Digital Dj'ing - Utilizing a Laptop or PC in your Mobile Disco

Many Mobile Discos have made the change from a conventional CD or Vinyl based system to a software based one, usually running on either a full sized pc or a laptop. The fundamentals of both systems are largely the same, and so you shouldn't simply be taken in by reading other DJs horror stories about how their laptop overheated during the first dance at a Wedding or how their full sized PCs power supply exploded halfway through a gig. There are pros and cons of using both systems, but largely whether to use a full size pc or a laptop comes down to personal choice, practicality, budget and space, and you'll often find that DJ's criticising the opposite machine, have never actually used the system that they are criticising!. If possible visit a DJ who already uses a system to that which you intend to use yourself, nothing can sell an idea better than actually seeing it in use!, for the record, I have watched Mobile DJ's use both PC's and Laptops to DJ from, and neither, in my opinion, was more reliable or better than the other, so it should only be personal choice, rather than rumour or scaremongering which makes the decision on that score!.

Is running a Mobile Disco from a PC or Laptop reliable?

Anybody who has ever encountered the windows blue screen of death, or worn out the Ctrl+alt+del keys on their keyboard will possibly dread the thought of using such a system as a platform to their DJ'ing!. In essence, a decent dedicated pc or laptop with a clean install, good quality hard drive and a reasonable amount of memory will out preform most typical home pc set ups which may be running several applications at a time, be infiltrated with virus or spyware traces, and have a hard drive and registry full of corrupt enteries and partly uninstalled files.

The key to running a successful software based DJ system, is to buy a dedicated pc / laptop for the task, and to only run the operating system and DJ Software on there, and never allow it to run other applications or even connect to the internet. This way the installation runs and remains clean and largely error free, will rarely have a corrupt file, and won't get infiltrated or bogged down with several other applications. This advice is given by DJ's who have been using software and PC's for many years, and have found this method of DJ'ing to be just as reliable as conventional DJ'ing from CD's.

The advantages of using a Laptop or Pc to DJ

The advantages of converting your material to music files and using a Pc or Laptop to DJ from are many. The first is the most obvious, gone are the days where you are carrying several heavy boxes of CD's around with you, most DJ's CD collections can easily be converted to MP3 and will fit onto a 80gb - 200gb hard drive!. By converting to Software Dj'ing you also rid yourself of that long search through several hundred CD compilations in order to find that elusive requested track that you just know that you have got somewhere!. With most DJ Software, you can type in part or all of the artistes name or song title and find it within seconds!. It really is possible to find and cue up a request within 5 seconds - something which just can't be done easily or quickly with a CD or vinyl collection.

Other advantages of a software based DJ system, include the possibility to create playlists from frequently used tracks, and you could create playlists from all genres, for example a playlist for background music, one for dance music, one for the 70s and one for the end of the night slowies. Of course you can also group the tracks together and catalog them according to Genre which also makes finding tracks from particular era's easier too. Some DJ Software will also allow you to group tracks together which have a similar BPM - a boon for DJ's who mix.

Which DJ Software should I choose?

There are many different brands and types of DJ Software about, again it comes down to personal preference which type you choose. It is always a very good idea to check out reviews and discussions on DJ Forums and if possible to find a DJ who uses a system based on the software which is of interest to you, so you can actually see it in action, in a disco environment.

Some DJ Software comes with a free trial, which enables you to download and install the software on your system and try it for for free for a time limited period (usually 10 - 30 days). Depending on the cost of the software, there can be differing features. Some Dj Software will simply allow you to cue up and play music using 2 "players", others will have more comprehensive features, such as being able to fade between tracks, alter the pitch and tempo controls in a similar manner to conventional CD and Vinyl turntables, some of the more expensive software will even allow you to mix, or add a USB controller which looks and functions like a twin cd controller!, some Software will even mix the tracks for you!.

Remember that a feature is only worthwhile if you have a use for it!. Carefully consider what features you need, and which will be the ones that you will have any use for. It would be pointless buying a Dj Software package which allows you to mix, if you are a mobile dj who rarely has the requirement to beat mix. Most Software in its basic form, also comes with the option to add and install plug ins which give you additional updates and features, so its worth starting with the basic packages and then adding new features if and when you require them!.

My advice at this stage, if you are new to, or considering Software Dj'ing is to download the free trials of the various software which is available, try them for the time limited period, and then buy the one which suits you, and which is the most comfortable to use.

Some dj software titles which are currently popular and well reviewed by Mobile DJ's include OTSDJ, DSSDJ and PCDJ

What type of PC do I need to run my DJ Software package

When you have decided on a software package, it is then time to consider what pc or laptop to use it on. Contrary to rumour, you don't need the latest brand new pc or laptop to successfully run DJ Software from, and neither do you need a huge CPU processor. Most DJ Software will happily run on a pentium 3 processor with 600mhz speed or higher, many of the newer 1.2ghz+ celerons will also flawlessly run DJ software with no problems and without breaking into a sweat. Try and buy as much memory as you can afford, ideally 512mb of memory or a minimum of 256mb for most applications.

How big should I be :o)

A decent sized hard drive is the next consideration. Remember the bigger the hard drive the more individual tracks that you can fit on there. An average music file ripped at 192kbps is around 5mb in size and so a 100gb hard drive should fit around 20,000 tracks on there. However if you increase the quality of the track in MP3 format, then the file size rises also, so a 320kpbs mp3 could be as large as 11mb in size and so the same 100gb capacity would be reduced to holding only around 9000 tracks. Don't forget to factor in space for your operating software, drivers and DJ software when working out hard drive capacity!. You can of course expand your hard drive capacity by fitting external hard drives to USB ports, and these are also reliable. If possible try and use a system which runs USB2.0 or even firewire since these run at faster data speeds than conventional USB1.1 although many Dj's report no issues with hard drives and soundcards run from older 1.1 systems.

Give me Sound!

Using a good quality soundcard is a must!, many laptops and motherboard based sound chips on full sized pc's rarely do justice to sound quality or are designed with full time high quality audio playback in mind. Consider installing a pci sound card in your pc, or investing in a good quality USB external soundcard if you opt to use a laptop. Most 2 channel soundcards will suffice for DJ'ing in most mobile applications, where the audio is mixed between the players on the laptop and the single output is then fed through a pair of "L" and "R" connectors on the soundcard, and then into the mixer or amplifier.

However, if more creativity is required, or the software is to be used for mixing applications or the use of a crossfader between channels on a conventional mixer is likely to be utilised, then you need to buy a 5 channel soundcard. This allows the soundcard to be set up, in a manner which allows one pair of "L" and "R" outputs to be used for "Player 1" on the soundcard and fed into an individual channel on the mixer, and the same for "Player 2" - this allows each software player to have its own fader on the mixer - just like a conventional twin cd player.

What Quality?

Some Dj Software packages come complete with the means to "Rip" a cd. "Ripping" means placing the original Cd into the PC's CDROM and the process of converting the original music on the CD to MP3 Data, which is then stored on the hard drive as an MP3 File. In the case of OTSDJ, the option is also there to convert to a file called OTS, this is a custom files regonised only by the OTSDJ software, however it sounds just as good as MP3 and is also a slightly smaller file size, meaning that more OTS files can be stored on a hard drive when compared to conventional MP3 files.

If you use a DJ software package which does use conventional MP3 files, then you will need to select the quality at which to "rip". This figure is measured in "Kbps" and often ranges from 32kbps and 320kbps. Lower ranges are not recommended for professional use over a PA system since they can sound dull and even distorted. Ideally for professional use, the DJ should be looking at ripping their CD's to Mp3 files at 192kbps or greater.

192kbps is considered reasonable quality, however 320kbps is near cd quality and may be preferred by some Dj's - however on smaller audio systems the difference may be hard to detect. As the quality is increased, so does the file size, and a 320kbps file may be several mb larger than its 192kbps counterpart, it may also take longer to rip an entire CD at 320kbps than at lower rates.

For Dj Software which doesn't have ripping capability, Musicmatch Jukebox may prove to be an alternative for this process,

Are there any disadvantages to being a Digital DJ?

Now the disadvantages!. Obviously the initial cost of buying a PC / Laptop, a good quality soundcard, large hard drive and the Dj Software itself is likely to total far more than buying a conventional CD Player or turntables. It also takes time to "rip" your cd collection to Mp3 and store them on your hard drive. In some jurisdictions it is also illegal to convert original material to MP3 format for digital use without a licence, and this can prove to be expensive, if the Dj is to work on the right side of the law. It is the possible licence requirement that we discuss next.

Do I need a licence to play music from a laptop?

At the time of writing this article, an annual licence is required in Canada and the UK in order to use a PC or laptop to DJ from. In the UK, a further licence and possible royalty payment is also required for the conversion process. Although no fees have yet been advertised (April 2006) these controversial laws are likely to make this form of DJ'ing unattractive when compared to more conventional, and "licence free" alternatives.

Finally, my tips for Software Djing

* Always buy and use a dedicated pc / laptop purely for Dj use, do not be tempted to use the family pc or run other applications on the machine you use to DJ from, and do not allow this machine to connect to the internet. On a pre-used machine, also start from scratch with a format and fresh install of the operating system.

* Use a good quality soundcard, even if you need to upgrade or buy an external USB one

* Always rip the music direct from an original CD at 192kbps quality or higher. 320kbps is advised for higher quality pa systems and is near cd quality. 192kbps is okay for smaller systems used by the Mobile DJ.

* Don't be too concerned about buying the latest top of the range PC to run from. Most Dj Software will happily run from basic P3 600mhz machines, but do check out the minimum requirements on the software authors website.

* Read reviews on the various software packages available. Stick to the features that you will use, since you can always upgrade extras later. Take advantage of the free trials of DJ Software which are available and use the time to find the best software to suit you

* If you choose a full sized PC make sure that it is professionally flightcased - pc's are not designed to be carried around.

* Select a high capacity 100gb - 200gb hard drive from a reputable manufacturer. Where practical and legal always back up your data

* Fit your machine with at least 256mb of memory, and ideally 512mb.

* Check out the legal aspect of converting original music to MP3 and whether a licence is required to operate such a system.

Recording Products - Presenting the very best Recorder Yet - The Digital recording device

It's not necessary to wreck havoc on cassettes any longer. The long run is here now, which gadget may be used by absolutely anybody. The gadget may be the Digital recording device, or Digital Voice Recorder. It's the easiest kind of recorder, but offers a lot of features and functions you will be surprised about you skill.

Probably the most fundamental recording products available on the market record directly onto MP3 format. The files may then be left to your computer with the aid of an easy connector. DVR's are voice triggered, so it's not necessary to waste memory or go browsing with the silence later. Additionally they include lots of memory so it's not necessary to be worried about drained. Fraxel treatments is not just for recording voices. It is also accustomed to record video. It is the world's most flexible recorder.

The Best Way To Make Use Of The Digital recording device

Digital voice recorders prove useful frequently. Many individuals rely on them to record conferences, lectures, or other things they may desire a transcription of later. They are able to are also available in quite handy if this involves security alarm. A myriad of devices are entering the marketplace. Pens, watches, tissue boxes, lamps nearly anything could be outfitted with this particular technology. It's just like a spy movie arrived at existence.

DVR's can be quite helpful for fundamental security alarm set-ups. Since they're voice triggered, they may be left inside a proper place and can switch on when there's a noise. They'll record the time and date too, to ensure that you can observe exactly if this happened.

Digital recording device For Security Alarm

You can purchase Digital recording device sets which are designed particularly for home surveillance. They include cameras, a hard disk, energy supplies and cables. That's about that to possess your home perfectly guarded whatsoever occasions. It is a much easier set-up than the usual full-scale home security system, also it runs about 0. Some systems won't record, but allow you to see the footage later. Scalping strategies their very own Access to the internet so that you can synchronize all of them with your pc. They provide multi-channels, compression, and direct Compact disc or DVD burning.

Digital recording device can be used not just for security alarm, however for business security too. The versatility from the system causes it to be well suited for many uses. They can be used baby monitors, nanny monitors, keeping track of pets, watching somebody that is ill, or perhaps recording casual parties or any other occasions. This is exactly why it is so popular you can use it for nearly anything.

You can purchase Digital recording device gear at the local large supply yard, but you'll most likely convey more options in an electronics store. Plus, employees you will see more skillful by what items they provide. The Digital recording device is an excellent new technology that puts you as a whole control of your house security. Using its many features and quality, you are able to monitor everything. It's designed to be user-friendly to ensure that you can handle your house surveillance yourself. See what Digital recording device can perform for you personally.

M-Audio Audiophile 2496 MIDI Digital Recording Interface from M-Audio

In the present now everywhere you turn to is full of interested advertisement which includes on the internet. You can effortlessly locate everything you need for you and your house from the net. And M-Audio Audiophile 2496 MIDI Digital Recording Interface is among the most successful items on the net-marketing. It can be a good benefit for your house and oneself.

From our challenging operate and long encounter in this market and acquiring all data from our resident buyers about what they actually want for themselves and their property, We have to check to concentrate on the reality that to make our team of expert technician generate this superb product concept.

You may never know what You may get from the product which you purchased. We are confident that our M-Audio Audiophile 2496 MIDI Digital Recording Interface is your ideal option for you and your appreciate residence. From this moment on you might not been bothered making use of the challenging function any longer. Our M-Audio will be probably the most cautious technologies. And also combine basically probably the most intelligent program that is certainly certainly fairly easy to function. However, possibly probably the most durability is included. We had been establishing and generating this exceptional M-Audio Audiophile 2496 MIDI Digital Recording Interface for you and your home. Your dream living life style is just not out of reach anymore.

List Price : $129.99

You Save : Check Lower Price

  Check Offer listing

4 In-4 Out PCI Digital Recording Interface with MIDI / All-in-one HiFi soundcard for multitrack recording to home-theater

Feature

• The Audiophile 2496 PCI Audio Card from MIDIMAN provides wide range of applications for recording and playback, from stereo to home-theater
• 24-bit 96 kHz multitrack recording
• MIDI recording and playback
• Digital transfers and Digital mastering
• LP/cassette-to-CD transfers

Digital File Types for Audio Transcription

You will find a number of recording systems available, appropriate for dictation to conference recording. If you have an electronic recording mechanism, there's a strong possibility that it'll record a number of different file types for various reasons. This short article aims to go over these differing types and suggest the best for you, based on your conditions. If you're still thinking about which digital video recorder to buy then you've the chance to think about the file types it'll produce before you purchase.

If you don't understand what file types you're dealing with, you are able to tell by searching in the file extension. This is actually the group of three letters such as the following the us dot, as with, for instance, 'interview.wav'

The various file types have the ability to pros and cons for transcription services, probably the most apparent of that is a trade-off between quality and quality. Seem files can be quite, large if they're not compressed, but compression is 'lossy' quite simply an entire or 'lossless' audio file continues to be taken and compressed, which removes data that's considered redundant, leading to reduced audio quality, which could create problems for that transcriber.

It might initially appear apparent that both you and your transcriptionist want the highest quality however, many lossy formats possess a minimal quality loss but they are much more compact files. If you're planning to email files for transcription for your transcriptionist, the benefit of a 2MB file, instead of one 40MB in dimensions, ought to be apparent! No seem file associated with a length is small, but a minimum of you'll be able to email a 2MB apply for transcription. Most service companies won't allow a 50MB file through, and even when they did it might take hrs to download, obstructing both your email as well as your transcriptionist's. Increasingly more transcriptionists are utilizing a method which bypasses email you may either upload files straight to the website or send your files utilizing a simple file transfer programme. However, even these options have limits towards the file dimensions usually.

Additionally, it worth observing that with respect to the playback software getting used for transcription, your transcriptionist may have the ability to play certain file types. Some cover pretty much all digital file types while some tend to be more limited, so it's worth checking first.

The 'right' file type and characteristics for both you and your transcriptionist will even rely on what the objective of your recording is. If it's a dictation, a lesser seem quality will still give a obvious enough recording for any digital transcription.

If you're recording an emphasis group, for instance, where multiple people are sitting at different distances in the recorder and speaking at different levels and pitches, you'll most likely require a greater seem quality to support this.

Your recording equipment may permit you to set different characteristics for the similar file type. This could make a massive impact on the seem quality and size the file, and therefore the transcription quality. In some instances, for instance dictation (one individual speaking into machine, inside a quiet atmosphere) you are able to most likely manage to loose seem quality and also the recording it's still obvious for transcription. In some cases (focus groups, noisy conditions) you might find you have to select a slightly bigger quality to be able to maintain decent seem quality.

Characteristics are frequently proven as Hz. 8,000kHz mono is appropriate for dictation and also the range rises to 44,100kHz stereo system, the high quality, employed for music Compact disks.

Good examples of various file formats plus some particulars regarding their use within transcription follow:

WAVeform Audio (.wav)

WAVeform Audio (.wav) is a very common data format and was among the first audio file types produced for use using the PC. It's lossless, but generally large. Which means that you'll most likely have to send the files on the Compact disc, instead of contacting them, even though some transcriptionists, including myself, on my small site http://world wide web.penguin-transcription.co.united kingdom, possess a system whereby you are able to send large files online without needing email. You require a broadband connection, or similar, to use these effectively though.
Warning! Not every wav files are identical! Even though they all finish .wav, with respect to the recorder, both you and your transcriber may require a unique 'codec' to experience it back. A good example is Sanyo a well known and moderately listed recording system only one that records particularly Sanyo wav files. You can examine that the transcriptionist is able to transcribe Sanyo wavs. Otherwise, Sanyo may oblige by delivering the relevant codec on Compact disc, should you request them nicely!

The next types are lossy, but usually the seem quality change is minimal and you'll save significant money and time with reduced transfer occasions. This isn't an thorough listing of all audio file types you will find a wide array. It aims to pay for the majority of the types recorded by available transcription software.

MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (.mp3)

This can be a compressed WAV file frequently utilized in music. Many digital dictation recorders will even record mp3 or permit you to record WAV after which compress to mp3 to transmit on for transcription. The compressed files is going to be around a twelfth how big WAV files.

Home windows Media Audio (.wma)

Home windows Media Audio (.wma) was created for Home windows Media Player that is bundled up with all of Home windows-based Computers nowadays. It's much more compressed than an MP3, to around one thirty-sixth how big b .wav, but apparently retaining the initial seem quality. I must state that in my opinion of transcribing I don't know whether this happens to be the situation.

Digital Speech Standard (.dss)

In my opinion, most playback software employed for transcription will have .dss files. Otherwise, there's a totally free download on the Olympus site. In my opinion .dss was created by Olympus and just about all, although not all, Olympus recorders will record .dss files. Lanier and Grundig recorders also generally use .dss. The quality is reduced by twelve to twenty occasions, as in comparison to some WAV file, and is fantastic for transcription because it is small , simple to email.

DVF

This really is Sony's response to the .dss file. It's a very highly compressed file, but acceptable for voice, and it is small size causes it to be super easy to transmit by email.

Encoded dictation (.dct)

Frequently employed for medical transcription, which requires high discretion, these tracks are encoded in the recording finish and have to be decrypted on receipt through the transcriber. A multitude of playback software will cope with these files.

TrueSpeech from DSP Group

TrueSpeech, in the DSP group, was created for pcs and private communications products. It's high compression ratios varying from 15:1 to 27:1. If you can to record this format it's most likely best limited to use with dictation a treadmill-to-one interview inside a quiet atmosphere. It's most likely too lossy for focus groups etc.

You will find lots of other file types available so don't be concerned when the type that the machine produces isn't in the above list. Speak to your Veterans administration and s/he'll most likely have the ability to help you, or at best point you within the right direction.

Compact disc Audio file (.cda)

These files are standard tracks onto Compact disc, and tend to be the file kind of music files bought no Compact disc. When I comprehend it (much less well!) the CDA is really only a kind of cover file that states this can be a file on the Compact disc, and also the underlying file is most likely a wave file or among the other file types in the above list. Most transcription recorders won't record to CDA but when you're getting an expert recording made from a celebration or number of lectures, for instance, you might well end up with CDA files. Most transcription software won't use CDA format. You will find various ways to transform CDA files however these could be costly and/or time intensive. Transcriptionists specialising in digital transcription will most likely have the ability to transcribe these files however, you might be billed a surcharge for that time drawn in transforming these to a able to be used format. You will find a number of converters available, only one that I have tried personally effectively, which supplies a trial version, is simple Compact disc Ripper, a shareware having a completely functional trial version that are obtainable from various places including http://world wide web.tucows.com/preview/209478

You'll most likely only have a restricted selection of file types readily available for your transcription, based on your recording equipment, but any equipment should supply you with a selection of options based on your requirements. If you possess the chance it is usually smart to create a test recording using the configurations that you simply think is going to be right. Then listen to it back, or send it for your transcriptionist to experience back, to be able to make sure that the seem quality is suitable.

Finally, I'd much like to state that this post is according to my understanding and experience with digital transcription. I am unable to absolutely guarantee its precision but could be very interested to listen to associated with a errors and pleased to correct them. Similarly if you think that there's an essential area I haven't covered, please tell me and that i is going to do my favorite to include it.

This information is copyright, Anne Hickley, 2007.

Promotion TaoTronics TT-CM001 USB Portable Tape Cassette To MP3 Converter Tape-to-MP3 Capture Adapter Digital Audio Music Player With Headphones and Software Cd- FOR PC by TAO

Lastly Promotion TaoTronics TT-CM001 USB Portable Tape Cassette To MP3 Converter Tape-to-MP3 Capture Adapter Digital Audio Music Player With Headphones and Software Cd- FOR PC, the newest stylist innovation item will be able to reach to you and your home now, and rapidly becoming among the most well-liked worldwide web merchandise for everybody including a bright consumer like you. Using the finest skill of our production design team and professional technicians had been trying to impress you by pay all attention to each and every customer's need and combine with our wonderful method, special information and our lengthy time knowledge. Until we came across to conclude that Promotion TaoTronics TT-CM001 USB Portable Tape Cassette To MP3 Converter Tape-to-MP3 Capture Adapter Digital Audio Music Player With Headphones and Software Cd- FOR PC will be able to grow to be the excellent prototype on the internet which everybody will often talk about. It can be include the future of fine living with technologies beautifully together. Although, high competitions Using the similar item inside the global marketplace are quickly enhance. You'll discover that TAO in no way quit creating our concept to make our finest outcome for you. Turning the ideas to a genuine life create it take years to total.

And you are going to modify the way you see the world of home living, considering that we are already take a name for our self in method innovation and design. Just only you take this likelihood to grow to be the owner of our Promotion TaoTronics TT-CM001 USB Portable Tape Cassette To MP3 Converter Tape-to-MP3 Capture Adapter Digital Audio Music Player With Headphones and Software Cd- FOR PC, and it's going to make your life and your home worth living for.

List Price : $39.99

You Save : Check Lower Price

  Check Offer listing

TaoTronics™- Technology Enhances Life

Features:

Designed to look like an old school cassette player, this cool and handy gadget turns your tapes into digital MP3 files so that you can listen to them on your computer, iPod, or in the car. Finally you can back up your graduation album, 80s mix tapes, or precious old music recordings of a friend

It's easy to use. The software can be installed in just a few seconds. Simply plug the Cassette Player and press play and it will start recording instantly. In addition, the Cassette Player is powered directly from the USB so there's no need to worry about battery. Apart from converting your tapes into digital files, it's itself a standalone cassette player which you can enjoy hours of music with.If you are looking for a easy way to turn your tapes into MP3 files, this is the perfect product for you.

Specifications:
Color: Silver
Ports: 3.5 mm audio out/earphone jack, 3V DC power in, mini USB 2.0
Buttons/Switches:
-Play
-Stop
-Reverse
-Forward
-Switchtape side
-Direction
-Open cassette compartment
-Volume control
Recording Format: Wav
Power Consumption: <=1.5 W
Editing Software (included): Audacity
Compatible OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/2000, MAC(below 10.5)
Dimensions: 110 x 80 x 30 mm

Note:
1 Please search 'TaoTronics TT-CM001' on youtube for video demonstration.
2 Please download the software on TaoTronics website.
3 Please try GoldWave or Apple Garageband noise reduction feature to eliminate the tape hiss.

Package includes:
1 x USB Cassette Capture
1 x USB cable
1 x Sofeware CD
1 x User Guide
1 x Headphone

Feature

• Plug and play USB device convert your old mix tapes and cassette to MP3 to Playback on iPod / MP3 player or burn to CD.
• Flexible battery or USB-powered operation.Comes with tape converter software to guide you through transfer.
• Portable design fits in virtually any bag and enables you to play and transfer anywhere.Audio editing software included.
• Audio output enables you to listen on your stereo, headphones, or other speaker system.
• Features Auto Reverse.Rediscover your old cassette tapes on the go.

Digital Dvr

A digital video recorder (DVR) (or personal video recorder (PVR)) is a device that records video without videotape to a hard drive-based digital storage medium. The term includes stand-alone set-top boxes and software for personal computers which enables video capture and playback to and from disk.

History

Please expand and improve this section as described on this article's talk page or at Requests for expansion, then remove this message.

The first DVR was tested on July 8, 1965, when CBS explored the possibilities of instant freeze-frame and rewind for sporting event broadcasts. Ampex released the first commercial hard disk video recorder in 1967. The HS-100 recorded analog video onto a digital hard disk and could store a maximum of only 30 seconds.

Hard disk-based DVRs
The two early consumer DVRs, ReplayTV and TiVo, were launched at the 1999 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Although ReplayTV won the "Best of Show" award in the video category, it was TiVo that went on to much greater commercial success. The devices have steadily developed complementary abilities, such as recording onto DVDs, commercial skip, sharing of recordings over the Internet, and programming and remote control facilities using PDAs, networked PCs, or Web browsers.

This makes the "time shifting" feature (traditionally done by a VCR) much more convenient, and also allows for "trick modes" such as pausing live TV, instant replay of interesting scenes, and skipping advertising. Most DVRs use the MPEG format for encoding analog video signals.

The two consumer DVR brands in the United States are the TiVo and DNNA's ReplayTV. In the UK TiVo has a small presence; Thomson, Topfield, Fusion, Pace and Humax also supply digital terrestrial (DTT) DVRs. BSkyB markets a popular combined EPG and DVR as Sky+.South African based Africa Satellite TV beamer Multichoice recently launched their PVR which is available on their Dstv platform.

Many satellite and cable companies are incorporating DVR functions into their set-top box, such as with DirecTiVo, DishPlayer/DishDVR, Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8xxx, Motorola 6xxx from Comcast, Moxi Media Center by Digeo (available through Charter, Adelphia, Sunflower, Bend Broadband, and soon Comcast and other cable companies), or Sky+. In this case there is no encoding necessary in the DVR, as the satellite signal is already a digitally encoded MPEG stream. The DVR simply stores the digital stream directly to disk. Having the broadcaster involved with (subsidizing) the design of the DVR--and directly recording encrypted digital streams--can lead to features such as the ability to use interactive TV on recorded shows, pre-loading of programs. It can, however, also force the manufacturer to implement non-skippable advertisements and automatically-expiring recordings.

Software is available for transferring programs recorded on DVR hardware to or from PC's (e.g., TiVoToGo and DVArchive).
PCs
Software and hardware is available which can turn personal computers running Microsoft Windows, Linux and Macintosh into PVRs, and is a popular option for home-theater PC (HTPC) enthusiasts.
Linux
There are many open source and GPL-licensed DVR applications available for Linux:

Macintosh
Elgato makes a series of DVR devices called EyeTV (400 / 500 / DTT etc.). The software supplied with each device (but available separately) is also called EyeTV. Elgato have recently released version 2.3 of their EyeTV software, with a redesigned interface, better program guide (built into the program) and a 'One Click' to iPod video feature. Miglia also makes DVR hardware that runs the EyeTV software, as well as DVR devices that use other software.

Other DVR products include myTV.PVR from EskapeLabs and ConvertX PVR from Plextor. MythTV (see above) also runs under OS X, but most recording devices are currently only supported under Linux. Precompiled binaries are available for the MythTV front-end, allowing a Mac to watch video from (and control) a MythTV server running under Linux.

Apple provides applications in the FireWire software developer kit which allow any Macintosh with a FireWire port to record the MPEG2 transport stream from a FireWire equipped cable box (e.g., Motorola 62xx, including HD streams). Applications can also change channels on the cable box via the firewire interface. Only broadcast channels can be recorded as the rest of the channels are encrypted. iRecord is a free scheduled-recording program derived from this SDK.
Windows
Microsoft Windows has several free DVR applications including GB-PVR, Got All Media and MediaPortal. DScaler has also DVR support in works.
There also are several proprietary applications including SageTV, SnapStream Beyond TV, ChrisTV, Showshifter, Meedio (now a dead product - Yahoo! bought most of the company's technology and discontinued the Meedio line, and rebranding the software Yahoo! Go - TV, which is now a free product), InterVideo WinDVR, Recordit Plus and the R5000-HD.

There is also a separate version of Microsoft Windows called Windows XP Media Center Edition which has DVR capabilities.

And Microsoft Windows Vista will include in its standard version the Media Center functionalities.

Source video
Television and video are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably, but differ in their technical definitions. Video is the visual portion of television, whereas television is the combination of video and audio modulated onto a carrier frequency (i.e., a television channel), so that multiple frequencies (i.e., multiple channels) may be transmitted at the same time.
Analog television
Analog television in NTSC, PAL or SECAM formats, analog cable, or regular VHS tapes use a signal that is fed directly to the electron beam within the television set. There are a number of details on how this is done, but in essence each line in each frame corresponds to a specific fraction of time within the signal.

To record an analog signal a few steps are required. A TV tuner card tunes into a particular frequency and then functions as a frame grabber, breaking the lines into individual pixels and quantizing them into a format that a computer can comprehend. Then the series of frames along with the audio (also sampled and quantized) are compressed into a manageable format, like MPEG-2, or WMF, usually in software. Some TV tuner cards like the DVR-250/350 or the TiVo chip deliver an MPEG-2 or other compressed stream directly to the computer, performing both the frame grabbing and compression in silico. This greatly reduces the load on the CPU allowing an overall cheaper implementation.

Analog Broadcast Copy Protection
Many mass-produced consumer DVRs implement a copy-protection system called CGMS-A (Copy Generation Management System--Analog). This encodes a pair of bits in the VBI of the analog video signal that specify one of the following settings:

Digital television
Digital television is audio/visual signals that are broadcast over the air in a digital rather than analog format. Recording digital TV is generally a straightforward capture of the binary MPEG-2 data being received. No expensive hardware is required to quantize and compress the signal (as the television broadcaster has already done this in the studio). The MythTV DVR supports both international DVB signals and American ATSC signals while the HDTV Tivo supports only the ATSC signals. In the U.S., the FCC attempted to place a road-block before digital DVRs with its "Broadcast flag" regulation. Digital video recorders which had not won prior approval from the FCC for implementing "effective" digital rights management would have been banned from interstate commerce as of July 2005. The regulation was struck down on May 6, 2005.

DVD-based PVRs available on the market as of 2006 are not capable of capturing the full range of the visual signal available with high definition television (HDTV). This is largely because HDTV standards were finalized at a later time than the standards for DVDs. However, DVD-based PVRs can still be used (albeit at reduced visual quality) with HDTV since currently available HDTV sets also have standard A/V connections.

Satellite or Digital Cable
Recording satellite or digital cable signals on a digital video recorder is more complex than recording analog signals or broadcast digital signals. This is so because the MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 stream is usually encrypted to prevent people from viewing the content without paying for it (usually via subscription).

The satellite or cable set-top box does two things. First, it decrypts the signal. Second, it decodes the MPEG stream into an analog, DVI, or HDMI signal for viewing on the television. In order to record cable/satellite digital signals you must get the signal after it is decrypted, but before it is decoded (between steps one and two); this is how DVRs built into set-top boxes work.

An alternative is that some satellite or (more commonly) cable set-top boxes have a FireWire port that can be connected to a computer. The recorded MPEG stream can be relayed to the computer via this FireWire port; though it can be done live, this is more commonly used for transferring shows from a set-top box with built-in DVR. (For instructions on doing this on a popular set-top box with DVR, please see the Wikibook entry How to use a Motorola DVR; some of the ideas there may apply to other set-top boxes as well.)

DVD
Many DVD-based DVRs are equipped with two DVD drives or an additional internal hard drive. This arrangement can be used to copy content from a source DVD, which is disallowed in the US under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act if the disc is encrypted. Most such DVRs will hence not allow recording of video streams from encrypted movie discs.

Digital camcorders
Some DVD-based DVRs incorporate a Firewire connector which can be used to capture digital video from a MiniDV or Digital 8 camcorder, possibly recording a simple DVD as the camcorder is played back. Some editing of the resulting DVD is usually possible, such as adding chapter points.

Security applications
Digital video recorders configured for physical security applications record video signals from closed circuit television cameras for detection and documentation purposes. Many are designed to record audio as well. DVRs have evolved into devices that are feature rich and provide services that exceed the simple recording of video images that was previously done through VCRs. A DVR CCTV system provides a multitude of advanced functions over VCR technology including video searches by event, time, date and camera. There is also much more control over quality and frame rate allowing disk space usage to be optimized and the DVR can also be set to overwrite the oldest security footage should the disk become full. In some DVR security systems remote access to security footage using a PC can also be achieved by connecting the DVR to a LAN network or the internet.

Security DVRs may be categorized as being either PC based or embedded. A PC based DVR's architecture is a classical personal computer with video capture cards designed to capture video images. An embedded type DVR is specifically designed as a digital video recorder with its operating system and application software contained in firmware or read only memory.

Hardware Features
Hardware features of security DVRs vary between manufacturers and may include but are not necessarily limited to:
Designed for rack mounting or desktop configurations. Single or multiple video inputs with connector types consistent with the analogue or digital video provided such as coaxial cable, twisted pair or optical fiber cable. The most common number of inputs are 1, 4, 8, 16 and 32. Systems may be configured with a very large number of inputs by networking or bussing individual DVRs together. Looping video outputs for each input which duplicates the corresponding input video signal and connector type. These output signals are used by other video equipment such as matrix switchers, multiplexers, and video monitors. Controlled outputs to external video display monitors. Front panel switches and indicators that allow the various features of the machine to be controlled. Network connections consistent with the network type and utilized to control features of the recorder and to send and/or receive video signals. Connections to external control devices such as keyboards. A connection to external pan-tilt-zoom drives that position cameras. Internal CD, DVD, VCR devices typically for archiving video. Connections to external storage media. Alarm event inputs from external security detection devices, usually one per video input. Alarm event outputs from internal detection features such as motion detection or loss of video.
Software Features
Software features vary between manufacturers and may include but are not necessarily limited to:
User selectable image capture rates either on an all input basis or input by input basis. The capture rate feature may be programmed to automatically adjust the capture rate on the occurrence of an external alarm or an internal event Selectable image resolution either on an all input basis or input by input basis. The image resolution feature may be programmed to automatically adjust the image resolution on the occurrence of an external alarm or an internal event. Motion detection: Provided on an input by input basis, this feature detects motion detection in the total image or a user definable portion of the image and usually provides sensitivity settings. Detection causes an internal event that may be output to external equipment and/or be used to trigger changes in other internal features. Lack of motion detection. Provided on an input by input basis, this feature detects the movement of an object into the field of view and remaining still for a user definable time. Detection causes an internal event that may be output to external equipment and/or used to trigger changes in other internal features. Direction of motion detection. Provided on an input by input basis, this feature detects the direction of motion in the image that has been determined by the user as an unacceptable occurrence. Detection causes an internal event that may be output to external equipment and/or be used to trigger changes in other internal features. Routing of input video to video monitors based on user inputs or automatically on alarms or events. Input, time and date stamping. Alarm and event logging on appropriate video inputs. Alarm and event search. One or more sound recording channels. Archival. Remote control.