Need some HD Tech help....

[Blue Meanie]

Does anyone know of an HDMI to S-Video or DV in Converter/adapter that will retain the HDMI signal when it is output to a DVD/DVR recorder? I've been trying to do research on one and there are a lot of up conversions units like this one:

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

but nothing that will be able to go from HDMI and keep it's HD signal when it's output to a DVD/DVR recorder. My old DVD/DVR recorder has an S-Video in and a DV in...but not an HDMI in. Only an HDMI out.

I know it might sound confusing...but basically I want to be able to output 1080 from the cable box and input 1080 to the DVD/DVR recorder. Thanks for any help on this from all you techies out there.

[cjefferys]

I'm not an expert but I don't think that would be possible.

[Mego Magyar]

I think the simple answer to you question is - no. As I understand it when you record to a dvd it is recorded in standard def even if the signal is HD. An HD signal will record very clear but it will still be standard def. With the possible exception of using a dvd-ram disk, my recorder can use these and will record a HD signal more like HD then going to a 1 use disk.

As far as buying an up conversion unit - you're better off just buying a good new dvd player, I tink they all can up convert these days. My dvd recorder can even play a standard signal and output it through it HDMI out and that makes the standard signal look nicer.

[megoapesnut]

Yeah, they have the HD signal pretty much locked up. I tried a few years ago to get an HD signal from my DVR to my HD camcorder and it just wasn't possible.

[SeattleEd]

You can't.

Basically, S-Video/DV is standard definition (720x480) so what you would be doing is compressing the HD source to fit SD. Pretty much pointless and yes, you will lose some quality.

I do this at work everyday. We convert our HD source to a DV source as well for archiving and using the DV source to create smaller encodes. It encodes faster.

We create custom DVDs for clients using HD sources and compress to SD to make a DVD.

[WannabeMego]

Any PC Video Card recommendations that can receive HDMI...cause it sounds like that would be the only venue that would allow independent recording of HD broadcasts.

Update: Well it seems like they don't exist due to the HDMI Encryption coming out of the Cable Boxes

There is this Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro, but again, you would not be able to record Non-Standard Channels due to the encryptions...but...

...You could use a Hauppauge HD PVR

[cjefferys]

I've had success recording over the air HD television signals in high definition using a computer with a TV tuner.

Too bad we don't have set top Blu-ray recorders like they do in Japan, you can record TV shows in HD with no problems if you have one of those. Unfortunately Japan doesn't use ATSC but instead a different standard for HD broadcasts, so the recorder wouldn't work here, otherwise I would have picked one up by now.

[mego73]

Any DVD recorder I know of is simply not set up to record an HD signal. It deals only in SD signals.

Does anyone know of an HDMI to S-Video or DV in Converter/adapter that will retain the HDMI signal when it is output to a DVD/DVR recorder? I've been trying to do research on one and there are a lot of up conversions units like this one:

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

but nothing that will be able to go from HDMI and keep it's HD signal when it's output to a DVD/DVR recorder. My old DVD/DVR recorder has an S-Video in and a DV in...but not an HDMI in. Only an HDMI out.

I know it might sound confusing...but basically I want to be able to output 1080 from the cable box and input 1080 to the DVD/DVR recorder. Thanks for any help on this from all you techies out there.