Transfer old VCR tapes to DVD?

[Tomas090]

and can't find an answer this no techie can understand

I have: Dell computer with Dual layer DVD burneer

Stand alone VCR and DVD PLAYER combo

Samsung HD TV

DVR player from cable company

I want to: Be able to transfer old VCR tapes to DVD, had little luck using compouter

Record TV programs either directly to DVD or from DVR to DVD Player

What kind of stand alone DVD player do I need? IS there a combo that allows putting a VCR in and recording directly to DVD?

Can I use plain old DVD-R discs

What is DVD RAM Dics

Enough questions?

Thanks for anyone willing to tackle this

Tom

[pchan]

Since your objective is to transfer VCr tapes to DVD, a DVD recorder may serve your needs. Look for one with hard disk. It gives you better editing option.

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders

[ZippyP.]

What kind of stand alone DVD player do I need? IS there a combo that allows putting a VCR in and recording directly to DVD?

As stated, you need a DVD recorder. Yes they make combo units but they aren't normally recommended as they aren't usually the best quality.

Can I use plain old DVD-R discs

Yes.

What is DVD RAM Dics

A type of rewritable medium similar in function to a DVD-RW. Most DVD players will not recognize them, but they are good if you want to record and erase a disk many times as you can do that many more times than an RW.

Enough questions?

Yup.

[kschang]

Stand alone VCR and DVD PLAYER combo
Samsung HD TV
DVR player from cable company

I want to:
1) Be able to transfer old VCR tapes to DVD, had little luck using compouter
2) Record TV programs either directly to DVD or from DVR to DVD Player

What kind of stand alone DVD player do I need? IS there a combo that allows putting a VCR in and recording directly to DVD?

Yes. Heck, go into any decent home electronics store like Circuit City or Best Buy and you should spot a couple. They cost a couple hundred though.

Can I use plain old DVD-R discs?

Absolutely.

What is DVD RAM?

A "third" format in addition to DVD+R and DVD-R. Actually DVD-RAM came out first, but it wasn't very popular. Recently it's enjoying a revival of sorts.

You don't need to go through the PC at all if most of your source is VHS tapes.

[redwudz]

Tomas090, in the future please use a more descriptive subject title in your posts to allow others to search for similar topics. I will change yours this time. From our rules:

Try to choose a subject that describes your topic.
Please do not use topic subjects like Help me!!! or Problems.

Moderator redwudz

[Tomas090]

Thansk for all the help, but one more Will this machine allow me to copy television programs directly to DVD's? Wil;l it work just like the cable companies DVR?

[redwudz]

If you are asking about the DVD recorder, yes. Works similar to a VCR.

You said you had little luck using the computer to transfer the VHS video to DVD. What's the model of the computer? It should be printed on the back of the computer. That might help one of us that are more familiar with that model to give you some ideas why it didn't work or won't work for that purpose.

But still, a DVR is usually the easier method for VHS>DVD. There is more involved if you need to edit the file, or if you are not getting good quality during the transfer.

But we're here to help if we can.

[Tomas090]

I probably asked the second post wrong. I was wondering if I can use a syand alone DVD player just as I do the DVR that came with my cable set up, can I just put a DVD in and record "The unit" When you record directly from TV, does the DVD have a hard drive or go directly to DVD?

I have a chance to get a Panasonic DMRES20S "free", actually using reward points, is that an OK machine

also, people have sid not to use a combo VCR DVD burner, so I guess I owuld use my old VCR and input to the Panasonic (If I buy it

Cables, do I use regular "RCA" type or do I need those insanley expensive HDMI ones again

[Tomas090]

If you are asking about the DVD recorder, yes. Works similar to a VCR.

You said you had little luck using the computer to transfer the VHS video to DVD. What's the model of the computer? It should be printed on the back of the computer. That might help one of us that are more familiar with that model to give you some ideas why it didn't work or won't work for that purpose.

But still, a DVR is usually the easier method for VHS>DVD. There is more involved if you need to edit the file, or if you are not getting good quality during the transfer.

But we're here to help if we can.

Many thanks

It is a DELL Inspiron 6000, Win XP Media edition, P M 1.86, 2 GIG RAM, 80 MEG 7200 RPM HD, firewire, usb, Dual Layer DVD burner etc.

It copies commercial DVDS fine, also does DVD from Video cam, I just don't know how to do DVD from VCR

[kidmegabit]

If you want to do this on that laptop, transfer vhs to dvd, you'll need a way to input the movies into the laptop. USB capture devices work for this. Some include Pinnacle, Hauppauge, AverMedia (though not the best one).

[Tomas090]

If you want to do this on that laptop, transfer vhs to dvd, you'll need a way to input the movies into the laptop. USB capture devices work for this. Some include Pinnacle, Hauppauge, AverMedia (though not the best one).

It's the transferring from VCR to DVD where I have the problem, so I am buying a stand alone DVD recorder

[kidmegabit]

My point was, you can't do this without a capture device. The S-video on your laptop is for out video only, not in. And if you don't want to buy a capture device then a standalone vcr/dvd recorder is your only other option.

In fact, I am thinking the same thing and I have a capture device that I cannot setup for some odd reason. Wal-Mart has an RCA VCR/DVD recorder that I'm thinking of buying, it costs $198 and some odd cents, but it burns to DVD+R and DVD-R. Though someone here mentioned getting one with a harddrive, I don't know how those would transfer to your DVD burner on the computer!?

[pchan]

In fact, I am thinking the same thing and I have a capture device that I cannot setup for some odd reason. Wal-Mart has an RCA VCR/DVD recorder that I'm thinking of buying, it costs $198 and some odd cents, but it burns to DVD+R and DVD-R. Though someone here mentioned getting one with a harddrive, I don't know how those would transfer to your DVD burner on the computer!?

Indeed. An 80gig or 120gig model would surfice. Record to hard disk and transfer to PC using a DVD-RW or DVD+RW disc. Edit or trim in PC with any MPEG editor. Womble MPEG Video wizard is good example. Author to DVD with either TDA or DVDLab. Burn it DVD disc.

Alternatively, less bell & whistle, edit the video clips in the DVD Recorder hard disk and burn it to a DVD-R disc. Can burn as many video clips as the DVD-R disc can hold. Those DVD Recorders with DL burner will have an advantage in this department.

[kidmegabit]

A bit steep in prices though. One I found was $328. Too much for me to pay to get this done at this time.

[redwudz]

Tomas090, thanks for the information. If you don't have a capture device on the computer, that answers the question.

You should be able to record most TV video on a DVR. It depends on your sources. There are two main types of DVRs, with and without a hard drive. The hard drive makes it much easier to work with video. You can record to the hard drive, edit if you want, then burn the edited video to DVD. Or if you don't want it, delete it.

Without a hard drive, you will have to make a DVD directly from the video. If you want to edit and remove commercials, you may have to put the burned DVD in your computer, edit it, then burn a second DVD. Or the DVR may let you mark parts of the video where the commercials are so they don't play back when watching the video, but they still take up space on the DVD. Not really a good editing method, in my opinion. You can use RW discs instead and use them over, but having a hard drive eliminates that step most of the time or greatly simplifies it.

If your video source is a cable box, it depends on the box and what type of video it outputs. If you are recording from a VCR and the VHS tape is not encrypted with Macrovision, you should be able to back it up. The S-video outputs from a VCR are better, but if your VCR just has composite, then use that. The RCA cable doesn't have to be that expensive. Just a good quality cable. One for video and 2 for the 2 audio channels.

That's the easy part. Some VHS tapes need more work to get the best quality out of them. A lot of us use a TBC, which is a add-on device to clean up the signal. But try just playing the tape and recording it to the DVR. It might be good enough for your purposes that way.

That should give you a start, anyway. If your computer is a laptop and you want to backup VHS tapes, I would consider a DVR, preferably with a hard drive.

[Tomas090]

Thank you all very much for your help, in 2-3 post you have provide more information than 5 retailers and three supposedly "know everything" friends

You may have created a monster as I am sure I will be back with many questions once I own machine

for now: Can I return the Cable Co DVR and still have all the features on the stand alone, such as selecting a certain program (Say the Unit) and have it record anytime it is broadcast?

I chose the Panasonic DMRES20S and don't even know if it has a HD. How is this unit rated by you guys, I have read reviews but I like your real life experience

Thanks again

Tom

[redwudz]

I don't believe it has a hard drive. Here's a review, though not too informative. http://www.best-dvd-recorder-reviews.com/PanasonicDMR-ES20S.html You can also do a all forum search on our site for 'DMRES20S' and get a few hits.

[davideck]

I used the ES20 for a while and found it to be a fine machine overall. It does not have a hard drive, which quickly became an issue for me.

You might also want to search www.avsforum.com. Many happy Panasonic users there.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Also remember that store bought VHS movies after 1994(some before) will have Macrovision,in that case you will also need a Sima device.
EDIT:I see redwudz already mentioned Macrovision.