Sony VRDMC3 DVDirect DVD Recorder
by Sony
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List Price: Our Price: $153.28 You Save: $96.71 (39%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony VRDMC3 DVDirect DVD Recorder
Customer Review: Note to Sony: This Is BALONEY!
Summary: 1 Stars
If you want to understand how Sony lost its vaunted reputation and leadership role in consumer electronics, look no further than the VRDMC3. It's a smartly packaged great idea that has been ruined by poor quality execution that will waste your money and MANY hours of your time, as well.
But first, some background: as a professional television network exec, I'm actually more forgiving than the average consumer when it comes to understanding the still imperfect process of burning DVDs. Even from pro production companies, I receive burned DVDs that either will not play or have problems when playing. So when I ordered the VRDMC3, I wasn't expecting perfect performance, especially at the price. If it worked as advertised 80-90% of the time, I would have been happy. However, the success rate I've had with it thus far is more like 33%. Two-thirds of the time, it will begin the recording process, continue anywhere from 30 to just near completion at 60 minutes, and then abruptly quit with a "Failed to Record" message. All you can do is toss the disc and start all over again. It has turned the process of using this machine into one of dread--everytime you load a new disc, you wonder if this time it will make it through.
This is not a compatibility issue--I have all Sony equipment and have been using Sony DVD blanks. It quits when dubbing from my Hi 8 camcorder as well as my mini-DV camcorder. It quits regardless of whether the connection is component video, S-video or Firewire, and it quits no matter if the blank is a +R, -R, etc.
The one positive about the VRDMC3 is that when it does work, it actually does so quite well. In fact, the video quality of a recorded DVD actually exceeded my expectations. If this deck worked consistently, I'd be giving it four or five stars, which it would deserve given the modest price for the functionality offered.
But no product can be excused when it fails to perform most of the time. And many other reviews here (and elsewhere) report a high rate of failure. Sony should be ashamed for selling a product to consumers that was clearly not ready for the market. So save yourself both money and angst and steer clear of the VRDMC3.
Customer Review: Not User Friendly to Camcorders other than Sony
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this recorder to use in conjunction with the Canon HV20 High Def camcorder I had on pre-release order. When I received the Canon HV20 a couple of weeks ago, I was excited about the possibility of transferring high definition shots from the Canon to DVD via the Sony VRDMC3. I realized from the Sony advertisements that the transfer to DVD would not be in high def, and I understood that fact. After many frustrating hours, I can state with authority that there is no possible way to transfer high definition footage from the Canon HV20 to the Sony VRDMC3. Before purchasing these 2 items, I read all the available reviews, and even in hindsight, I think the Sony write-ups are misleading--although I notice in some of their recent posts that they mention using the VRDMC3 WITH a variety of Sony camcorders. I tried the VRDMC3 with my Sony VX1000 (low def, but 3 CCD camcorder). The VRDMC3 made the transfer but not easily. My advice is that if you wish to transfer high def material to DVD (in low def) using the VRDMC3, buy one of the recommended Sony camcorders. The Sony VRDMC3 only receives high def through its USB port, but the Canon HV20 transmits high def through a firewire port. I wrote to Canon tech support, describing my inability to have the 2 machines work together. Canon tech support wrote me a long, specific email, basically saying that there was "no way" because of the difference described above. At the same time (3 days ago), I wrote Sony tech support asking them for assistance and have received no answer whatever. I am an avid Sony user with 3 Sony vidcams, a Sony digital camera, a Sony Q Reader, a subscriber to Sony Connect, holder of a Sony credit card. And, Sony doesn't have the courtesy to even answer me and tell me about the incompatibility problem. I also burned a slide show using the VRDMC3 with very high quality images shot in JPEG/Large/Fine quality with a Nikon D200 camera. The quality the VRDMC3 produces is so terrible that I wouldn't let any of my friends see the slide show. Am I disappointed? You bet!Customer Review: Sony DVDirect VRD-MC3 functions poorly
Summary: 1 Stars
I was excited to get the Sony VRD-MC3 for Christmas. That excitement is completely gone as I have spent countless hours of my Christmas vacation just trying to get it to do one very simple thing -- transfer camcorder videos to DVD.
I have a Sony Digital 8 camcorder and 35 tapes created on that camcorder over the past five years.
In 8 attempts to create DVDs I have succeeded 1 time.
The first problem is DVD disc formatting. The VRD-MC3 displays "Failed to format. Remove the disc" on about 3 of every 4 tries. I have tried 3 different DVD+R disc brands (including Sony) and there is no difference in the success rate.
I have had the same disc fail to format 2 or 3 times and then format correctly on the next try. (These discs are all straight out of the packaging and there are no smudges or incorrect disc handling going on).
Once the VRD-MC3 correctly formats a disc, the next problem arises anywhere from 20-45 minutes into the actual camcorder-to-DVD transfer -- "Failed to record. Remove the disc." I've received this message on 7 out of 8 attempts. Note, I have tried using 4 different camcorder tapes just to make sure it isn't the source tapes causing the issue.
For a device that is supposed to work so easily this is going back to Santa's workshop for a refund.
Oh, my mistake, I just looked at the gift tag and it is from Satan not Santa. That explains it.
Customer Review: Review of Sony VRD-MC3 DVD Recorder
Summary: 1 Stars
After having a second unit shipped to me by Amazon, I had to ship this unit to Sony Tech Repair to have the software updated so it will operate correctly with my Sony DCR-PC100 camcorder without the MC3 'losing signal' partway through a DVD transfer recording from my camera when using the DV (Firewire) cable, as did the first unit which I sent back to Amazon.
It is only through the DV interface that the MC3 can recognize that my camera recording is in wide screen mode (16x9) and give me a wide screen DVD recording, which is why I purchased the MC3 in the first place.
I am still awaiting the MC3 to be sent back to me from Sony after reprogramming it for my camera, and I hope it works this time. If the MC3 allows me to copy from the miniDV tape in the camera to a DVD in widescreen mode, as it is recorded on the camera tape, then I would rate this unit much higher- say a 5.
Customer Review: The one and only...
Summary: 1 Stars
Since i can't give it less than a single star...if this was a letter grade i'd give it an F minus!!!
Right now i'm in my SEVENTH hour trying to record my cousin's wedding video for his widow, one of the only moving image recordings she has of him...so you can understand why she's reluctant to give it out to one of the photo stores in the neighbourhood.
RIGHT NOW the PAUSE light is on although the RECORDING time meter is still running, and when i tried to view it on my computer on previous recordings i got no picture, although when i went to Roxio there was 4.4 gigs on the disc!
Of course, when you go to the Sony site it's IMPOSSIBLE to get any tech support, and i can't blame it all on the Vista since it doesn't play on the regular DVD player...so it looks like Sony is no longer the premier name in electronics:(