I have a VCR Tape that I want to convert to DVD with dvd recorder. How??

[jbitakis]

I have a VCR and a VHS tape that I want to convert to a DVD. I also have a DVD recorder. Does anyone know how to convert my vhs tape to a DVD with my DVD recorder?
James

[PuzZLeR]

When you mean "DVD recorder" can you be more specific with a few more details?

Are you referring to a computer DvD recorder, or a stand-alone unit?

And if it's a stand-alone unit, does it have a VCR as part of it, or does it come with a hard drive, etc., etc.?

[lacywest]

Well to get things going ... you hook up the outputs from the vcr to the inputs of the dvd recorder ... audio is the white and red ... and if you have S-VHS use it for the video ... if not ... you use the yellow output to the yellow input

If it has copy protection ... you will need a box in between to fix the squigly lines ... this is connected to the video portion ... audio is not scrambled

[PuzZLeR]

To continue... assuming it's a stand-alone unit ... once you've plugged in your VCR (like the last Lacywest correctly described) then you need to "input" your VCR signal into it. There should be an "input" button on your DvD Recorder remote, which can interchange between other inputs, such as cable/TV, camera, and including the VCR input. Choose the one that you can see on your screen what the VCR is playing.

Also, choose a recording speed/quality/etc. For a blank DvD-R (4+GB), you can put about 1 hour of high quality video or 3 hours of "decent" video on it. The best balance IMO is 2 hours for most stuff. Check your manual for these settings.

Now, all you need do is "feed the machine".

Insert tape into your VCR.
Press "Record" on your DvD Recorder. (Don't worry if it's a bit early.)
Press "Play" on your VCR.
When the tape, or the tape's program ends, press "Stop" on your VCR.
Press "Stop" on your DvD Recorder. (Don't worry if it's a bit late.)

Assuming you have a hard drive on your DvD Recorder, you will have recorded the contents of what you played in real time right there. Once you find it, you can cut off the ends, even commercials, or what you don't want, with simple edits and then burn it to DvD. In the end, make sure you finalize the disc.

Some of the more advanced users here put the video on their PCs using re-recordable discs (RW), for processing, edits, etc., including the final DvD in the end.

[jbitakis]

I have a stand alone DVD recorder. I have a Separate VHS VCR. This is what I tried yesterday and it failed.
I connected the red, white, yellow cord from the VCR output to the DVD recorder input. I then set the quality to the 2 hr. setting. then I set where on the DVD recorder the yellow, white, and red cords were going. In my case it was set to the back of the DVD recorder (I also have inputs that I can use in the front of the DVD recorder). I then pressed play on the VCR and Record on the DVD recorder. After 5 seconds, I noticed that the DVD recorder was blinking red light which means it was paused, while the VCR played on. I let it play out and hoped that when the VHS tape ended that the recording would begin. Although I did not think it would work, since that Pause (red blinking light) was telling me that it was not recording. Sure enough, it did not record.
I can't figure out why it keeps happening. Each time I would press play on the VCR the recording would PAUSE.

I have a mini dv camcorder and have regularly using firewire made DVD's from my mini dv tapes directly using this same DVD recorder with NO PROBLEMS.

What do you think the problem is???
James

[lacywest]

First thought is ... the vcr tape has Copy Guard on the tape and the DVD recorder knows it and wont record it.

This website if I remember right has rules about this topic.

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6545.cfm

That is all I'm going to say

[SmokieStover]

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic246129.html

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic355884.html

[PuzZLeR]

Yup. The tape is "protected". And your DvD Recorder knows it and respects it. It's quite likely a frivolous case since the VHS format is officially dead, but the manufacturers of recorders will still respect it to make sure to avoid any lawsuits.

I will bet that if you were to use a regular consumer tape, with a personal recording on it, it would work just fine with your method. If it does, then the other tape was protected and that's why your DvD Recorder said "no way".

I'm totally anti-piracy myself, but I will admit my belief that the use of such VHS protection schemes has expired due to the format being currently obsolete. I agree we should be allowed to transfer it to a digital medium today.

But that's only opinion and I've no need for it anyway since my transfers have only been personal stuff and I've replaced all my VHS commercial tapes with the DvD anyway (which is a better "conversion", albeit more costly).

But I won't get into it any further myself especially since there are links posted on the subject.