Sony RDR-GX7 DVD Recorder
iLink glitch
I bought the Sony RDR-GX7 just before XMAS 2003 as a present for my wife and I after having researched it to death and procrastinated over it endlessly. Ultimately, we felt it was the best buy out there. While I have been highly impressed with the many capabilities and picture quality of this DVD recorder, one of the major reasons that I paid the top price for it was its iLink capability using \\"One Touch Dubbing\\". Using this function one is supposed to be able to digitally record an entire DV tape and then later edit it with little loss of picture & sound quality. However, using the iLink has revealed either an Achille's heel of this DVD recorder or, hopefully, an isolated problem. It will not record - via the iLink port - a complete miniDV tape playing in a digital camcorder. I am using my less that two year old Canon ZR45 miniDV camcorder. After an unpredictable and variable amount time the RDR-GX7 just stops recording from the camcorder and starts to \\"Write Info\\" - meaning that as far as it is concerned all of the tape has been copied and it is saving other associated data to the DVD disc. When this happens, the camcorder, however, has not reached the end of the tape and still has large part of the tape still left to record to the DVD disc. I have tried to copy the miniDV tapes to all types of recordable DVDs from different manufacturers (TDK, Verbatim, Imation, Memorex) all to no avail. I thought that perhaps the problem lay with the firewire cable that I was using but, using a second new one, did not solve the problem either. It does not matter which recording quality setting one uses, the problem remains. So finally in frustration, I returned RDR-GX7 to Circuit City for repairs and was told that because the Sony 90 day Warranty had passed, and not withstanding having the Circuit City extended warranty, the machine would have to be sent out for repairs and, pending the outcome, then we would see what to do next. So I am waiting for it to return. I bought the extended waranty because of a previous bad experience with a Sony CD player which failed withing a week of the expiry of its warranty period - but that's another story. I have read of no comments on the the iLink function and how it works for people but anyone considering this recorder certainly needs to test this capability very quickly after purchasing it.<br /><br />Update2/1/2005<br /><br />OK. So this update is a little overdue:-) I still have the digital problems mentioned above. After I got the recorder back from Circuit City, who sent it to Sony for \\"repairs\\", it  still would not carry out the \\"One Touch Dubbing\\" from my Canon Digital camcorder. I can only surmise that there is probably an incompatibility with the Canon and Sony digital recording formats. Having said this the formats that the two use are supposed to be the same - I checked both their DV recording format information in their manuals.<br /><br />Apart from this, and after hundreds of hours of recording DVDs of all varieties and from all sources (TV & VHS tapes), I am still very happy with the recorder and would recommend it to anyone considering purchasing a DVD recorder. I see that the latest trend has gone toward offering DVD/VHS recorders - perhaps the best option for those wishing to copy their old VHS tapes. And Sony has a model in that category too!tended waranty because of a previous bad experience with a Sony CD player which failed withing a week of the expiry of its warranty period - but that's another story. I have read of no comments on the the iLink function and how it works for people but anyone considering this recorder certainly needs to test this capability very quickly after purchasing it.    Update2/1/2005    OK. So this update is a little overdue:-) I still have the digital problems mentioned above. After I got the recorder back from Circuit City, who sent it to Sony for \\"repairs\\", it  still would not carry out the \\"One Touch Dubbing\\" from my Canon Digital camcorder. I can only surmise that there is probably an incompatibility with the Canon and Sony digital recording formats. Having said this the formats that the two use are supposed to be the same - I checked both their DV recording format information in their manuals.    Apart from this, and after hundreds of hours of recording DVDs of all varieties and from all sources (TV & VHS tapes), I am still very happy with the recorder and would recommend it to anyone considering purchasing a DVD recorder. I see that the latest trend has gone toward offering DVD/VHS recorders - perhaps the best option for those wishing to copy their old VHS tapes. And Sony has a model in that category too!