The best way to record TV

The VCR may be dead, but that hasn't stopped us finding new ways to save our favourite shows. 

There are several convenient ways to record TV. None of them requires maintaining a cupboard full of video tapes and you may not need any additional devices beyond a USB hard drive if you have the right TV.

Our guide will help you weigh up your options and find the best method to record some telly. 

Not all PVRs are created equal. Find one that looks and sounds great, and is easy to use in our list of the best PVRs

Personal video recorders (PVRs) explained

PVRs are straightforward devices that let you record from Freeview channels onto a built-in hard drive. They have electronic programme guides, just the like the one you use on your TV, which is where you choose what to watch and record.

The built-in hard drive where recordings are stored start at 500GB, but can get up to 2TB (2,000GB). Unless you're a TV hoarder, you probably won't need more than 500GB as long as you're diligent about deleting what you've watched, as 500GB can store around 125 hours of HD footage and 250 hours of SD content. Plus, most PVRs come with a 1TB hard drive anyway.

Some PVRs connect to the internet giving you access to catch-up and streaming apps, such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Pretty much every TV has access to these services, too, but having them on your PVR means you're not switching as much between it and your TV. Bear in mind that you won't be able to record shows you're streaming.

Most PVRs also include multiple tuners, allowing you to record two or more TV programmes simultaneously while watching a different channel. This one of the main selling points of a separate PVR.

Humax Aura 1TB

Humax is one of the bigger names in PVRs and its models tend to be a bit more high-end with more features.

The Aura is smart, so has access to streaming and catch-up apps. It has a 1TB hard drive, which should hold at least 250 hours of HD content, and it has three tuners, so you can record four channels at once while watching a fifth.

Since it's internet connected, you get access to Freeview Play, too, which allows you roll back to shows on up to a week prior and watch them from the electronic programme guide. See our Humax Aura 1TB review, or check prices below.

Freesat UHD-4X 4K PVR - 1TB

Most PVRs are designed to use with aerials, but this Freesat model needs to be connected to a satellite to get channels. Once you're hooked up, you get access to the same ones you get with Freeview, which is the aerial equivalent to Freesat.

It has two built-in tuners, but if you have a wideband LND on your satellite dish then this increases to four. Without a wideband LND, you can still watch one show while recording another, or record two shows at once. If you’re recording from two separate channels, then you can still watch something else you’ve recorded at the same time.

Whatever you record is stored on the 1TB hard drive. It's smart, too, so you can access streaming and catch-up apps, although Channel 4 (the catch-up not the channel) was missing at time of testing. See our Freesat UHD-4X review, or check prices below.

Panasonic DMR-EX97EB-K

Panasonic is just about the only TV brand still making PVRs and this one doubles as a DVD recorder, too. So, if you prefer to have hard copies of certain shows or films this might be a better option.

It has a smaller built-in hard drive than most PVRs at 500GB, but you can connect an external one via USB. And of course there's the DVD option, so it's a versatile recorder.

You get two tuners, so you can record two shows at once while watching something else you've recorded. It is pricey though, so consider whether you need a model with a DVD recorder before you fork out extra for it. See our Panasonic MDR-EX97EB review, or check prices below.

For more reviews and buying advice, head to our guide on the Best PVRs and set top boxes. 

Using the PVR built into your TV

In some cases you may not even need to buy a PVR as the majority of modern smart TVs, aside from entry-level models, have a PVR built-in. To make use of it you'll need a USB hard drive to plug into one of the USB ports on the TV.

Functionally, a built-in PVR works the same as a standalone one. You choose what to record from the electronic programme guide and your recording will be stored in a folder on your hard drive. This PVR function also lets you pause live TV and you'll typically be able to watch recordings while your TV is busy recording another channel.

Most TVs only have a single-tuner PVR, so you can only record one channel at a time, but more high-end TVs have twin-tuner PVRs, so you can record two channels simultaneously.

Don't assume that your TV supports USB recording simply because it has a USB port. Most TVs let you play content stored on a USB hard drive, but they don't all let you record onto one.

When it comes to how different brands impliment PVR functionality, it's broadly similar, so you won't find that LG has a significantly better PVR than Samsung. All our TV reviews note whether there is a PVR, whether it's single or twin-tuner and give a star rating for how good it is for recording and pausing live TV. 

If you're only going to be recording the odd show, using a TV's built-in option is a good idea rather than forking out for a full PVR. Our testing has found that most TVs do a good job, with simple interfaces and cataloguing. However, they aren't going to be useful if you're recording a lot of shows at once because they don't have enough tuners to handle it.

DVD recorders

A DVD recorder records TV programmes onto a recordable DVD disc. However, a DVD disc can usually only hold between one to four hours of footage. If you’re intending to use it as your main TV-recording device then buying one with a built-in hard disk is probably the most sensible option.

They were popular for a time, but DVD recorders have seen a sharp decline in the number available over the past 10 years or so. With PVRs and on-demand content so popular, you'll likely struggle to find a new model to buy – and we don't test them, either.

• Pros: You can record TV programmes for long-term storage, you can share recordings with family and friends.
• Cons: You can only record one programme at a time, most DVD players can't record HDTV, generally more difficult to use than PVRs, can only record Freeview channels, few in existence nowadays.

PVR/DVD recorder combis

PVR/DVD recorder combis combine the hard-disk storage capacity of a PVR (typically 250 hours, or 125 in HD) with the option to transfer your favourite recordings onto DVD if you want to keep them for a long time or share them with others. This is ideal if you want the best of both worlds but, much like with DVD recorders, they're something of a rarity nowadays.

• Pros: Large internal hard drive, can archive to DVD.
• Cons: Can generally only record one programme at a time, more complicated to use than a standalone PVR, very few on the market.

They’re generally more complicated to use than a good standalone PVR. So if both a PVR and a DVD recorder are required, we would recommend buying two separate devices, unless space is an issue.

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