Recording from a TIVO or Cable/Satellite DVR to a DVD recorder is the same as recording to a VCR, or a DVD recorder/VCR combo. In fact, your TIVO, DVR, or DVD Recorder user manual should have a page illustrating this.
You can transfer programs recorded on your TIVO or DVR to a DVD recorder by connecting the S-Video outputs of the TIVO or DVR (if it has S-Video outputs - if not use the Yellow composite video outputs) and the read/white audio outputs of the DVR to the S-video or composite video inputs and red/white audio inputs of the DVD recorder.
The only problem you may run into with some programs you may have recorded on your TIVO or DVR is that some channels, such as HBO, Showtime, and On-demand program services, employ a type of copy-protection that allows an initial recording on a TIVO or DVR, but will prevent that program from being copied further onto DVD or VHS. Since this is random, you won't know until you try it or take note of any copy-protection message before the program starts. If the DVD recorder detects a copy-protected signal, it will usually display a message on the DVD recorder's front panel and, possibliy, eject the DVD disc.
TIVO/DVR to DVD Recording Steps
1. Check your TIVO or DVR and see if it has the following connections: S-Video, Composite Video (Yellow) and Audio outputs (Red and White).
2. Check your DVD recorder for these same connections.
3. Connect the S-Video or Composite (Yellow) video and Red/White audio outputs of the DirecTV DVR to the corresponding inputs on the DVD Recorder (labels include - video 1, video 2, line 1, line 2).
4. Set the DVD recorder to line or video input (line 1, line 2, video 1, video 2, or AV-in).
5. Insert your Blank DVD disc into the DVD recorder.
6. Follow the playback and recording instructions for the TIVO, DVR, and DVD recorder.
Important Note: If your TIVO or DVR is a high definition unit, the recording on the DVD recorder will not be high definition as DVD is not a high definition format. What will happen is that the TIVO or DVR will downscale the recording output to standard definition via the S-video or Composite (yellow) video ouputs so that the DVD recorder will be able to record the signal onto DVD.
Lastly, for more specifics on DVD recorders can and cannot do, check out my DVD Recorder FAQs
