Review: StorVision MiniVCR SV-1000 peripheral

Video recorders come in all shapes and sizes these days, recording digitally to DVDs and hard disks where once they used clunky old VHS cassettes.

The Storvision MiniVCR SV-1000, however, is a new breed of video recorder altogether. This tiny little box actually records video straight to memory cards.

The SV-1000 is aimed mainly at users of portable media players who want to get their favourite programmes from TV onto devices such as enabled iPods or PlayStation Portable. It’ll even work with some mobile phones.

While it might sound very advanced, the SV-1000 is deceptively uncomplicated. It has slots on the front for CompactFlash cards, MicroDrive and Memory Stick Duo, but other types of memory card can be used with an optional adapter.

Set-up simply involves connecting the video inputs and outputs to your TV, VCR or Freeview/satellite box using the cables provided.

A simple (bordering on crude) interface allows you to change a few settings, such as resolution and quality, via a small remote control.

You can then either record directly from your intended source or set the SV-1000’s timer to start recording when a show begins. It records in the MPEG4 file format, so ensure your portable video player supports this.

Owners of Apple’s ubiquitous portable device will have to use a computer as an intermediary to transfer video from memory stick to the iPod’s hard disk, but PSP owners can just pop their memory stick straight in and watch.

Quality is actually pretty good, as long as you’re watching it on a small-screen device, such as a PSP or iPod, rather than a TV. Even at top settings it doesn’t compete with PSP shop-bought UMD (Universal Media Disc) movies, but sound and picture are very watchable nonetheless.

As a bonus, you can also use the MiniVCR to view photos and listen to music stored on memory cards through your TV and/or hi-fi.

Getting video content onto portable devices isn’t currently as straightforward as it should be, so the SV-1000 MiniVCR is a very welcome way of simplifying the process.

It’s a little pricey, but the extra features help make up for it. Just double-check that your portable player can playback MPEG4 format video before you commit.

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