Noob question

[Bort04]

How do I transfer VHS to VHS? I have two VCRs and a tv. Do I just connect the VCRs and press play in the first (with the original tape) and record in the second (with the new tape)? Thanks

[yoda313]

Hello,

Yep. Just make sure it can remove macrovision if you are "backing up" your personal commercial movie collection.

Kevin

--You can get standalone macrovision removers all over the internet--

[Bort04]

Excellent. Thanks!

[Capmaster]

Remember that you will get a lower quality copy doing a direct dub like that.

[Bort04]

What's a better way (without spending a fortune)?

[RowMan]

There's really no way to get a copy to be exactly like the original in an analog format such as standard VHS. You can inexpensively minimize "generation loss" by using good quality, short cables and maybe throwing in a video processor or booster into the mix.

[thor300]

There must be a better way, why else would Capmaster warn about quality loss? I set to watch this thread for replies to find out what method is more lossless. Still nothing.

[Capmaster]

There must be a better way, why else would Capmaster warn about quality loss? I set to watch this thread for replies to find out what method is more lossless. Still nothing.

A Timebase Corrector is a necessity if you want to minimize loss when copying VHS. Otherwise the timing gets ratty and you start seeing things like color shifting, vertical lines that are no longer straight, fuzzy edges. etc. We've all seen crappy bootlegged tapes that weren't done on professional equipment :P

This is due to tape stretch and mechanical slop. When you do a straight copy you compound it by adding more stretch and slop.

A TBC allows you to remove that first set of slop and stretch errors so you end up with pretty close to the original in quality. It strips off all vertical and horizontal timing and installs its own clean, precise timing to the video stream.

Whether you consider $300 a "fortune" is a matter for you and your wallet. I'm just telling you what you need to avoid excessive quality loss.

Again, it's a personal judgment what level of quality loss is "acceptable" and what isn't. Try it and see. If it looks too muddy, consider borrowing or renting a TBC if you're only doing a few tapes. Consider buying one if you plan to do many

[thor300]

Thanx cap, now i know a little more I havent had a VHS for more than 4 years, thats before i started doing video conversions, so this kinda stuff is 99% (or more) unknown to me.

[RowMan]

Of course a TBC would help immensely, but unless it's for business purposes, $300 to do VHS copies seems like a lot to me. Most people I've done dubs for can't tell the difference between the original and the copy if I use two good VHS decks and high grade tape.

[Capmaster]

Of course a TBC would help immensely, but unless it's for business purposes, $300 to do VHS copies seems like a lot to me. Most people I've done dubs for can't tell the difference between the original and the copy if I use two good VHS decks and high grade tape.

Then the level of quality loss is acceptable in your case, and spending $300 would be foolish