Options
Creating DVDs from VHS
![[Deleted User]](https://wd.vanillicon.com/v2/d34c9c8d7c3a1826127613665ce11a33.svg)
[Deleted User]
Posts: 434 Forum Member
✭
Does anyone know how to copy VHS videos onto DVD. I've done some reseach and there seem to be various different devices however has anyone done this before and can recommend the most effective simple method?
0
Comments
Scart cable from VCR to DVD recorder. Press play on VCR, record on DVDR.
My current VHS player has a VHS slot and DVD slot, would it be able to be recorded on there? I'm sure I've looked into this and don't think its recordable.
No matter which way you transfer VHS to DVD it's done in 'real-time' and little or no improvement in quality can be achieved.
Tweaks can be made but VHS is inherently low quality (certainly by today's standards)
Perhaps the easiest way is with a transfer/capture device which will allow you to record directly to the PC and is certainly more convenient for choosing the portions you want to transfer and for later editing.
If these are irreplaceable family tapes etc. then transferring to DVD will help preserve them but
most commercial VHS videos of films feature copy protection which will mean it's not possible to copy them to DVD. In this case, it's likely to be cheaper for all but the rarest of films to buy the DVD version, or download a digital version online.
If the unit you have is a DVD recorder then that would be by far the easiest solution to the problem.
Next easiest would be plugging the unit you have into a separate DVD recorder (either one you buy just for this or one you borrow)
Less easy still is using a video capture device and a PC to transfer the material to PC and burn it to DVD.
I'll check the model when I get home.
quite if the OP has a dvd recorder then that would be a neat solution. though they probably don't.
personally i bought one of those easycap things for like a fiver and i've been impressed with the results.
that having been said i could be classed as an expert at this sort of thing i guess.
i would say it depends on the scenario. if it's one video and it's your wedding then pay to have it done professionally.
the method via your computer is not difficult, and if you can't do it you are only 6 quid in the hole.
after that you are looking at a dedicated hardware dvd recorder.
The process requires real time conversion from analogue to digital
There are basically 3 ways.
1 Use a cheap usb capture device these give pretty ropy pictures in my experience.
eg
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ClimaxDigital-VCAP602-Converter-Maker-easy-Supports/dp/B002Y4RA12
2 A graphics card with video and audio in and recording software. You may already have a suitable card.
3 The best but most expensive option.
A DV or Digital 8 camcorder with Video/Audio in and a PC with a firewire port (or a Canopus capture device). These convert analogue video to .AVI files using the DV codec. These are large at about 4GB for 20 minutes but convert very easily to mpeg2 programme stream files (.mpg) suitable for DVD.
See
http://www.videohelp.com/dvanalog
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&q=canopus+advc110&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1600&bih=770&wrapid=tlif134036913473610&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=694718679117144042&sa=X&ei=eGjkT867Cume0QXB8pyqCQ&ved=0CIcBEPMCMAI
A DVD recorder will be easier to source and offer similar quality to the latter.
You'd need a DVD recorder or a combined VCR/DVD recorder.
You still haven't given the make and model of what you already have though?
http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?slg=en&scy=nl&ctn=DVP3055V/19
I've seen prices for converters however I'm debating whether to buy a recorder instead. Would this be any good?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-DVR20-Digital-Recorder-Freeview/dp/B003LO2RIU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1340547270&sr=8-2
Vice-versa I think if you want to record from VHS (which you have) to DVD
On the other hand, you *may* already have the equipment?
Yes you're right. Your current equipment is a DVD player only.
The Toshiba you linked to would certainly work, but might be a bit OTT for the specific job you are after?
However it would allow you to record to DVD from Freeview, which you can't do with your current unit, so might be useful for that.
If it was me I would probably look for a second-hand straight DVD recorder on ebay, if I had quite a few tapes to archive.
But then that wouldn't be much use afterwards, except as a spare DVD player.
There are a number of videos to record over so I'm thinking I'm going to need some thing good. The video converter things seem to be expensive so I'm thinking whether its sensible to buy a recorder instead. Would the quality as same the VHS? As in no further deterioration? Its seems to be the most simplest away as well. Thanks for the tip, I'll have a look on ebay as well.
Thanks, do you know which store it was? I've seen some places online.
A unit like the Toshiba should be able to dub to DVD without any loss of quality.
In my experience, using a capture card on a computer can give mixed results, and sometimes the quality is degraded. Depends on what you buy and the software used really.
But obviously it's fairly cheap to buy one of these USB capture devices, and try it out.
Or it's possible your PC might have video capture capability already; in which case you'd just need a cable.
'sup to you.
Obvioulsly not, as you made it perfectly clear you don't want to record videos, you want to record DVDs. Also, where in this day and age do you think you could buy a video recorder?
I meant combined VCR/DVD recorder.