion picture studios need to protect their profits from the pirates.  No problem making a VCR recording (a much older technology) of pay cable movies or broadcast shows on free television.  Another problem written about by other reviewers:  The Memorex brand DVD-R discs will record on the machine but the discs cannot be finalized.  However, Maxell brand DVD-R discs record and finalize with no problems.  The recorder is pretty choosy.<br />  My advice:  if you intend to record broadcast shows for posterity or convert camcorder S-VHS videos, use the DVD-R discs. If you intend to time shift a lot as I do, use the DVD-RW discs as they can be used an estimated 1000 times and they can be finalized and played on other players.  The finalizing process is reversible and DVD-RW can be rewritten.  Of course, the DVD-RAM doesn't require finalization to be played on RAM capable DVD players, allows you to record and playback a previous chapter at the same time using the Chase Play feature and pause live recordings to resume later using the Time Slip function.  Try doing that with your VCR! The manufacturers claim most DVD-RAM discs can be reused over 100,000 times.  In spite of the technical problems, I'd still rate this recorder highly given its numerous features and apparent drawbacks, but I haven't given away my 3 working VCRs just yet, and I'll continue to make backup copies on them as well in case the DVD recorder malfunctions.e DVD-R discs. If you intend to time shift a lot as I do, use the DVD-RW discs as they can be used an estimated 1000 times and they can be finalized and played on other players.  The finalizing process is reversible and DVD-RW can be rewritten.  Of course, the DVD-RAM doesn't require finalization to be played on RAM capable DVD players, allows you to record and playback a previous chapter at the same time using the Chase Play feature and pause live recordings to resume later using the Time Slip function.  Try doing that with your VCR! The manufacturers claim most DVD-RAM discs can be reused over 100,000 times.            In spite of the technical problems, I'd still rate this recorder highly given its numerous features and apparent drawbacks, but I haven't given away my 3 working VCRs just yet, and I'll continue to make backup copies on them as well in case the DVD recorder malfunctions.