Jesse Skeen

DVD recorders that output DTV audio in 5.1?

First off, let me make it clear that I know there aren't any DVD recorders that will record digital TV in 5.1, they all downmix it to 2-channel. However, I know that the Panasonic recorders at least will output it as 5.1 when you're watching it live, which is all I would really need a built-in tuner for. I don't have an HDTV yet, and the external DTV tuners that are out now cost too much, so since I have to replace my dead DVD recorder I thought that having one with a DTV tuner would be a nice bonus. I just got the Polaroid recorder which has one, but it outputs it as 2-channel PCM. I can't buy a Panasonic because it won't let you chapter discs (see my post in the DVD recorders section), so I'll need another brand.

Hope I'm not cheating by asking this question twice, but I need to find the answer!

Home video oddities, old commercials and other junk: http://www.youtube.com/user/eyeh8cbs

Ed Moxley

Re: DVD recorders that output DTV audio in 5.1?

I guess you're not using a sat or cable box?
As far as I know, the only OTA channels that will broadcast in 5.1 are HD channels, and their numbers are something like ch. 7.2 or ch. 5.3, etc.
If your tv isn't HD, and you get an external HD receiver, won't you just hear the channel and not see it? If it down mixes the video for a regular tv, won't it down mix the audio as well?

Even with sat or cable, the only channels that broadcast in 5.1, other than HD channels, are some of the premium channels (HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.), and possibly a couple of PPV channels.

My friend has a Panasonic recorder, and he can chapter the discs at every 5 minutes. I think he has other choices for setting times between chapter breaks too. His has a hard drive, which may be the difference.

Jesse Skeen

Re: DVD recorders that output DTV audio in 5.1?

No, I don't believe in paying for TV. The tuners in DVD recorders can tune in HD channels, but they downconvert the picture to standard TV resolution. Supposedly when the analog stations go off the air, there will be more digital tuners available separately that will also do this. The ones that are out right now are too expensive but most DVD recorders with them don't cost a lot more than ones that don't have them. While none of the DVD recorders will record the audio to disc in 5.1, some of them will pass the 5.1 signal to the receiver when you're watching it live but some like the one I got will put it out in 2-channel PCM.

The stations seem to handle audio in 2 different ways- at my friend's house one channel had the audio switch to Dolby Digital 2-channel during shows that weren't in 5.1, then it would flag to 5.1 when a show that used it came on. Another station has the 5.1 signal on all the time, but if they're running something that doesn't use it the sound is just in the front left and right channels.

There's really nothing on that I'd want to watch anyway (I've been checking out the DTV reception here and can't believe the crap that's on most of the stations) but thought it would just be a nice thing to have since I need a new DVD recorder anyways. I have an indoor antenna and some of the analog stations don't come in very well, but with digital there's no snow or noise- either the signal's there perfectly or it isn't. A couple weaker channels look like damaged DVDs, the picture comes in but occasionally freezes or breaks up.

Home video oddities, old commercials and other junk: http://www.youtube.com/user/eyeh8cbs