HDi-250 Frequently Asked Questions

It's a relatively new machine, so there aren't too many questions yet. 
Use the Contact Form to ask your questions.

• How long to make a DVD-Video disc ? (about 3-5 minutes)
  Background: There are three recording formats: MPEG-2(full resolution), MPEG-4(full resolution) and ".vob" (MPEG-2 @ 720x480).  ".vob" is required for making a DVD-Video disc.   If you have chosen MPEG-4 or MPEG-4, the conversion to .vob is automatic when you choose to make a DVD-Video Disc.
  
  If you plan to make DVDs regularly, choose ".vob" as your recording file format.
  Using an erased DVD+RW disc (the slowest medium), the first discs takes about 3:21.  Subsequent discs take 2:39.
  
  
• Direct to DVD ?
  "My customer wants "Direct to DVD" recording.  Does the HDi do that?
  No.  The BCD DVD-1150 records "Direct to DVD".  The HDi-250 records first to the hard drive (or memory) and then, if you want, copies to disc.  Frankly, we think that's better.  If you get a bad blank disc or just want another copy, you can copy again.  Your options are 
  a. Copy files as files
  b. VideoDVD with Text Menu
  c. VideoDVD with Motion Icons (little moving pictures of your videos)
  And really, the time difference isn't much: 
  DVD-1150 Time to Finalize a disc:  about 5 minutes
  HDI-250: Time to create a VideoDVD with motion menu and burn it, about 7 minutes.
  
  
• Does it play standard commercial DVDs?
  No. HDi-250 is Record Only.  We may add DVD playback a later time.  We suggest using a $20 player or if you require wired remote control, a DVD-1150.  Other "Not Now" features are variable speed and reverse play.
  
  
• How do I copy Video Files to my Network from the HDD?
  1.  Connect via your network and copy files to your Windows machine
  2.  Copy the files to the front-panel USB port: USB stick or USB drive.
  3.  Copy the files to a blank DVD Disc, +R, -R, +RW
  All copying can be done from the front panel.  Some can be done via remote commands.
  
  
• Our videos contain very sensitive and confidential information.
  The HDi-Mil version has no serial ports, no USB ports and no LAN connection.
  Further, the HDi-Mil version has no Hard Drive.  It records to RAM. 
  The video files vanish with the unit is powered off.  (It's a good idea to copy the video to the optical drive as soon as recording is finished.)
  
  Our Standard versions are wide open and easy to integrate into a network.  Easy file transfer to your network storage.
  
  
• What kind of discs does it record to?
  Any kind: DVD-R, +R, and +RW.
  
  
• Does it do Blu-Ray?
  No and Yes.  It does not format the video files for BD with menus and special features.
  The MPEG files, however, play well on most BD players.
  NOTE: A Blu-Ray drive is optional for storing up to 25GB of video files.
  
  
• Video Standards
  The HDi-250 will detect all known worldwide broadcast TV standards.  Some (strange) formats from security cameras are not detected and not recordable.
  
  
• What are the Remote Commands?
  • These commands are available via TCP/IP and the optional Serial connection
    >help help
    baud: show/control serial baud rate - baud 0 means network
    burn: burn 0|'data' or 1|'text' or 2|'icon' for video dvd to burn marked files to disc
    deck: select the active deck in multi-drop serial configuration
    dele: delete marked files
    dnum: set the deck number for multi-drop serial configuration
    echo: show/control echo of commands 0|'off' or 1|'on'
    ecof: disable echo of commands, alias for echo 0|'off'
    econ: enable echo of commands, alias for echo 1|'on'
    eras: blank/erase an optical disc
    exit: exit the command parser, alias for quit
    fram: display the current play/record frame number
    help: show command help
    info: developer/debugging status information
    list: list available video files
    mark: mark, unmark or list marked files by number
    mode: show the current deck transport mode, e.g. PLAY
    open: open the optical drive door or eject the disc, alias for reje
    paus: pause playback or record
    play: play a video file
    powr: power off the deck
    quit: quit the command parser, alias for exit
    recs: record video
    reje: eject the disc or open the optial drive door, alias for open
    rlse: release paused playback or record and continue
    save: save preferences to non-volatile storage
    stop: stop playback or record
    thru: set E-E Loop Through 0|'off' or 1|'on'
    vers: Display the firmware version
    zero: Set the frame number to zero