I4U News

Overview
Today I am reviewing the Artec DR-RE12A DVD Recorder, being as this is the first time I ever used a DVD recorder it has been an adventure, I have done a rather extended testing of this device, and have found many things I love about it, and a few that need work - that or I may have a faulty unit..

In use, it functions much like a normal VCR, put in the blank DVD (in this units case, it's either DVD+R or DVD+RW) set the channel you wish to record from, and press record.
From that point on, it is quite different from a VHS VCR, for instance, once you are done recording, and hit stop, it (usually) brings you back to a menu screen, with a small thumbnail image of the first frame of the show recorded. The next thing you record does the same thing, making the image next to the first one, up til you fill the DVD or decide to finalize the DVD at that point. Yes I said Finalize, in DVD's, you can view the recorded videos just fine on the recorded, but in order to use the new recorded DVD in any other device, you must first finalize it (basically closing it, and making it readable) DVD+R's are then the same as a normal DVD, no more recording. On a DVD+RW, you can un-finalize, and reuse the DVD.
I'd like to say I have had no problems with this device, but unfortunately there were a few glaring problems, mainly, on about 50% of the DVD's I used, everything was fine until the finalizing, it would start normally, then crash part way through, thus killing a blank DVD, at first I thought it might be the brand of DVD's I was using, so I tried a few others, seemed to be random happenings, one brand would be fine for 2-3 blanks, then the next one would fail. (again, I am hoping I just received a faulty unit, but 2-3 e-mails to Artec about the problems I had went unanswered (another reason for the delay in the review).
Before you are left with the impression that this device isn't worth your time, again let me state that I have used other products made by Artec and they have been of excellent quality (in fact I used to sell their DVD drives for computers, when I worked at Staples). Again, I feel I have a faulty unit on my hands is all.

Recording quality can be set to one of 5 settings (XP=1 HR, SP=2HR, LP=3HR, EP=4hr and EP+ = 6 HR) and each is quite good (obviously XP is perfect, but EP+ is actually quite useable, better than a VHS recorder at EP) I have used it to record TV shows, to copy home recorded VHS tapes, and copy home movies from a Digital8 camcorder) all came out perfect (again, when I could get the DVD's to finalize).

 

Conclusion
In conclusion, the DR-RE12A is a good DVD recorder (again, could be excellent if the problems I have had are due to this being a faulty unit) and I would recommend it to anyone who asked.
 

Good Points:
1)   Good recorded video in all recording settings
2)    recording is easy to figure out
3)    TV Tuner portion works well also, esp since I don't use a cable box.
4)    Also plays back pre recorded DVD's perfectly

Bad points:
1)   Main bad point was too many wasted DVD's due to unknown problem with the unit.
2)   Somewhat of a lag when you start recording. Again, having never used a DVD recorder, this may be normal.
3)   Customer service didn't respond to my many e-mails.

Specification