VHS to DVD

[schokid02]

Does anyone know how to backup commercial VHS onto DVD? I have the USB Instant DVD for Mac from ADS, but it has issues with image protection. I've read that a video enhancer or stabilizer might do the trick, such as SIMA's SED-CM Video CopyMaster. Anyone have some advice? Thanks.

[theMotoMan]

Yes, you'll need something like SIMA's SED-CM Video CopyMaster to do the job, although it doesn't work in all situations. Some of them are called video stabilizers and some are called time based correctors (TBC). I have a Panasonic E30 and I am having the same problem. It's hard to get a straight answer on some of these to whether they work or not. I've seen posts that declare they work, then it's followed by another that says it won't. I would do some searching on this website and see what you come up with.

Good luck and post your results if you get something to work!

[icoty]

What I do when I copy from VHS to DVD is I use my mini DV camcorder with analog to digital pass through, connect it to my Power Mac G4 via firewire and record to iMovie. Once I am done importing to iMovie I can then export to iDVD and burn to a blank DVD. Works all the time.

[icoty]

BTW, the mini DV camcorder is connected to the VCR and then to the G4. And I don't load the mini DV with a tape, that way the signal goes straight to iMovie

[theMotoMan]

icoty,

Since iDVD has a 90 minute movie length restriction, it only works on certain movies. Seems like you have to pony up the bucks for DVDSP or use some of the other free tools like ffmpegX, etc. to get the job done on movies longer than 90 minutes.