The Toshiba RD-XV47 is a resourceful 'Combi' recording device and player, that not only stores programmes on the hard drive to watch later, but enables you to transfer these files, and those it converts from VHS tape, onto DVD.

Although only having an analogue tuner and no longer being my direct TV recording tool, the RD-XV47 is still a relevant part of my multimedia armoury.

Its twin SCART connectivity allows me to hook it up to a PVR and transfer those digital recordings I want to dub to DVD. Its basic editing tools are easy to learn and enables the cutting of unwanted padding and adverts to tidy recordings up. If like me you like to do a neat job, you will be frustrated that your cutting points can be several frames out by the time it reaches DVD. I soon learnt to allow for this however.

Archiving your old VHS tapes to DVD is another task that will keep the unit in gainful employment for a considerable time, as you progress steadily through your collection. This may require some tracking adjustment and re-dubbing before you achieve the optimum quality. You may find that some of your tapes have deteriorated beyond satisfactory salvage. Prepare for more disappointment as well, as copy protection will sometimes intervene if you are trying to rescue a commercial VHS tape.

Please note: In the UK it is only actually legal to archive TV recordings to DVD to watch once for the purposes of time shifted playback. The general consensus is that format shifting from commercial VHS to DVD is permitted with restrictions. Other than your own material, you must only copy for personal use and not rent, sell, show in public or give away. I must stress that this is my interpretation of a very unclear aspect of law.

The unit has the ability to transfer from source directly to DVD, but I prefer to do this via the hard drive so that I can edit. Bear in mind that, unlike much PC activity today, transfer from most sources to the hard drive is done in real time and therefore this unit is only for the patient user. The exception is the DVD to HDD function, but again don't expect it to allow you to do this with copy protected material. It will play or copy home made DVD's as long as they have either been made on this unit, or on the PC in the DIVX format it supports.

There are a number of compression choices available for both recording and dubbing, making it possible to squeeze in more material where needed. Bear in mind however that compression affects video quality. I have found that there is no quality difference between SP and LP when recording, but wouldn't recommend the other options. The only HDD to DVD dub setting that is quicker than real time is 'Fast', yet oddly this is the only option that doesn't result in picture jumping, in my experience.

There may be more advanced units out there now that cater for some of your recording needs with more pazazz, but none that gives you so much in one box for the price. If you can still pick one of these up, it will be worth its weight in gold.

* I have also written this review on Ciao