from vhs to dvd using pioneer DVR 320-S

[daverose808]

i have a vcr, tv, and now a pioneer DVR 320-S. ive set it up according to the manual, but i still dont understand how to copy my home video vhs tapes to dvd now. how can i see on the tv what i am recording? if i connect the vcr to the tv, i will see the vhs video on the tv, but then i wont see the dvd recording menu on the tv. if i connect the dvd recorder to the tv (with the vcr just connected to the dvd recorder), then i see just the dvd menu options, and i cant see the video that i am to be copying.

my current setup is this:
vcr connected with rca (red, white, yellow) cables to the pioneer, and pioneer connected to the tv with rca (red, white, yellow) cables. but once i press play on the vcr and record on the pioneer, i dont get to see anything on the tv and nothing is recorded. what am i doing wrong?

[gshelley61]

Are these commercial (copy-protected) VHS movies? If so, you'll need a device like a full frame TBC, or a copy box (Sima makes those) in order to defeat the copy protection and transfer store-bought VHS movies to DVD. Unless you get hold of a hacked Lite-On DVD recorder...

If these are home made VHS tapes, then check your input settings on the Pioneer DVD recorder. Maybe you have a different input selected by mistake.

[daverose808]

these are home movies... but besides the input settings, how can i see on the tv what i am recording (which would seem to need the vcr connected to the tv) while at the same time seeing the dvd menu (which would seem to need the dvd recorder connected to the tv) at the same time?

[budz]

your VCR VIDEO AND AUDIO OUTPUTS will go into your 320 VIDEO 2 INPUT AND AUDIO INPUTS which is located in the front of the 320 recorder.

your 320 VIDEO 1 OUTPUT & AUDIO OUTPUTS should be connected to your TV VIDEO 1 INPUT & AUDIO INPUT.

with that setup you should be able to see what you're recording. remember that you will need to press the VIDEO mode button on your TV to see what you're recording off the 320.

anyone can correct me if i'm wrong about that setup. i have that set up on my Pioneer 220 recorder and Sony vhs.

[spiderman2k1]

If you need a box to remove copy protection this one will do

http://www.facetvideo.com/

Pioneer 510 there first DVD recorder had problems coping VHS with lip sync problems. There are ways around this problem with a PC and a world wide VCR but it's only something you would do if you owned the stuff in the first place.

Panasonic is the best for VHS tapes. LordSmurf has a JVC and a Panasonic DVD record. He just runs the VHS in the Panasonic then the Panasonic to the JVC DVD recorder and gets great copies.

[daverose808]

budz, thanks for the reply...
my question to u is: what is the significance of what u were saying about "VIDEO 2 INPUT" and "VIDEO 1 INPUT"? it matters which number input the rca cables go into? and if so, why should the vcr go into the dvd recorder in the second input and not the first?

[gadgetguy]

budz - that assumes the TV had audio/video inputs. My father bought a DVR recorder to transfer his VHS to DVD but his television only has RF input. So going through the VCR to the TV is the only way we can get output to the TV (without buying additional hardware). We eventually hooked the A/V output from the DVR to the VCR A/V inputs, then the VCR A/V outputs to the DVR A/V inputs and the VCR RF output to the TV. We can record from VCR to DVR, but the method is really kind of blind. When you tell the DVR to use the VCR for input the TV blanks out since there is only a video loop with no valid input at that point. Then when you press play on the VCR you see the video, but it's coming directly from the VCR so you aren't seeing the output from the DVR. It's not ideal, but it does work.

[budz]

budz - that assumes the TV had audio/video inputs. My father bought a DVR recorder to transfer his VHS to DVD but his television only has RF input. So going through the VCR to the TV is the only way we can get output to the TV (without buying additional hardware). We eventually hooked the A/V output from the DVR to the VCR A/V inputs, then the VCR A/V outputs to the DVR A/V inputs and the VCR RF output to the TV. We can record from VCR to DVR, but the method is really kind of blind. When you tell the DVR to use the VCR for input the TV blanks out since there is only a video loop with no valid input at that point. Then when you press play on the VCR you see the video, but it's coming directly from the VCR so you aren't seeing the output from the DVR. It's not ideal, but it does work.

i just posted what i use that setup to copy from my vhs to Pioneer 220 recorder. everyone will have different setups. i can hit my video mode on my tv which allows me to see what i am recording off my 220.

budz, thanks for the reply...
my question to u is: what is the significance of what u were saying about "VIDEO 2 INPUT" and "VIDEO 1 INPUT"? it matters which number input the rca cables go into? and if so, why should the vcr go into the dvd recorder in the second input and not the first?

that setup works for me i gave you a suggestion on how to set up your recorder and vhs.....i use the front VIDEO 2 INPUT because it's convenient for me..... use your own discretion as to how you want your system setup to record from vhs to the 320 recorder.....everyone's components/systems are different.....my lil ole 20 inch panasonic tv i use to do recordings from my digital cable box only has one VIDEO INPUT therefore my system is set up that way.....i also use a ADVC-100 which is hooked up to my computer where i can record from my digital cable box as well.....do what works for you because everyone has different systems......

[gadgetguy]

budz- sorry, it wasn't my intention to try to correct you, (as there was nothing to correct), but rather to provide additional information if the OP didn't have A/V inputs on the TV.

[budz]

budz- sorry, it wasn't my intention to try to correct you, (as there was nothing to correct), but rather to provide additional information if the OP didn't have A/V inputs on the TV.

nothing to be sorry about. as i said everyone has different setups and components.