best recorder to transfer vhs to dvd-r?

[brassguy]

What is the best recorder that can transfer a VHS tape to 1 dvd-r?

I have a bunch of home videos and other VHS movies that just keep getting worn, and they will eventually go completely bad in like 15-20 years.

Is there an easy way to transfer the contents of 1 vhs to a DVD-r? Is there much compression involved?


How much do these players go for? Is there a cheap one?

And can they also record from the TV to a dvd-r?

[yoda313]

Hello,

Check out this list for standalones (pc burners are included in the list also)

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters

I think you can get the settop ones for under $200 USD these days.

Kevin

[Frobozz]

You'er on the right path. There are several threads in this forum where folks write about the quality of different players. The best place to start is here: https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters and select "Only Desktop DVD Recorders" next to "Search In". It took me a couple days to research my purchase. Enjoy!

[brassguy]

so desktop dvd recorders can do the vhs to dvd-r thing?

[yoda313]

so desktop dvd recorders can do the vhs to dvd-r thing?

Hello,

Yeah, it's just like dubbing vcrs except your using a dvd.

Kevin

[MOVIEGEEK]

The Sonys' can write on -R and +R but not DVD-RAM.
The other brands(Panasonic,Pioneer,Toshiba,etc) can only write on -R and most can write to DVD-RAM.

[ZippyP.]

so desktop dvd recorders can do the vhs to dvd-r thing?

DVD recorders will take a video signal and make a DVD whether the source is from a VCR, video camera, cable box or the built in TV tuner.

Generally they give pretty good quality using the 2 hour mode, any more and quality will start to suffer.

[brassguy]

2 hour mode thats sp and slp is 6 hours right.

So what would a video on VHS that is like 2 1/2 hours or 3 hours be?

[Frobozz]

If you recorded the VHS in 6-hour mode you already have a rather poor-quality picture. Transferring it to DVD will give you a picture that looks just as bad or worse. Unless you have good quality VHS video -- meaning SP or SVHS -- don't bother transferring to DVD. Others may disagree with me about this but I compare it to making a CD from a noisy vinly LP. Somehow you can put up with the clicks and pops when you're playing the record, but it drives you nuts hearing it come from a CD.

[handyguy]

I use 4 hour mode, LP, on a panasonic e30, e55 should be the same. Does a perfect job & so easy.

[DaveS]

2 hour mode thats sp and slp is 6 hours right.

So what would a video on VHS that is like 2 1/2 hours or 3 hours be?

3 hours of NTSC tv recorded off cable on a sony looks very good..

[vhelp]

You said these are "home video". I'll assume that these
were shot on some kind of cam. And you said that you
have "other" stuff on VHS..., recorded tv shows perhaps.

The home video's you will have to encode as interlace,
because that is what they are.

As far as the other stuf on VHS, will depend on what the
source is Interlace or Film.

Other stuff on vhs ...

The quality will depend on what your source signal was
like when you recorded it to tape. If your source was
clean, then chances are, you'll get fair to good results.

A suggestion ...

I have pretty noisy antenna signal. I used an external
Hardware MPEG1/2 device - DVD Xpress (by ADS) and
based on a few test runs on my noisey line, I got some
pretty decent quality from it. I also did some VHS tapes,
and found the quality was very good. It costed only
$77 at Wal-Mart.

You can read my brief review of it here:

--> ADS DVD Xpress - My experience so far

Good luck,
-vhelp

[brassguy]

a bunch of home videos and recorded concerts of mine yes, and also VHS videos too that I would like to backup before they are unplayable. Instead of rebuy the VHS videos that i have (some arent even available on dvd) I figured there was an easy way to copy the VHS to DVD. So these VHS movies of mine, some are 2 1/2 hours long or whatever. Would that still be SP? Easy to record to DVD?


As long as the DVD plays just like the VHS would in a VCR, that would be great. obviosuly VHSs arent as clear as DVD movies.

[Frobozz]

Standalone DVD recorders are by far the easiest way to copy VHS to DVD and most units have good quality encoders. Figure on putting no more than about 2 and a half hours on a disc unless you are willing to accept a lower quality picture.

I recommend downloading and reading through the manuals of the models you are most interested in. Some are easier to use than others and some have many more features. It will help you choose one that makes most sense to you.

[JeffM]

If you're saying you have Hollywood type movies on VHS, which can be easily found
and purchased in DVD format, then I would go out and buy them as DVDs.

Transferring them to DVD sounds like a waste of time and money, unless they are
irreplaceable home movies.

And after transferring them to DVD, don't throw your VHS tapes away! Just keep them
in safe place. Who knows, there's always new technology coming out that might do
a better job later on.

[vhelp]

If you're saying you have Hollywood type movies on VHS, which can be easily found
and purchased in DVD format, then I would go out and buy them as DVDs.

Transferring them to DVD sounds like a waste of time and money, unless they are
irreplaceable home movies.

I disagree here .. 8)

There's nothing wrong with trans VHS -to- DVD, even though you can get
them on DVD. Maybe money *IS* a problem for some, and that fact that
they already have them on VHS is just a coinsidence, and time well
spent, when money is an object after-all. Plus, there's a sense of
good feeling to be able to transfer them to DVD and be able to finally
watch them, but this time, w/ the luxury of a CD or DVD disk.

But, I agree.., don't ever throw out the "originals" (in your case,
VHS tapes) because as time as proven time and time again, things *DO*
improve. The DVD Xpress is a good example, from my experience so
far.

I'm amazed at this little device. It really works well
No matter *WHAT* the source (including VHS; and my Noisy Antenna)

Cheers,
-vhelp

[JeffM]

Not to mention DVDs can be easily scratched, lost, stolen, etc... Maybe some people might be
tempted to throw out their old VHS tapes after transferring them to DVD to clean up space or whatever,
but I would treat these old tapes as your master copies and you don't throw out your master copies.

I disagree here ..

Well, then you won't get a 480p quality picture. If these are Hollywood-type movies on VHS tape,
then I would just buy them on DVD to get DVD quality. And don't forget about the sound quality too.

[Capmaster]

Well, then you won't get a 480p quality picture. If these are Hollywood-type movies on VHS tape,
then I would just buy them on DVD to get DVD quality. And don't forget about the sound quality too.

From May 2002 to April of this year I transferred over 2,000 VHS movies to DVD. Those were movies we had been accumulating for years. So you say the thing to do is to ditch all those tapes and plunk down between $30,000 and $40,000 so I can have them on DVD without the fuss.

Oh ...OK

[brassguy]

For example, I would want to transfer my Star Wars Original Original Trilogy VHS tapes to DVD and my SW 1997 Special Edition to DVD.

Both cannot be gotten on DVD. Only the 2004 editions of the movie can be bought on dvd, and NOT the original.

It would also be nice to transfer home videos and irreplaceable stuff taped of tv.

[JeffM]

From May 2002 to April of this year I transferred over 2,000 VHS movies to DVD. Those were movies we had been accumulating for years. So you say the thing to do is to ditch all those tapes and plunk down between $30,000 and $40,000 so I can have them on DVD without the fuss.

Obviously, everyone's situation is different. I was giving advice to home user, who probably only
has a dozen or so VHS tapes and can afford it. The average person doesn't have thousands of VHS tapes
in their closet. Is this is home collection, or do you own a movie rental place?

You know, I would be extremely pissed off if I found out the movies that I rented from
the local movie place was making cheap movie knockoffs from VHS and putting them on DVD,
just to save money. Is that even legal? When I rent a movie on DVD, it better be
the original.

Both cannot be gotten on DVD. Only the 2004 editions of the movie can be bought on dvd, and NOT the original.

Hey, keep your Star Wars and E.T. originals. I bet I can find them on Ebay anyway.

[Marvingj]

3 Hours is probably the best But I always like LP Mode & What I see from it.

[snafu099]

If you're saying you have Hollywood type movies on VHS, which can be easily found
and purchased in DVD format, then I would go out and buy them as DVDs.

Transferring them to DVD sounds like a waste of time and money, unless they are
irreplaceable home movies.

And after transferring them to DVD, don't throw your VHS tapes away! Just keep them
in safe place. Who knows, there's always new technology coming out that might do
a better job later on.

I also disagree that it is just a waste of time/money. Besides the family vhs home recordings of children, etc which it would be hard to put a price on.

Purchased 800+ vhs tapes from closing rental store
Purchase vhs at swapmeets for $1
Under "fair use" I think I am legal to backup as long as I own and keep the original vhs tapes

For best versitility within the "fair use" I would suggest choosing a capture device/recorder that bypasses macro vision

Even buying low cost dvd's for $5-6, backing them up for $0.50 just makes sense to me. But then I and the grandkids are not careful on how we handle the discs, after all we are the throw away generations.