If you buy a DVD recorder drive for your computer, you’ll also need:

- Cables to connect your camcorder or VCR to your computer. For digital tapes, you will need a 1394 cable, also known by brand names such as FireWire and i.Link. For analog (VHS or Beta, for example) tapes, you will need an RCA/cinch or S-Video cable, depending on the output connections on your camera or VCR. In Europe, you might also use a SCART to RCA/cinch cable.

- For analog tapes, you will also need a video capture device. You can buy an internal version that plugs into one of the PCI slots inside your PC or an external version that connects to your computer via a USB or 1394 connection.

- Editing software. Some DVD drives come packaged with editing software. And there are a number of affordable video-editing software packages available from stores. Some of the leading software packages are ArcSoft Showbiz DVD, Nero, Pinnacle Studio, and Sonic MyDVD.

If you buy a DVD recorder, you’ll need:

- Cables to connect your camera or VCR to your DVD recorder. You may already have these, as they come with most VCRs and DVD recorders.