‘PC-free’ DVD burning from Sony

Sony is launching two standalone DVD burners that aim to make it easier to transfer VCR and camcorder material to DVD.

The Sony DVDirect DVD recorders comprise the video-only VRD-VC30 and the video/digital photo VRD-MC3.

Both have LCD screens - 2in mono for the VRD-VC30 and 2.5in colour for the VRD-MC3 - to make it easy to see what you want to burn. There is a wide selection of connectivity options for hooking up different playback devices such as VCRs, tape and HDD camcorders, and HDD recorders.

The VRD-MC3 also boasts a 5-in-1 card reader and can connect directly to printers that support Pictbridge . Sony says that a blank DVD+R disc will take up to fours hours of video and 2,000 photos.

Both DVDirect recorders feature Hi-Speed USB2, DV digital video (iLink/Firewire/IEEE 1394), and analog S-video and composite video inputs. The VRD-MC3 recorder also supports Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick and Memory Stick Duo storage media.

Both also support Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound as well as 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios to preserve the format of the original video footage.

Shipping now, the VRD-VC30 and VRD-MC3 cost around £170 and £200, respectively.