WHAT IS A DVD/HD RECORDER? A DVD/HD recorder is a consumer electronics device that records analog or digital audio/visual (A/V) signals in a digital format onto a digital versatile disc (DVD). DVD recorders are distinct from digital video recorders (DVRs) in that they record onto a removable disc (the DVD) instead of a hard disk. Like a video cassette recorder (VCR), the DVD recorder has standard A/V inputs and playback functions. Like a DVD player, the DVD recorder can also be used to play many audio and video CDs. Some DVD recorders are also DVRs like those shown below.