Transferring VHS tapes to DVDs

[Dr4Film]

I used my sons Canon Video Recorder as the digital device in conjunction with my laptop to capture the audio & video signals coming from a VCR. Worked like a charm. The VCR was cabled to the Canon which acted like a digital pass-through device and into my laptop where everything was being recorded into a digital file. Then I took that file and burned a DVD.

Sure glad I don't have to carry all of those VHS tapes around any longer. It freed up a lot of storage space in the coach.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[KBolin]

Before we sold our home and went full timing I bought one of these

http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/ea.../overview.html

It allowed me to download all my VHS and camcorder tapes to my computer for editing later. DW has tons of hours of her son playing hockey when he was growing up. I'm going to make a small movie clip of about 10 min, something a person can actually watch and enjoy.

[YC1]

VRD-MC6 | DVDirect® DVD Recorder | Sony | Sony Style USA

I have used one of these for years. I actually had to buy the blu ray one once I bought a HD camera. I gave the standard def to my sil. It is extremely easy to transfer any kind of media to this. Since you have 6 hour vhs tapes I would use DL (dual layer)/double density disks available at any Staples type store. They are inexpensive and hold two hours. As mentioned with VHS you will be transferring in real time. Set your clock for 1 hour and 50 minutes and then start watching the dvd recorder. Once it is filled the vhs will still continue to run so shut it off. Once you have "finalized" the disk play it in your dvd player and check the last scene recorded. Go back and set the vhs player to that point in time and put another disk in. Once you have transferred your disks you can breath a sign of relief knowing your precious memories are now saved.

These disk can be copied via an inexpensive software program if you have a DVD burner. Not just a CD burner. Ask around your friends to see if they have done it and buy them lunch and a pile of Disks. The nice thing is when making copies you can tell the program on the computer how many copies to make. Then send a copy to someone that would really enjoy them and you have an off premise copy in case yours get damaged.

I use Nero Burning software. Some years ago I loved Roxio and some upgrades we terrible so I went to Nero.

You can buy this for less than directly from Sony of course and E-bay is worth a look. This machine works extremely well with modern cameras and will transfer digitally so you do not lose any quality.

When you do transfer the vhs have the media copy in the best format it can.

[Wayne M]

Originally Posted by Txcirclem

Part of my duties in my job are to transfer vhs tapes to a dvd format. I regularly use and eventually burn up vhs to dvd recorders. I have gone through several in the last 6 years. Each time I have tried to make a copy of the new DVD recorded from these machines, they appear to copy without problem but will not play on any type of machine (computer or DVD player) In order to make a second copy, a ripper program is then use to remove the copyright encoded into the new DVD, thus allowing more copies to be made.

If your machine makes copies that can be duplicated without rip, Great!. But most folks don't make a second copy without first editing the images with another type of video editing program. The way to know this is to attempt to duplicate the DVD copy using a copying software.

The vhs to dvd is usally done minute for minute. Thus making a copy of a 6 hour tape takes 6 hours (+). Making a duplicate of that copy with the computer takes minutes, if it will copy. My experience is that it will not. It will appear that the duplicate was made but the duplicate does not play.

ADS makes a great mpeg encoder called DVD Xpress and it is low cost. (under $50). and it solves most of the problems with copyright.

PS. i only wish i owned a stake in this company.

Happy trails!

I must be one of the fortunate ones. The VHS to DVD recorders that I have, which are playback also, are capable of the many different formats, DVD-RAM/DVD+/-RW/DVD+/-R and can be used as if they were VCR tapes. I have had players that would not take one of the formats because it was a single format player. I do agree that if you are have VHS tapes that are encoded then you would have to RIP them. I just assumed that the material being transferred was personal home recordings that were made. I use HANDBRAKE (MAC program) for those movies I have purchased that have DRM protection. Then I stream them to DVD.

[YC1]

Wow, this thread brought up an ad for transferring the media.

Advanced Digital Video

[firedoc]

Yea, aren't targeted ads great? Not. FWIW that's the exact kind of business I used to have. Still have all the equipment. Wouldn't let DW sell it. Too busy volunteering (for free) to have time to use it and get paid😜😉

[Dogpatch]

By the time you get around transferring the VHS to DVD, DVD's will be obsolete and you will be able to request how to transfer those to the next media.

Wait a minute...that's already happening!