If you see a VCR now a day, it generates curiosity and it is also possible that it will take time to understand the functionality. More so because the VCR's are now almost obsolete and are replaced by the high-end DVD players and recorders. A DVD recorder is an electronic device that contains an optical disc recorder, which records the data or a video onto blank writable DVD disk. The DVD recorders are available as either installable drives for computers or as standalone components for use in studios or home theater systems. If you are using your VCR for quite a time now, the DVD recorder will offer you more advantages over a conventional VCR system. Though the rivalry is debatable, it is very much about a host of added features that will make the DVD recorder win the race. Some of the basic advantages of the DVD recorders compared to the VCR are as follows.

?With help of the DVD recorder you will experience superior video and audio quality, that is not offered by the conventional VCR
?Compared to the video tape, the DVD is an easy to handle and smaller in size and can contain more data as well in the form of increased recording time.
?It allows random access to video chapters or files without rewinding or fast-forwarding
?Another great feature us the onscreen multilingual subtitles and labeling that is not available on VCRs
?The quality of the media and the optical reader reduces playback wear and tear
?It also allows high-quality digital copying, with little or no generation loss
?It features improved editing, at least on rewritable media
?You can have the playlisting done with your DVD recorder
?It eliminates the risk of accidentally recording over existing content or unexpectedly running out of space during recording
?Easy to find recordings due to chapter menus

This features greatly increase the popularity of a DVD recorder and it is rightly received by the market leaders as well as they offer a wide array of DVD recorders. Some of the leading manufacturers of the DVD recorders are Sony, Panasonic, JVC, Phillips etc. They offer the DVD recorders with some great features, which makes the experience of using them even more delightful. A number of manufacturers have gone further and have combined DVD recorders with hard disc-based digital video recorders, allowing for simple recording to large fixed disks, and the ability to spool these recordings off the DVD at a later date.

A good DVD recorders can record analog TV via over-the-air broadcasts, cable, or satellite, standard definition digital television (SDTV), same quality as DVD-Video (480i), analog camcorder video (8mm, Hi-8, VHS, and VHS-C formats), digital camcorder video (miniDV and Digital-8 formats). It is a better idea to read the reviews and compare the DVD recorders on features, price and up gradations. Read the reviews carefully before rushing to buy it.