I note that there are machines out now that will do the transfer from video to DVD, does anyone out there know anything about them, are they worth it etc.
All help appreciated.
All help appreciated.
Video to DVD
- Thread starter Waka
- Start date
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Although I have not seen the machines you refer to in your post I wonder if it is really worth buying such a device. I suppose it depends on just how much VHS tape you have to convert vs the cost of the machine
If you only have a few tapes to convert , and have a VHS and DVD recorder with audio visual output why not try connecting these and recording directly?
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=11484
Alternatively import your VHS tapes to computer hardisk and burn to DVD.
Another option to consider is to use one of the specialist companies that advertise transfer services. Such as:
http://www.vhstodvd.co.uk/
Hope this of some help
Cheers
Tony
If you only have a few tapes to convert , and have a VHS and DVD recorder with audio visual output why not try connecting these and recording directly?
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=11484
Alternatively import your VHS tapes to computer hardisk and burn to DVD.
Another option to consider is to use one of the specialist companies that advertise transfer services. Such as:
http://www.vhstodvd.co.uk/
Hope this of some help
Cheers
Tony
RogerS
Established Member
This is another useful link.
I went through this hoop a couple of years ago and was underwhelmed by the end result. I did find a TV capture card that would take in the RGB from the SCART connection and so eliminate another stage of modulation/demodulation which crucifies quality. Not sure that I've still got it otherwise you could have borrowed it.
There's also a wealth of stuff here
I went through this hoop a couple of years ago and was underwhelmed by the end result. I did find a TV capture card that would take in the RGB from the SCART connection and so eliminate another stage of modulation/demodulation which crucifies quality. Not sure that I've still got it otherwise you could have borrowed it.
There's also a wealth of stuff here
gidon
Established Member
Waka
You don't really need one - if you have a VHS player connect it via scart to the input of the DVD recorder. Hit play on the tape and record on the DVD recorder.
The reason I say those things aren't really worth it is what do you do with it once you've converted all your video tapes? The video bit of it is redundant.
If you have a bit more money buy a DVD recorder with a hard drive. This will allow some editing (chopping start and end for example) before copying across to DVD.
It's time consuming because it's real time copying but it's easy.
I personally would avoid messing around with PC's if you can - it's fairly tricky capturing VHS recordings without dropping frames / audio sync problems etc etc.
Cheers
Gidon
You don't really need one - if you have a VHS player connect it via scart to the input of the DVD recorder. Hit play on the tape and record on the DVD recorder.
The reason I say those things aren't really worth it is what do you do with it once you've converted all your video tapes? The video bit of it is redundant.
If you have a bit more money buy a DVD recorder with a hard drive. This will allow some editing (chopping start and end for example) before copying across to DVD.
It's time consuming because it's real time copying but it's easy.
I personally would avoid messing around with PC's if you can - it's fairly tricky capturing VHS recordings without dropping frames / audio sync problems etc etc.
Cheers
Gidon
Smudger
Established Member
I've got a Samsung VHS - DVD recorder. Cost about £120. It works very well indeed, the DVD quality is probably slightly better than the VHS. Very easy to use, records in real time.I've not used it to record off air (I have a Sony HD DVD for that) but it works OK DVD-VHS as well. All menu driven and simple.
I've done LOADS as I've transferred all my old VHS tapes (including school tapes) to DVD. Worth every penny.
I've done LOADS as I've transferred all my old VHS tapes (including school tapes) to DVD. Worth every penny.
misterfish
Established Member
I just connect my old VHS machine to my DVD video recorder using a SCART cable. Start recording on the DVD and then press play on the DVD recorder. The quality of the DVD is mainly dependant on the quality of the VHS playback. I get perfectly acceptable results.
Misterfish
Misterfish
Thanks for all the responses and advice, I'm really getting ready for the changeover which happens in Weymouth next year. I'm trying to minimise the bits of kit I have, hence dumping the VHS machine.
White House Workshop
Established Member
Has anyone connected a VCR to their PC? I don't have a DVD recorder except in my PC. Think I might be better off going to a specialist - only two tapes I really want to keep. Just thought I'd ask anyway.
caretaker
Established Member
I have a machine that records VHS to DVD, it is great but,
Will not copy Walt Disney tapes, copyright on them.
Will not copy Walt Disney tapes, copyright on them.
macuk
New member
Hey all,
new user, so hello!
As it goes, I know a thing or two about this lark, it is part of what I do for a living. If you want to back-up a copy protected video then as long as you are only making a single back-up copy then you will not fall foul of the law and you have every right to circumvent the copy protection.
The real question I guess is how? Well, VHS use a copy protection system called macrovision so if you want to convert the tape to dvd then you need to get around that. To do that you will need to back-up the tapes with either a seperate vhs player and dvd recorder or by sending the signal into a video capturing card on a PC (most tv tuner cards, specialist video capture cards and some ATI video cards will allow this). The little bit of magic that really does the job though is called a Macro Buster.
Basically, you have your scart lead coming out of hte VHS player and instead of going straight into your DVD recorder / computer / etc it goes into the macro buster box. This unscrambles the signal and then sends it back out to whatever device you are going to use to do the recording.
So, it is still doable, and these boxes are pretty cheap as well.
Alternatively, you could always use a company to do the job for you and my company (as do many others) can convert VHS to DVD for a real good price and if you only have a few tapes then it could be cheaper than buying a macrobuster.
If you fancy taking a look my site is called Vinyl to Digtal and we convert all audio and video formats.
We are a little different to our competitors in that we also love to help people so if you fancy doing it yourself, or just want someone to capture so you can edit (with our help) then just pop by and ask a question.
Hope it helps and hopefully speak to some of you soon.
Cheers
Marcus
new user, so hello!
As it goes, I know a thing or two about this lark, it is part of what I do for a living. If you want to back-up a copy protected video then as long as you are only making a single back-up copy then you will not fall foul of the law and you have every right to circumvent the copy protection.
The real question I guess is how? Well, VHS use a copy protection system called macrovision so if you want to convert the tape to dvd then you need to get around that. To do that you will need to back-up the tapes with either a seperate vhs player and dvd recorder or by sending the signal into a video capturing card on a PC (most tv tuner cards, specialist video capture cards and some ATI video cards will allow this). The little bit of magic that really does the job though is called a Macro Buster.
Basically, you have your scart lead coming out of hte VHS player and instead of going straight into your DVD recorder / computer / etc it goes into the macro buster box. This unscrambles the signal and then sends it back out to whatever device you are going to use to do the recording.
So, it is still doable, and these boxes are pretty cheap as well.
Alternatively, you could always use a company to do the job for you and my company (as do many others) can convert VHS to DVD for a real good price and if you only have a few tapes then it could be cheaper than buying a macrobuster.
If you fancy taking a look my site is called Vinyl to Digtal and we convert all audio and video formats.
We are a little different to our competitors in that we also love to help people so if you fancy doing it yourself, or just want someone to capture so you can edit (with our help) then just pop by and ask a question.
Hope it helps and hopefully speak to some of you soon.
Cheers
Marcus
Night Train
Established Member
I have a really nice old VCR that I loath to bet rid of as it works and hasn't failed me for nealy 15 years.
I bought a DVD recorder and can transfer my own videos to DVD by using the scart connection. I do this every now and again when I have the time to leave it running or if I want to watch something I have on tape I will copy it at the same time. The anti piracy protection works too but much of what I want to transfer is personal stuff I recorded myself.
I'm not as happy with DVD as I am with video though. With tape I can adjust the tracking to get the best image from an old tape. With DVD it either works or it doesn't. Also I can fast forward tape with a smooth image but DVD jumps in steps of still images making it harder to find and replay useful sections of a documentary.
I bought a DVD recorder and can transfer my own videos to DVD by using the scart connection. I do this every now and again when I have the time to leave it running or if I want to watch something I have on tape I will copy it at the same time. The anti piracy protection works too but much of what I want to transfer is personal stuff I recorded myself.
I'm not as happy with DVD as I am with video though. With tape I can adjust the tracking to get the best image from an old tape. With DVD it either works or it doesn't. Also I can fast forward tape with a smooth image but DVD jumps in steps of still images making it harder to find and replay useful sections of a documentary.
I am transfering vhs to dvd at the moment......it's easy with ..........................Easycap...... I got mine on ebay from Hong kong £10
they sell for £35 over here but you should Google easycap and read about them they come with an editing studio.
Davon
they sell for £35 over here but you should Google easycap and read about them they come with an editing studio.
Davon
