vcr dvd recorder/player

[neilg.]

why do i need a vcr recorder/player to copy old vhs tapes if i already own a vcr. can't i just record them onto a dvd on a new dvd recorder/player?

i can do the editing at a later time.

please try to keep it simple, i am not that with this equipment.

thankyou

[Noahtuck]

can't i just record them onto a dvd on a new dvd recorder/player?

i can do the editing at a later time.

Yes....
I have been doing it for a few years, transfer LD's or VHS to my standalone dvd recorder onto either dvdr or dvdram/dvdrw, then rip it from that temp dvd to my PC, edit, author and burn the final product to a dvdr, erase the temp disc and use again for transfering.

Are you talking about a vcr/dvd combo ?
Because i would not buy a combo anything!!
And if you have an old beater mono vcr i would at least upgrade to a newer stereo vcr, you can find them around for as cheap as around $50.00, walmart, ect.

I have a JVC S-VHS that i use for tape transfers.

[jman98]

Welcome to the forums. Good question. You DON'T need a new VCR if all you want to do is copy video tapes to DVD. The easiest thing to do is to buy a DVD recorder and hook up your VCR to it to make DVDs. Please note that if you have commercial video tapes (I mean old releases of movies and TV shows on pre-recorded video tapes) that you can't copy those to TV because of Macrovision. If you just want to record video tapes you recorded yourself at some point, then you can copy those as they won't have Macrovision. If you ever notice weird audio sync problems when recording VHS tapes to DVD, that means you need to get a "time base coprrector" or a VCR that contains such a device. I'd advise asking about that in the future only if you think you might need it. There's a good chance you won't and I don't want to make things overly complicated for you.

[neilg.]

overly complicated does not work for me.

all tapes i have are from my old panasonic video camcorder. they have to go into a cartrdige that looks like a vhs tape to play them. i am transferring them to a differnt media such as a disc.

i, also, don't think combo anything is the way to go. like i said, it does not make any sense to have a vcr/dvd combo if i have a vcr that works just fine.

so i am on the right track then?
i was also told to use cables to hook up the machines instead of coaxial cable????????

i am editing this because i read about something called a firewire or something. why can't i use my camcorder to play my taped and record my old tapes to a dvd recorder?

[RowMan]

Actually, if the camcorder that you originally recorded the tapes with is in good shape, that would be the best machine to play the tapes on when recording to DVD. Your camcorder should have some sort of audio/ video connection either with a special cable or by having the connectors on the camcorder itself.

In a nutshell, it comes down to this...

1. Connect the video out cable (usually yellow) of the camcorder to the video in connection on the DVD recorder.

2. Connect the audio out cable(s) (usually white if only one cable or white and red if two cables) to the audio in connection on the DVD recorder.

3. Set the proper input on the DVD recorder.

4. Set the camcorder to play mode instead of record mode.

5. Press record on the DVD recorder.

6. Press play on the camcorder.

You should use the direct audio and video connections because coaxial will degrade the quality of the recording. Using firewire to record your tapes to the DVD recorder is possible, but will require another piece of equipment which you probably don't have and doing this will step up the "complicated factor."