Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2 reviewed

Neuros had great timing when it released its second generation standalone MPEG-4 recorder last year. Not only is the Neuros 2 able to record video directly to Memory Sticks -- making PSP owners less dependent on costly UMD discs -- but it can also save files at a size that makes them easily usable on the iPod with video (though getting them on the iPod still requires a round trip through a computer). Reg Hardware got their hands on one of the recorders, and found it to be well worth its $150 price, pointing out that the cost is about the same as eight UMDs (or a few hours of TV from the iTunes Music Store). Reg Hardware also liked the device's ease of use and video quality, including its "near DVD" Super Fine setting which allows decent playback on a TV. The one downside: cropping and stretching quirks for videos saved at certain aspect ratios -- though Reg Hardware points out some good workarounds.

[Captain Obvious @ Feb 2nd 2006 12:07PM]

I purchased the original one off of woot.com. I could never get the sound to work on my pocket pc or my computer. It would work when played in the device, but that's not really what I got it for. Did anyone else have this problem and find a way to resolve it?

[Johan @ Feb 2nd 2006 4:25PM]

You need to install TCPMP on your pocket PC. It has the G.726 decoder you need for audio: http://tcpmp.corecodec.org/download

Johan
Neuros

[brad w. @ Feb 2nd 2006 5:02PM]

I just got the Neuros MPEG 4 Recorder 2 yesterday in the mail, it worked relatively well but would like to see hopefully MP4 (AVC) h.264 codec as a file format soon.

My biggest gripe is that if I take the input into the neuros from my Digital Cable DVR box and then take the output from neuros and put it into my TV. The only way I can just watch tv it seems is to have the neuros recorder turned on, and then put the recorder into the preview state. Why can't the input signal into the neuros just short and be delivered to the output signal automatically when the neuros recorder is off, why do I have to have it turned on and in preview mode to watch TV. This is rather annoying since I have to then change cables when I'm not using my neuros to put the DVR output into the TV directly vs. going through the neuros recorder.

Anyhow hopefully its just something I'm missing and will figure out with the recorder and I won't have to swap input outputs when I am going from viewing to recording but anyhow its not a bad product besides these gripes.

[JoeBorn @ Feb 2nd 2006 6:24PM]

is this on cn.engadget.com anywhere? I couldn't find it and I'd love to forward it on to our China division.

[JoeBorn @ Feb 2nd 2006 6:41PM]

Brad, your point is a good one and I've added it to the enhancement list

http://bugzilla.neurostechnology.com/show_bug.cgi?id=554

[sean barrett @ Feb 2nd 2006 8:15PM]

I bought this thinking it was primarily an encoder, I was obviously wrong and should read all before I click buy. Received it monday was of course dissapointed by my stupidity but still is a great (consumer) product just not for my purposes.

[3rdsun @ Feb 2nd 2006 8:17PM]

Why is every word out engadgets mouths - ipod this ipod that. i been rocking a PMP b4 ipod had video dont i count????

[nigel @ Feb 3rd 2006 10:48AM]

I have a dell axim x51v with a seagate 8gb microdrive CFII. Hopefully that would work. When recording in 30fps@640x480 resolution (VGA setting)Best quality for TV playback(ahem and axim x51v). Whats the file size for a 30 min show and for 1 hour? Does it cut the adverts automatically?