Toshiba DVD/VHS Recorder (DVR620) No Tuner (Discontinued 2009 Model)

The delivery took longer than I would have liked; however, it did arrive within the time window. I purchased this item for one reason ONLY: to convert old VHS tapes to DVD. I have no knowledge of other uses of the machine. I previously paid almost the price of the Toshiba DVR620 to have 15 VHS tapes “professionally” copied, plus I had to wait for over a month for my tapes/dvds to be returned. My TV monitor is connected to the Toshiba by HDMI, so no time spent sorting and connecting RCA cables. Thanks to reviewer “G.B. Packert” I hardly looked at the owner’s manual yet I was set up and copying DVDs within 30 minutes. I have now copied dozens of tapes with no problems. The only downside is that transfer from VHS to DVD is done in “real time”. This is not a big problem since I get to watch my old tapes while I copy them to DVD and there are some I have not seen in years (decades), so it’s not too tiresome to wait and watch during the transfer. Some reviewers commented that the remote was required to eject the tape/dvds – this is not the case. There is a hinged front cover that will open to reveal most all functions that are found on the remote. I leave the front cover down all the time on mine. Because “BG Packert” did not completely idiot proof his/her steps I have clarified/modified and added to those steps in order to make the VHS to DVD process a little clearer (at least for a non-techie like me). My changes are spelled out below (and I liberally quote directly from BGP’s review throughout my comments). 1. Because old videotapes may not track well when they have been unused for several years, fast forward to the end of the tape and rewind the tape before copying it. The recorder may refuse to copy a tape if it does not track well. 2. Eject the videotape. Apparently Toshiba DVRs (both the 610 and 620) can balk if the videotape is inserted before the DVD. 3. Push the DVD button and insert the blank DVD. Allow blank DVD to load. a. By-the-way “Verbatim DVD-R” disc’s work fine for making copy to DVD. 4. Press Record Mode (not Record) button (on the remote) and set the speed (typically use: “SP”). The monitor will go blank after selection is made; or, if you press “Enter” on the remote. 5. Press the “Setup” button (on the remote) and select “General Settings” then “Recording” (on the monitor). 6. From the “Recording” menu (on the monitor): select “Dubbing Mode”; a. Then Select: “VCR > DVD”. 7. To get out of the “Recording” menu, press “Set-Up” button again. (Monitor goes to blank blue screen.) 8. Press the VCR button and insert the videotape. 9. On the remote, press “Play” and then “Pause” (not Stop) at the point slightly before you wish to start copying. Press the “Dubbing” button to begin the process. 10. When you want to stop dubbing, press “Stop” on the remote. (Allow “Writing to disk” process to finish. You can then insert another videotape to dub onto the same DVD, until the DVD is full.) If you replace the VHS tape: press “Dubbing” to begin copying again on the same DVD. 11. To add titles onto the DVD disk: Using the “Top Menu” button (on the remote) select the part (Chapter) of the new DVD you wish to title then press “Enter”. a. Then (using the monitor) select Edit to create your Title. (Refer to pp 76-77 in the Owners Guide for how to use the remote to create titles.) b. After naming the Title press “Enter” and then select “yes” c. Press “Return” button on remote, 2-3 times until blue screen appears. (Allow “Writing to disk” process to finish.) 12. “Finalize” the DVD (after adding titles): Press the “Setup” button (on the remote), then select “DVD Menu” and then “Finalize” on the monitor. (Finalizing may take a few minutes). This step is not required but failure to follow it may result in your new DVD being unable to play on another machine. Also using a DVD-RW disc may allow you change titles after it’s finalized. When finished with the “12 Steps” you are good to go… unless, you want/need additional copies. If so, you will need a program to copy DVD to DVD (unless you want to re-copy your VHS tape again). To do copies: I bought “easy CD & DVD burning” by Roxio. While available from Amazon I did not buy from Amazon, because I needed it immediately. The program is simple and easy to use for a novice, such as myself. Overall I was very pleased with Roxio’s “easy CD & DVD” except for one thing: If you want to copy a single “title/chapter” that you’ve created (and not the entire DVD) Roxio will copy without sound (!). You will get a message that “AC3 codec” is not supported. Roxio’s tech support will tell you to buy “Creator Nxt 3”; but reviews on Amazon (for that product) convinced me not to waste the money. Actually, if you intend to copy the entire new DVD (not just selected titles/chapters) “easy CD & DVD” works perfectly. In my case, when I only wanted one “chapter/title” (with sound) and not the entire DVD I recopied just that portion of the VHS tape (again) to DVD. No problem, just took more time. I also found that it takes approximately 3 hours to play, convert, title and copy each standard SP (2 hours recording) VHS tape. My old VHS tapes were already well labeled with subject and time markers. If your tapes are not already labeled you will need additional time to locate the places at which you want add your title/chapters (step 11 above). Alternatively, you can let the machine set chapter marks at a specified time interval (5, 10 minutes, etc.). SUMMARY: For what I bought this for (converting VHS tape to DVD) the Toshiba DVR620 DVD/VHS Recorder works perfectly.

Toshiba-DVR620-DVD-Recorder I have had the Toshiba-DVR620NU-DVD-Recorder for over 4 years (Amazon). I use it to transfer recorded DVR programs (from Dish) either to a VCR tape or a DVD also from a VCR tape to a DVD. It works fine. I assume that you have connected it up so that programs go thru the recorder and to your TV. I buy my DVD's in bulk at Amazon (Verbatim 4.7 GB Recordable Disc DVD-R 100-Disc Spindle 95102) and sleeves in bulk at Amazon (Americopy 100 Paper CD Sleeves with Window & Flap). You can also buy new VCR tapes at Amazon (Maxell 214150 T120GX/8PK VHS Cassette Standard Grade T-120). I have recorded hundreds of DVD's as shown below. First you must set the Clock. See Pg 26 for instructions. To Timer Record: 1. I use SLP mode (lowest quality - but good enough) so a standard VCR tape is 6 hrs and a standard DVD 8 plus hours. See Pg 34 for other recording modes. 2. Find the program on your DVR and fast forward thru it to note elapsed time. Play it until it begins. PAUSE. 3. Insert blank DVD disc and wait to load (shows on screen) or blank VCR tape. 4. Press SETUP. Then down arrow to TIMER PROGRAMMING, and ENTER. 5. NEW PROGRAM appears - ENTER. Right arrow (and use up/down arrow) to show start. and end times (add 3 min for 1 hr program to be sure to get the end). Continue to REC TO. 6. Select DVD for DVR to DVD or Down arrow and select VCR for DVR to VCR. 7. Right arrow to mode and select SLP. 8. Press TIMER SET and on the DVR remote press PLAY. The program should start on the TV and the Recorder should show the two recording red lights and counter moving. If the recorder shuts down and you get only one red light and no counter movement, then you goofed (probably chose VCR instead of DVD or vice versa). Go to OTHER PROBLEMS below. One Touch Recording: 1. If you want, you can record while you are watching a program and either pause or stop it whenever you want. 2. Place either a VCR tape or a DVD into the recorder. If DVD, let it load. 3. Press REC MODE. If DVD, all are available - If VCR then either SLR or SP. 4. Start program and press the red REC button. You should see a red light on the recorder and the counter going. You can PAUSE to eliminate commercials and then press PAUSE to continue. 5. When finished, press the STOP button. To Transfer from VCR tape to DVD: (in Instruction booklet called DUBBING : pg 50-left side 51) 1. Insert VCR tape and then blank DVD. Wait for it to load. 2. Press REC MODE button and choose SLP. 2. Press SETUP, and choose GENERAL SETTING & ENTER, and down arrow to RECORDING & ENTER. 3. Down arrow to DUBBING Mode & ENTER. Now choose VCR to DVD & ENTER. Press SETUP to exit. 4. Press orange VCR button & PLAY and PAUSE at beginning of VCR recording. 5. Press DUBBING button. The VCR tape should start on TV and Recorder should show the two recording red lights. You can Skip step 7 because you did this in step 2. Step 7 does work if you are careful. I note the VCR recording time and turn on the TV at that time to see if recording correctly - I then STOP the process when the program is finished. If you don't do this, then the Dubbing may continue until the DVD is full (8+ hrs). If you are dubbing something shorter than 6 hrs, then you will want to use higher quality REC MODE ( up to 60 min. - XP, 61-119 - SP, etc) OTHER PROBLEMS: If you press the wrong key in above (like timer set instead of dubbing or vice versa), or if your DVD disc is defective, or something else goes wrong, the Recorder will stop and may jam. The recorder turns off, counter inoperative, one red light on recorder box. Normally you can stop recording by pressing the STOP button. On the TV screen it will ask you if you want to end the recording. Choose YES. Then press SET UP and go to TIMER RECORDING and delete the old program and try again. If however when you press SETUP and nothing happens and/or you are unable to eject your tape or DVD, then the recorder is jammed. The solution is as follows: 1. Unplug the electricity to your DVD/VCR recorder. 2. Wait at least 10 minutes. 3. Plug the Recorder in again. Now it is reset and you should be able to eject the tape or DVD after turning the recorder on. Set Clock (pg 26). 4. Try recording again - but if you get the dreaded single red light and the unit closes down, then press TIMER SET button again quickly. This usually will get it back to normal. You may have to go back and delete the old program, but a new timer program should now work. Finally, do not forget to finalize all DVD's that you are done with - see Pg 32.

I tried various other devices for years without success. This one is simple to use and does exactly what you want. Unlike other options, this one gives you a chance to get as good quality as the original video in terms of resolution. I've saved the many old videos that I had only on videocassette by recording them to DVD. Excellent!

Just received it last week. I am transferring old home videos to DVD. With this machine it is so easy to do and I can watch regular TV at the same time. The quality of the copies is very good. My only complaint is that I paid too much for it. Over $1300.00 dollars and when I looked it up again on Amazon, it was almost $200.00 cheaper!

I am very happy with this purchase. The VHS and DVD player both work good and there is an HDMI connection on the unit which works wonderful with my TV and receiver. I can run HDMI to my TV and then my fibre optic cable from my TV to my receiver. The music quality is perfect. I am getting full output from my Denon receiver.

LE PRODUIT COMMANDÉ ÉTAIT USAGÉ ET DÉFECTUEUX. JE VOUS L'AI RETOURNÉ. ET ON REFUSE DE ME REMBOURSER. IL N'Y A PAS EU D'AUTRE COMMANDE ORIGINALE.

Good. Works OK after 1 year.