SanDisk V-Mate
Manufacturer: SanDisk Corp. Part number: SDVM1AA30
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Though its lacks CompactFlash support, the SanDisk V-Mate is ultimately a slicker and more feature-rich mini digital VCR than the similarly priced Neuros Recorder 2 Plus.
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CNET editors' review
SanDisk V-Mate price range: $29.28 - $105.57
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Reviewed on: 01/30/2007
- Released on: 11/01/2006
The good: Records TV shows--or any video source--to SD, MMC, and Memory Stick flash media; easy to set up; connects to any cable/satellite box, DVR, VCR, or DVD player; recorded files play back on a wide variety of mobile handheld devices, including the PSP, many PDAs, mobile phones, portable media players, and--after a PC file transfer--the video iPod; doesn't recognize Macrovision copy-protection flags, so recording VHS and DVD movies isn't a problem; included IR blaster allows you for programmed timer recordings on different channels on many cable and satellite boxes; doubles as a USB memory card reader for PCs.
The bad: All video recording done in real time, which will frustrate anyone used to ripping DVDs or downloading video files; the recorder lacks S-Video connectivity and support for CompactFlash cards; recordings at the highest resolution can't be previewed on screen; unforgiving remote needs to be pointed directly at the V-Mate during use; may not have remote codes compatible with your A/V devices.
The bottom line: Though its lacks CompactFlash support, the SanDisk V-Mate is ultimately a slicker and more feature-rich mini digital VCR than the similarly priced Neuros Recorder 2 Plus.
The Recorder 2 Plus and SanDisk V-Mate are in fact similar in size and design--both look like memory card readers--and ostensibly do the same thing, with a couple of notable differences. First and foremost, the V-Mate doubles as a card reader and comes with an IR blaster for enhanced automatic recording. Both features are significant pluses. On a more critical note, however, the V-Mate doesn't read or accept CompactFlash media, which the Neuros does. It's not the end of the world, but you figure that compatibility would be there considering SanDisk is a leading flash memory manufacturer--and it already makes card readers that accept just about every type of memory card on the planet. But that's pretty much the only omission: the V-Mate does accept all forms of SD, MMC, and Memory Stick cards. It takes the newer HC (high-capacity) cards, and can even accept miniSD and microSD cards directly, obviating the need for an adapter.
Like the Neuros Recorder 2 Plus, the V-Mate comes with two sets of camcorder-style composite A/V cables--yellow, red, and white RCA jacks on one end, with minijacks that plug into the V-Mate on the other. The V-Mate's inputs attach to the outputs on your video source of choice. The V-Mate's outputs, of course, run to your TV--you operate the recorder via its onscreen menu. (The V-Mate is also very cosmopolitan: it works with NTSC and PAL video signals.) Plug in the AC power adapter, set your TV to the correct input, flip on the power switch on back of the unit, and you're good to go. A small credit-card-size remote is included, as is the aforementioned IR blaster that allows you to have the V-Mate automatically change channels on your cable or satellite box (or VCRs, DVRs, and DVD recorders, for that matter) when you set up a recording for a set time frame. We were flummoxed by the remote's meager reach, however--it seemed to work only when pointed directly at the V-Mate.
For our testing, we used a Scientific Atlanta 8300HD DVR. (The 8300HD DVR can record programs in high-def, but using its composite output normalizes everything to good, old-fashion standard-definition video.) To get the IR blaster working, we selected the Scientific Atlanta remote code from a list in the user manual. Depending on the box, some trial and error may be involved. For example, the first remote code we selected worked, but it was for a box that only had channels that went as high as 99, so we couldn't program the box to go to, say, channel 201. While we eventually found the right code, it's possible that your device may not have the correct remote code listed for it.
We had several unwatched episodes of Extras and The Office on the DVR, and we picked a few to convert into files for playback on the PSP and the iPod with video. Thereafter, we wired up our DVD player and dubbed some of our favorite movies to take on the road. Interestingly, like the Recorder 2 Plus, the V-Mate doesn't recognize the Macrovision copy protection found on most Hollywood titles. That means you're free to convert your movie collection for digital playback without having to rebuy your favorite titles on, say, the iTunes Store. We like that.
The biggest shortcoming of the V-Mate is that it records in real time, which means that if you have a 26-minute episode of Entourage, it will take 26 minutes to record. Moreover, what you see is what you get--if you pause, rewind, or change the channel while recording, that error will be dutifully recorded by the V-Mate. As noted, just like a VCR, there's an automatic recording option, and we found it pretty easy to set up and use. If you want nice, clean start and stop points on your "homemade" videos, it's best to go with the manual recording approach: hitting the record button when you want your file to start, then pressing it a second time to end recording. But you can essentially set up a season pass to shows by telling the device to record the same show daily or weekly at the same time. If your memory card fills up, the recorder will not overwrite any shows; rather, it won't record anymore.
The V-Mate's interface is pretty straightforward and elegant enough, but you'll have to consult the manual to get everything set up properly to record at the resolution you want, as well as to figure out how to upgrade the firmware (it's easy, but requires you to download a file from SanDisk's Web site). Since SanDisk is tweaking and adding new features--as well as adding new profiles for mobile phones that automatically set the correct recording format--it's important to have the latest firmware.
In fact, one can tell from the various memory card formats the V-Mate supports that the company is gearing the product more toward mobile phones and the PSP than to the iPod. Most likely because of lack of a licensing deal with Apple, SanDisk is pretty quiet about creating your videos for the iPod. While various phones and the PSP have automatic settings that are simple to switch to, to set up recording in the right format for the iPod, you have to go into the manual settings and select a very precise configuration. We accidentally hit Best quality instead of Medium, and the file we recorded wouldn't play back on our iPod. So follow the instructions carefully. Of course, because the iPod lacks a card slot, owners must transfers recorded files from a memory card to a computer, then onto the iPod through iTunes.
One nice touch that PSP owners will appreciate: The V-Mate automatically records the video file in the correct folder on your Memory Stick Duo, so long as that card was originally formatted for use with the PSP. That allows you to place the memory card directly into your PSP and play the videos without taking any further action.
Supported recording codecs on the V-Mate include MPEG-4 and H.263 (MP4, 3GP, and 3G2 file formats) at up to 640x480 resolution and 30 frames per second. The video quality at the lowest setting (15fps) was pretty mediocre, but Medium quality at 30fps is quite watchable, especially for TV shows such as The Office and The Colbert Report. There's a bit of pixelization in faster motion sequences, but all in all, the video is smooth and its sound is loud enough.
When we reviewed the Neuros Recorder 2 Plus, we complained that we'd like to see both S-Video inputs and outputs on the device, and we wouldn't mind if the box had to be slightly larger to accommodate that connectivity. (Neuros offers that connectivity on the step-up OSD). Having that superior S-Video connection will only make a very slight difference in improving picture quality when recording video (at 320x240, you'd be hard pressed to notice a difference but at 640x480 you might be able to tell), but what you see on your TV when watching through the V-Mate would be sharper. For example, when we called up our list of recorded shows, we had a hard time reading program descriptions because the print was a little fuzzy. That said, SanDisk seems to have purposely made its fonts in the V-Mate menu system extra large in order to avoid complaints from users, especially those with questionable eyesight. This was a smart move. There was one annoyance, however: we were perplexed that recordings in the highest quality couldn't be previewed via the passthrough output.
In closing, we'll say the same thing we said about the Neuros: Those who enjoy video on the go but can't stand dealing with arcane video-transcoding programs on the PC will find a lot to like in the VCR-like "just press record" simplicity of the V-Mate. On the other hand, PC-centric users who have thrown legal and ethical concerns to the wind and are adept at ripping DVDs and downloading entire TV series via Bittorrent will likely find real-time recording on the SanDisk V-Mate a little too low-tech--and tedious--for their tastes. Still, when you throw in its card reading and IR-blasting capabilities, the V-Mate starts to look fairly intriguing, especially considering it can be found online for less than $90. Despite its lack of CompactFlash support, we're rating it higher than the Neuros because it's a more feature-rich device with a better interface.
User reviews
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Works Great except for...
by CeliaTrout on November 4, 2006
Pros: schedules recording, easy to set up, really easy way to get video onto your phone/pda/mp3/whatever
Cons: so far, doesn't recognize my directv receiver
Summary: Set up is fast & easy, firmware upgrade was also easy. User's manual is very sketchy as this is such a new product. Tried all the 4-digit codes provided ...
Summary: Set up is fast & easy, firmware upgrade was also easy. User's manual is very sketchy as this is such a new product. Tried all the 4-digit codes provided for DirecTV receivers, but no go. put a call into SanDisk tech support--the tech seemed totally uneducated about this product--it's very new. However, she took great care to document the problem & promised an answer and call-back in 24 hours. Also bought a Sansa e280 about a month ago, and the video I recorded with the V-Mate transfered perfectly. Playback was awesome--very sharp video for such a small screen and 30 fps. All in all, an inexpensive, cool little device for getting that video onto your mp3 (phone/handheld, etc.)... also accepts just about every flash memory card ever made. I have no idea if this would work with an ipod, since i have never and will never own one.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great substitute/replacement for my stand alone DVD+RW recorder
by jadziasman on January 30, 2008
Pros: Every feature works as advertised, with the latest downloaded firmware. 640x480 rez medium quality looks great only 660 MB per 1 hour recording time
Cons: Video interference with the A/V input jack which is gone when files played with only the output jack
Summary: For what I paid ($76 shipped), I am so far happy with this product. Hopefully it will last a year or more until an ATSC model with 1080i is released. ...
Summary: For what I paid ($76 shipped), I am so far happy with this product. Hopefully it will last a year or more until an ATSC model with 1080i is released. The remote is narrower than a credit card and is impossible to see in dim light since it's all black. Have watched recorded output from the V-mate on a 27 inch CRT HDTV and the video is as good or even better than my DVD+RW recorder. I especially like the IR transmitter function for scheduled recording. No big deal with real time recording if I'm not sitting there. The V-Mate automatically found the code for my Samsung SIR T-351 HDTV tuner - it took a little while.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great new tool!
by Jeff Lovitt on October 23, 2007
Pros: Records TV, movies, etc. so you can watch on your PDA or iPod
Cons: Needs a firmware update to allow recordings to show up on Palm Treo 680. It works on a 650, but video will not show up on a 680. Support was very nice & promised this would be fixed in a few months.
Summary: Once the firmware update is done to fix the problem I have with it, I'll be a happy camper.
Summary: Once the firmware update is done to fix the problem I have with it, I'll be a happy camper.
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Promising but flawed
by jjankechu on June 30, 2007
Pros: Easy to use...
Cons: ...just like a VCR
Summary: I had high hopes for this recorder but it turns out I'm still waiting for someone to get video recording right. Tivo2Go *almost* had it right but it was ...
Summary: I had high hopes for this recorder but it turns out I'm still waiting for someone to get video recording right. Tivo2Go *almost* had it right but it was so crippled that it became almost useless.
Which brings me to the VMate. Mostly I had a decent experience with it once you got over its inherent limitations (real-time recording). However, it's practically useless to me because there's no video pass-through while recording at 640x480. I am NOT happy with staring at a blank TV screen for the entire duration of a recording. (And updating to the latest firmware didn't help.) -
Does what it claims with one exception
by Doug A Moller on April 13, 2007
Pros: Faster than converting tv or movies via software
Cons: Best quality is OK and only 199 channels recognized on scheduled recordings
Summary: It does what it says in real time. But because of the spped of conversion the best quality is ok. It takes sony media manger about 5 -8 hours on ...
Summary: It does what it says in real time. But because of the spped of conversion the best quality is ok. It takes sony media manger about 5 -8 hours on my computer to convert a 1.5 hour movie to the highest quality MP-4 PSP format. I am going to abuse my v-mate!
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NEEDS SOME BASIC IMPROVEMENTS
by Tech2005 on February 20, 2007
Pros: Easy to set up, compact
Cons: Too many to list - see below
Summary: The V-mate is very easy to set up and you won't have to read the manual to figure out how to schedule a recording. Resolution is OK if you ...
Summary: The V-mate is very easy to set up and you won't have to read the manual to figure out how to schedule a recording. Resolution is OK if you are playing back on TV (it won't be incredible, but it won't be unwatchable either). I think this device is much better suited to play back video on a portable device. This product could be so much better if it had some basic functions: there is no s-video hookup, you cannot schedule a recording for channels over 199 (if like me, you have a cable or satellite system that goes to channel 999, you're screwed). You will have to manually record programs that are on channel 200 or above. Also, the menu takes up the entire screen - so you cannot see what is playing on the tv. When a program is recording, the picture is reduced to 1/2 the size of the TV - would have been nice to just put a little red flashing dot in the corner. The remote is tiny and all black and difficult to read - and all the buttons are the same size. Finally, the IR emitter works well as they provide codes for cable/vcr boxes, etc.; however, my cable remote no longer functions properly and the cable company can't seem to figure out why. As the saying goes, good intention with poor execution.
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I am very happy with the results I got with my Sandisk vmate recorder.
by sniperox on February 12, 2007
Pros: A lite weight mini vcr that cancopy from different memory cards and works well for the psp mpeg4 format .
Cons: 1. A noticeable graininess when copying in lower resolutions. Manual lacks instructions on hooking up to camcorders,portable dvds.
Summary: THe Sandisk vmate needs a better manual. One is left to figure it out for themselves when it comes to connecting other portable devices. It only gives instructions for vcrs,...
Summary: THe Sandisk vmate needs a better manual. One is left to figure it out for themselves when it comes to connecting other portable devices. It only gives instructions for vcrs,cable tvs and tvs.Its greatest advantage is that it can do time recordings by the date week month just like a vcr,and very good copies in high resolution. I love it. For those who are complaining about coposit connection You can get female to male adapters that have one eight inch plugs.
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I returned it to the Store for Refund
by jhechotek on February 6, 2007
Pros: The idea was good
Cons: does not work as advertised
Summary: I bought this item from Circuit City for $129 and it does NOT work!! I have a T-Mobile MDA phone that is also a PDA Windows Mobile 5.0. The ...
Summary: I bought this item from Circuit City for $129 and it does NOT work!! I have a T-Mobile MDA phone that is also a PDA Windows Mobile 5.0. The memory cards are MiniSD. I tried every possible combination of settings (3gp, ISO, MP4, PSP) and nothin works. Ironically, in a strange quirk...the T-Mobile MDA is one of the preset choices and it still does not work.
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Don't put away the VCR
by llamachef on December 21, 2006
Pros: Small Sleak
Cons: Cant use it in 640x480
Summary: This unit works great when recording in 320x240. When I did record in 640x480 its playback had much to be desired, as it was very choppy and jerky. When I ...
Summary: This unit works great when recording in 320x240. When I did record in 640x480 its playback had much to be desired, as it was very choppy and jerky. When I played the 320x480 back it looked pritty good. However it was not quite as clear as a VCR. If the 640x480 did work it would look much better. The overall use of this machine is pritty simple. One thing I did not care for is that it says you can play these videos back on a computer, well so far no luck wiht that. I can play the sound, but no picture will come through. Like I said it is a nice item, but Sandisk has a little bit of tweeking to do before it can replace the quality of the trusted VCR or Digital Hard Disk Recorder. Maybe someday they will get it right. Untill then...
Specifications
- Manufacturer: SanDisk Corp.
- Part number: SDVM1AA30
- Description: The V-Mate allows you to select your desired playback device "profile, " or manually set video format, resolution, and quality levels via a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on your television screen. The GUI makes it very easy to navigate through the menu and select recording and viewing options.
General
- Device Type Digital AV recorder
- Key Features Memory card reader, Digital video player, Video capture from external source
- Width 5.1 in
- Depth 2.6 in
- Height 0.8 in
- PC Interfaces USB
- Features TV recording
Display
- TV Standards Supported PAL, NTSC
- Output Resolution on External Monitor 640 x 480
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory Cards Supported RS-MMC, miniSD, microSD, miniSDHC, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro, SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCardplus, Memory Stick PRO Duo, MultiMediaCardmobile
Video
- Video Playback Formats MPEG-4
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Remote control
Manufacturer info
- SanDisk Corp.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse SanDisk Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.sandisk.com/
- Address:
140 Caspian Ct.
Sunnyvale, CA 94089 - Phone: 408-542-0500
- Email: support@sandisk.com
- Fax: 408-542-0503
