Samsung DVD-VR300 Recorder

The ultimate convenience recorder, Samsung's DVD-VR300 offers not only dual-format playback--DVD and VHS videocassette--but dual-format recording, as well. The DVD-VR300 makes it easier than ever to time-shift your TV viewing, save treasured broadcasts, archive your library of home videos, or share your creations with friends and family. Further, the combo recorder offers unprecedented format flexibility, handling DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and rewriteable DVD-RW optical media.
Samsung has developed its own multiformat technology that grants the DVD-VR300 the flexibility to support all three major DVD recording formats, each bringing its own advantages and capabilities. You have the option of recording straight from the television in either format (disc or tape), as well as being able to record from VHS to DVD and vice versa with the convenience of one easy-to-use machine. (Copy protection may prohibit recording of most commercial DVDs.)Amazon.com Product Description



DVD-RAM is the most technically versatile recording format available to DVDs and can even adapt to the DVD-RW standard for playback on older DVD players. It allows mixed storage of video, audio, and other types of data from both the PC and the audio/video worlds. DVD-RAM's nonlinear read/write characteristics allow convenient features like time-shifting and time-warping, which means you can start watching a program from the beginning while the end is still being recorded. Rewritable DVD-RW and write-once DVD-R compatibility lend the DVD-VR300 the broadest available DVD Forum-backed compatibility at the time of its issue.
Front-panel audio-video inputs offer easy access for connecting external devices and the unit also offers analog and digital DV (FireWire) inputs accessible from the front panel.
The unit also supports audio playback for an array of popular formats, including CD, CD-R/RW, and MP3 CD. Additionally, the player has the ability to play JPEG CDs and Kodak Picture CDs for onscreen viewing of digital photos. Full-motion video, still images, backward compatibility with VHS cassettes, all your favorite music--the DVD-VR300 is quite a device.

From the Manufacturer
Samsung introduces the DVD-VR300 VCR/DVD recorder, which is capable of supporting three different recording formats: DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and DVD-R.
The DVD-VR300 is a unique VHS-DVD multi-recording device that has the ability to record between digital disc and videotape media. Now you can finally convert your priceless home VHS collections into disc media for easy playback in the DVD format. You also have the option of recording straight from the television in either format as well as being able to.

Samsung DVD-VR300 Recorder

Samsung DVD-VR300 Recorder

Product Description
records to DVD-RAM, and DVD-R & DVD-RW * plays DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-R & DVD-RW, and Video CD * plays CD, CD-R & CD-RW, and MP3-encoded CD-R & CD-RW * plays digital photo CDs (JPEG) * 54MHz/10-bit video D/A converter * selectable component video output (progressive scan for HD-compatible TVs, or interlaced for regular TVs) * optical and coaxial digital outputs for Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM * 3 sets of A/V inputs (composite & S-video) for VCR/DVD-R * 1 set of A/V outputs for DVD/VCR (composite, S-video and 480i/480p component video) * front-panel IEEE 1394 DV input (for use with a digital camcorder) * designed to play "Region 1" pre-recorded DVDs

Test report

Very nice!, April 4, 2005 Reviewer: J. McNew (Annapolis, MD) - this unit so that I could save stuff from my TiVo and copy some old VHS tapes to DVD. So far, so good! I have made about 20 DVD recordings. The only problem I ran into was when I was trying to copy a movie from VHS to DVD (this movie is not available on DVD yet) and it wouldn't let me copy it because it is copyrighted. I really wanted to make a DVD of it, since it is no longer available.

Another nice thing is the DV input on the front. I have a Canon mini-DV camcorder and was able to easily transfer video directly from the camera to DVD. There is also a full set of AV inputs on the front. Very nice for temporarily hooking up an older camcorder or (gasp!) a Beta VCR! Yes, I have LOTS of Beta tapes that I plan on converting to DVD.

The menus are a lot more user-friendly than the DVD recorder my parents have. I didn't really have to read the manual... but it is worth reading. There are some neat features: Pressing REC once starts recording, pressing it again starts a record timer... adding 30 minutes each time you press REC. That's a nice function for unattended recording. Also, most of the functions are easily accessable by remote without going into menus... including recording speed (quality) and one-touch dubbing from DVD-VHS or VHS-DVD. Another nuce touch is the clock. Most DVD players do not have a clock on the display, but this one does (it needs to know the time for timer recording).

Also, my television is a Samsung. The remote will control the TV as well (and other brands). There is even a dedicated TV Power button. Very nice for reducing the number of remotes needed to power everything up/down.

All of the DVD-Rs I use are Verbatim brand, and I have had no problems with them at all.




Save yourself the frustration and buy a different brand, February 6, 2005 Reviewer: Alan Hummel (Levittown, PA United States) - I actually have an earlier model Samsung DVD player, and it, along with other Samsung models at the time, had a horrible skipping problem on many DVDs. Samsung's support was almost non-existant -- I found out there was a firmware upgrade for the player, but not through their website (where I couldn't find any help whatsoever), but through a friend with the same problem. HOWEVER, the firmware upgrade did not resolve the problem, and the last I heard, there was a class action suit filed here in Pennsylvania (which I received an invitiation to be a part of, but could not participate in, I think because I no longer had the receipt). Considering their lackluster customer support, I would advise anyone against buying any DVD player from this company. Players are much cheaper nowadays anyway, and you can get an excellent Sony or Toshiba for a modest price.




Very touchy machine, January 13, 2005 Reviewer: book reader (New Orleans) - I was able to play only one of five DVDs I made on this machine. When recording from an attached video camera, everything looked fine, picture appeared on TV going through the DVD/VCR, Record light is nicely lit, after finishing the DVD it played well on the Samsung. But when trying to play back either on my Sony Vaio or my Apple iMac, all I get is a soundless black picture. When I recorded on DVD-RW from a videotape inserted in the VCR, I could play the result on my Sony. But the next tape I recorded only caused Microsoft to keep asking me to send an error report when I tried to play it on my Sony. My Apple refused to recognize it as a DVD. Unpredictably incompatible. When I called the Samsung helpdesk they told me to call the computer manufacturer. I guess I would have to call both Sony and Apple then? Crutchfield was the seller for this product and they actually have a very helpful helpdesk -by the name of Darren- According to him I should try a different brand DVD disc. I tried Memorex instead of the Office Depot and found that this brand of disc solved the problem. Question for Samsung: Why don't you have this on your troubleshooting page in the manual? Why does the dealer know this, but you don't?



Happy Buyer, October 16, 2004
Test Report
PB "Happy Buyer" (New York City) - I had previously purchased a Samsung VCR/DVD player and was really impressed with the quality. In fact the VCR player is so good that it plays old VHS tapes that had gotten to where I could no longer watch them using my other VCR players. I have been wanting a DVD recorder to convert my large video collection to DVDs and have bought and returned several DVD Recorders because they turned out to be absolute junk. When Samsung came out with their own combo recorder I took a chance and so far so good. The minute I opened the box and discovered a large-print pictoral quick guide for setting up the recorder I knew I had struck gold. Two hours after setting up I have already converted one VHS tape to DVD. You get what you pay for!




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