DVD Recorder Help! <technophobe alert!>

The Deebster · 10-12-2008, 09:54

I am looking at buying my parents a DVD recorder with built in freeview for christmas.

One of the things they'd like to do is record some old VHS tapes (home movies) onto DVD. Is it possible to hook up a VHS player to the DVD recorder and do this?

Do I need to ensure the DVD recorder I buy has a special feature to enable this?

I am very rubbish at technical stuff so please feel free to answer as though I am a 2 year old - I will not take offence!!

pkc · 10-12-2008, 10:02

svp.co.uk has one on special offer today.

Tevion TC7500 HDD/DVD Recorder With DVB-T + Analogue Tuners (Refurbished)

http://svp.co.uk/product/tevion_tc75...3?ref=news1012

£59.99 after promotion starts at noon

Willie Wontie · 10-12-2008, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Deebster

Do I need to ensure the DVD recorder I buy has a special feature to enable this?

No special features needed - all DVD recorders can do this, just connect the VCR to the DVDR using a scart cable. But be aware, only home-made video tapes can be copied using this method, commercial (bought) tapes are all copy protected.

chrisjr · 10-12-2008, 10:12

First thing to consider.

Do your parents have Freeview at the moment, either via an external box or built into the TV? If not are they in an area that is covered by Freeview? If the answer to either is No or Don't Know then perhaps if you post the town they live in someone can confirm Freeview coverage.

Not that not having Freeview yet prevents you buying a recorder, many DVD recorders can record analogue as well as Freeview so will work more or less anywhere yet be ready for when digital arrives.

The second thing to consider. If they do not have Freeview already but live in a Freeview area then they can use the recorder to watch digital TV through the recorder's tuner. But they won't be able to watch ITV 2 while recording BBC3 at the same time for instance. For that you would need a PVR type of box. But that will not let you record from the VHS machine.

Something to ponder over.

And as for copying VHS tapes. If the VHS machine has a SCART socket then just plug that into the DVD recorder. Most DVD's have two SCART sockets, one for the TV and one for another device. You just select whichever SCART the VHS is connected to on the DVD (probably called AV1 or AV2 in the menus). press PLAY on the VHS and RECORD on the DVD and away you go.

gomezz · 10-12-2008, 10:13

To copy the home movies off VCR and even for general used a DVD recorder which includes a hard-disk is a much more flexible and useful beast. Copy the tape the hard disk; Edit it to remove leading and trailing padding; Burn to disc. One advantage is you can leave the tape to hard disk copy running while you go and do something else as you will not be worried by it over-running by several minutes or even an hour because it doesn't matter if it does. It doesn't matter if yiu get a bum DVD disc, just re-burn the hard disk copy to another disc etc

The Deebster · 10-12-2008, 10:29

ChrisJr - thanks for the reply - really helpful and very simply put!!
They do have one freeview box in the house so can get freeview but they don't have this attached to the main telly (don't ask me why!) They have a fairly new VHS/DVD player in the house so attaching it to the recorder shouldn't be a problem.

I have thought about getting a recorder with a hard drive but I'm not sure if thats going to suit them for what they want. I've seen a DVD recorder with freeview in comet on offer from £120 to £70 - I think it was panasonic, I thought this was a reasonable deal as I've seen DVD recorders without freeview for about £50-60 online??

Willie Wontie · 10-12-2008, 10:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Deebster

I have thought about getting a recorder with a hard drive but I'm not sure if thats going to suit them for what they want. I've seen a DVD recorder with freeview in comet on offer from £120 to £70 - I think it was panasonic, I thought this was a reasonable deal as I've seen DVD recorders without freeview for about £50-60 online??

With a hard drive means that they don't have to use a DVD disc if all they want to do is record something, watch it back later, then delete it. All they need to do is record to the hard drive, watch it from the hard drive, delete it. Without a hard drive they are going to have to record to disc, whether they are planning on keeping it forever or not. Now, with RW discs they can be formatted and re-used, but obviously not as convenient as recording to hard drive only.

Scorpio · 10-12-2008, 18:28

copying a VHS tape to DVD will not improve the quality of the recording in any way. There is nothing wrong in having a twin tuner hard drive PVR as suggested and just playing the original VHS tape when required.

Making a DVD copy of some old stuff should not override the massive benefit a PVR can bring with regard to pause live TV, record one channel watch another, record 2 channels whilst playing back a previously recorded item.

As you have a DVD/VHS player this can be left in the set up and a PVR added.

If there is a real requirement to create DVD discs then buy a cheap DVDR to compliment the PVR.

Rgds,
Scorp

10-12-2008, 09:54	#1
The Deebster Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nottingham Posts: 667	DVD Recorder Help! <technophobe alert!> I am looking at buying my parents a DVD recorder with built in freeview for christmas. One of the things they'd like to do is record some old VHS tapes (home movies) onto DVD. Is it possible to hook up a VHS player to the DVD recorder and do this? Do I need to ensure the DVD recorder I buy has a special feature to enable this? I am very rubbish at technical stuff so please feel free to answer as though I am a 2 year old - I will not take offence!!

10-12-2008, 10:02	#2
pkc Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Brighton Posts: 5,192	svp.co.uk has one on special offer today. Tevion TC7500 HDD/DVD Recorder With DVB-T + Analogue Tuners (Refurbished) http://svp.co.uk/product/tevion_tc75...3?ref=news1012 £59.99 after promotion starts at noon

10-12-2008, 10:05	#3
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	Quote: Originally Posted by The Deebster Do I need to ensure the DVD recorder I buy has a special feature to enable this? No special features needed - all DVD recorders can do this, just connect the VCR to the DVDR using a scart cable. But be aware, only home-made video tapes can be copied using this method, commercial (bought) tapes are all copy protected.

10-12-2008, 10:12	#4
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	First thing to consider. Do your parents have Freeview at the moment, either via an external box or built into the TV? If not are they in an area that is covered by Freeview? If the answer to either is No or Don't Know then perhaps if you post the town they live in someone can confirm Freeview coverage. Not that not having Freeview yet prevents you buying a recorder, many DVD recorders can record analogue as well as Freeview so will work more or less anywhere yet be ready for when digital arrives. The second thing to consider. If they do not have Freeview already but live in a Freeview area then they can use the recorder to watch digital TV through the recorder's tuner. But they won't be able to watch ITV 2 while recording BBC3 at the same time for instance. For that you would need a PVR type of box. But that will not let you record from the VHS machine. Something to ponder over. And as for copying VHS tapes. If the VHS machine has a SCART socket then just plug that into the DVD recorder. Most DVD's have two SCART sockets, one for the TV and one for another device. You just select whichever SCART the VHS is connected to on the DVD (probably called AV1 or AV2 in the menus). press PLAY on the VHS and RECORD on the DVD and away you go.

10-12-2008, 10:13	#5
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	To copy the home movies off VCR and even for general used a DVD recorder which includes a hard-disk is a much more flexible and useful beast. Copy the tape the hard disk; Edit it to remove leading and trailing padding; Burn to disc. One advantage is you can leave the tape to hard disk copy running while you go and do something else as you will not be worried by it over-running by several minutes or even an hour because it doesn't matter if it does. It doesn't matter if yiu get a bum DVD disc, just re-burn the hard disk copy to another disc etc

10-12-2008, 10:29	#6
The Deebster Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nottingham Posts: 667	ChrisJr - thanks for the reply - really helpful and very simply put!! They do have one freeview box in the house so can get freeview but they don't have this attached to the main telly (don't ask me why!) They have a fairly new VHS/DVD player in the house so attaching it to the recorder shouldn't be a problem. I have thought about getting a recorder with a hard drive but I'm not sure if thats going to suit them for what they want. I've seen a DVD recorder with freeview in comet on offer from £120 to £70 - I think it was panasonic, I thought this was a reasonable deal as I've seen DVD recorders without freeview for about £50-60 online??

10-12-2008, 10:39	#7
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	Quote: Originally Posted by The Deebster I have thought about getting a recorder with a hard drive but I'm not sure if thats going to suit them for what they want. I've seen a DVD recorder with freeview in comet on offer from £120 to £70 - I think it was panasonic, I thought this was a reasonable deal as I've seen DVD recorders without freeview for about £50-60 online?? With a hard drive means that they don't have to use a DVD disc if all they want to do is record something, watch it back later, then delete it. All they need to do is record to the hard drive, watch it from the hard drive, delete it. Without a hard drive they are going to have to record to disc, whether they are planning on keeping it forever or not. Now, with RW discs they can be formatted and re-used, but obviously not as convenient as recording to hard drive only.

10-12-2008, 18:28	#8
Scorpio Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,048	copying a VHS tape to DVD will not improve the quality of the recording in any way. There is nothing wrong in having a twin tuner hard drive PVR as suggested and just playing the original VHS tape when required. Making a DVD copy of some old stuff should not override the massive benefit a PVR can bring with regard to pause live TV, record one channel watch another, record 2 channels whilst playing back a previously recorded item. As you have a DVD/VHS player this can be left in the set up and a PVR added. If there is a real requirement to create DVD discs then buy a cheap DVDR to compliment the PVR. Rgds, Scorp

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DVD Recorder Help! <technophobe alert!>