VHS to DVD (No A/S content)

[pompei]

I've got a telly with a built in video and loads of tapes I'd like to transfer onto DVD.The available options seem to be1. Buy one of those combined DVD/VHS recorders.2. Do it through the computer.Option 1 is expensive and option 2 unfeasible as my computer (ex works - they never got it back when they made me redundant) has no cd disc drive.There may be a simple option 3 which is hook up a DVD recorder to the telly/video. When I went to look at dvd recorders in Comet and Currys no-one could tell me if this would work. Has anyone here come across this or know if it is possible?Thanks

[Richard]

I think the best option is the combined DVD/VHS recorder. They aren't that dear now are they?To get acceptable results with separate units you really need expensive cables as far as I can tell.

[Richard]

I've just had a quick look for combo units They were under £100 not so long ago.

[Milford Cubicle]

I'm sure my mum picked one up for £60.

[Guest]

This is what I do.

 

 

Most VCRs don't seem to have S-Video out though - you might want to replace that and the phonos with just a Scart cable between the two.

[Guest]

To get acceptable results with separate units you really need expensive cables as far as I can tell.

You get the best results with seperate units as long as you're using the correct cables - if you do it with something like RF or composite video it'll look rubbish.Use either S-Video or SCART and the quality will be top-notch. The cables for either way will set you back a couple of quid, you can get really expensive ones but the difference in quality is piffling - they're digital connectors. Or just temporarily rob them from something else you're not using - Sky/Freeview box, etc.I'm a proper loser when it comes to this kind of stuff, I've got a right setup for transferring old tapes onto DVD which involves an S-VHS player and loads of loose cables dangling all over the place. It's a sodding disgrace, I'd never be able to let a girl in at the moment.

[Des]

Bought the woman a vhs/dvd recorder for last xmas, kept her busy more or less since, 10 dvd cases for a pound a time, from Poundland I think, vhs inlays trimmed to fit, losing the yellowed tatty edges, and I've now reclaimed 20 yards or so of shelfspace back for important uses, such as car badges, bits of trim, couple of models, pocket contents, dead batteries, etc.I recall an issue arising with some tapes presenting an anti copy feature, the answer was apparently to use a noise reduction filter or somesuch, but I found that after a few repeated attempts the problem went away and didn't return.

[whitevanman]

as per Hirsts drawing but use a scart to Svideo converter about £3 on e-bay or I'll post you one as I have several and don't need them anymore

[j-j]

I'd like to do this with some VHS tapes. Films are fine but what do you do for something that's got loads of small films all taped in sequence? I have all these old Citroen archive films of rallies and tests etc and I'd like to be able to select individual films off a start menu.

[Tayne]

.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

One thing you should bear in mind - the longevity of DVDs is far from proven. Many are fine for a while, but turn out to be unreadable a year later ( ). Buy quality brands, and if it's video you really can't afford to lose, burn two discs and or stash the original tapes away somewhere safe afterwards.

[whitevanman]

I have all these old Citroen archive films of rallies and tests etc and I'd like to be able to select individual films off a start menu.

You'll need to connect the vcr to a computer to do that.

No just record them on the DVDR individually, you can copy them on to a computer later if you want

[Pillock]

I'd be tempted to download them, you'd be surprised at what is available out there! Especially if it's mainstream TV, and/or been available as a boxset.The problem with VHS-DVD combo units is it's all realtime, there's no 'high speed dubbing' so if you've got 30 hours of William Woolard presenting features on the history of the McPherson Strut, it'll take you 30 hours to copy it.

[whitevanman]

Aye, I've downloaded loads of car stuff.....

[babydriver]

I got a dvd combo from john lewis's and saved a fortune over commit & curry's prices only problem is it wont let me copy to dvd pre recorded films which is a real pain cos I don't want to replace the tapes by buying them again on dvd, real time is a pain too cos I have 15 or so vids of the kids over the years and had to copy them over night as they were on long play.Dvd always ran out before the video even on long play!!!

[Richard]

only problem is it wont let me copy to dvd pre recorded films which is a real pain cos I don't want to replace the tapes by buying them again on dvd,

Can't you put tape over the record protect hole on your videotapes? Surely that's the only way it can know they are pre-recorded.

[babydriver]

done that and it dont work. must be a band or sommat at the bottom of tape, have heard there is as code you can get off the web but cant find it!!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

only problem is it wont let me copy to dvd pre recorded films which is a real pain cos I don't want to replace the tapes by buying them again on dvd,

Can't you put tape over the record protect hole on your videotapes? Surely that's the only way it can know they are pre-recorded.

Macrovision protection, presumably - signals hidden in the non-visible part of the picture which prevents a device recording, or in older equipment, just makes the picture unwatchable by tricking the VCR.