A method for managing the recording capacity of a recording device, independently of user involvement, comprising receiving (104, 154) data representing a plurality of recording modes of the recording device; identifying (114) one or more recording modes which may be used to record an item using the prevailing unreserved recording capacity; and arranging (128, 162) for the recording of the item using a recording mode selected (122, 160) based on a preference, the arrangement including, where necessary, adapting (120, 170) one or more pending or previously recorded items.