vhs archiving-advice please

[mandywr]

I am not technical and need some advice. If you can help me I would be most grateful. My old video player has died and I would like to copy some of my favourite [non commercial] VHS tapes to another medium for long term. I would rather not use the computer, I plan to buy therefore a VHS player to feed into a recording device [hard disc or DVD?] for replay into my existing TV. I do not want to spend too much. I already have a DVD player that feeds into my TV, but no recorder.
1. If I buy an HDD device [eg Lite On LVW-5024 DVD / HDD Recorder ], does that play into TV or only into computers.
2. Can the HD be re-used.?
3. How does a signal get from video player to recording device? [what kind of connector?]
4.Can an HD recording be wound through like on a video tape fast forward, or split into chapters [easily] like on a DVD.?
3. How does a signal get from recording device to TV? [what kind of connector?]

a Philips video machine on ebay has 21 pin scart output and on a SHARP VIDEO RECORDER PLAYER VHS VCR VC-MH704 I am told that the connector is similar to an ex-box connector,red/white/yellow plugs on the end of a lead,, but I do not know what that means. Does it mean I can pick it up on a recording device.

If I have to do it via a computer [which is in a different room from my TV] how do I play VHS tapes into a computer?

[willmington]

I am sure that other more knowledgeable users will offer info as to how to connect to a pc.

However when faced with this task (ie copying old home VHS/VHS-C tapes to DVD), I decided to use a consumer unit which had 'dub' capabilities. By that I mean it has 2 slots, VHS and DVD, and is capable of copying VHS to DVD.

Just pop the tape and blank DVD in, press record and off you go (was that simple). I found the results fine and certainly no worse than the original source. Creates .VOB files.

Perhaps something to consider? The unit I chose was the Toshiba DVR20KB (read the users reviews).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-DVR20-Digital-Recorder-Freeview/dp/B003LO2RIU/ref=sr_1...4334734&sr=1-1

Older models (DVR19) can also be purchased on ebay.

Not sure how many tapes you have but I am ploughing my way through about 80-90 tapes.

As an aside and if you need to edit the clips afterwards, try to test some software for editing (ie cuts, etc).

When I eventually finish the transfer process, I will still nevertheless have a DVD recorder even if the VHS functionality is to a greater extent redundant.

Good Luck

[hech54]

Just pop the tape and blank DVD in, press record and off you go (was that simple). I found the results fine and certainly no worse than the original source. Creates .VOB files.

Yes....VOB files are a DVD. Without VOB files....it would not and could not be a DVD. Go to the local store and buy The King's Speech on DVD...and the DVD will contain VOB files.....what's your point?

[jman98]

We very strongly discourage the use of VHS/DVD recorder combo devices because the DVD recorder side is often overly sensitive and will refuse to record some homemade tapes because it thinks that they are actually commercial tapes. I suppose you could try it and maybe you will be as lucky as wilmington but we have had plenty of posts over the years from people complaining that their VHS/DVD recorder combos wouldn't record their homemade tapes. Separate units tend to have less of a problem with this issue.

mandywr -
1. TV
2. Yes
4. Yes, there should be an option on the DVD recorder to set chapters every 5 minutes, or 10 minutes or other values that you choose.
3 and 5 need to be answered by someone with experience with UK TV connectors.

[yoda313]

plenty of posts over the years from people complaining that their VHS/DVD recorder combos wouldn't record their homemade tapes.

I would suggest trying it first. Assuming you already have the equipment and you can't return it to buy something else than there is no harm in testing it yourself.

But dedicated equipment is USUALLY superior.

[victoriabears]

The real answer to find first is what quality will make you happy. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and your eyes may not be as unhappy as others with a given result.

The options suggested by the experts on this forum are computer capture based , spending hours getting a capture card to work at its best , then encoding and editing and making menus on the computer.

Based on the "try it and return it" For UK equipment I would suggest :-

http://search.panasonic.co.uk/search.html?tx_solr[q]

It would appear JVC does not make dvd recorders any more, I have used a M100S for my 7 year project and it has behaved faultlessly, but I know the comobs they made were unreliable, and the VCR's were not much better.

If you find the Panasonic combo does not work for you you will need a good s-vhs vcr, its difficult as I have found for my UK stuff the JVC vcr's have proven more reliable picture quality wise but not in the breakdown sense. Its a simple matter of connecting the vcr to the dvd recorder (almost any brand of dvd recorder will be worth a try)

You might need a time based corrector in between the vc and dvd recorder and I would suggest:-

http://www.markertek.co.uk/Catalog/Time-Base-Correctors-Frame-Synchronizers/AVT-8710

For a VCR one of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JVC-S-VHS-VCR-HR-7965-TBC-Time-Base-Correction-/300553105248?pt=...item45fa5c6f60

be careful with all the jvc vcr's as not all have the time based correct and dynamic noise reduction desirable for your project, the 7965 and 8965 models do, the following is a steal under 60 pounds if you get there in time:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JVC-SVHS-VIDEO-RECORDER-S-VHS-CASSETTE-HR-S7500K-/120716426822?p...item1c1b427e46

the following listing is from a uk company that has somewhat cornered the market in used hi end vcr's in the uk, boy are they expensive:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JVC-HR-S9400-SUPER-VHS-VIDEO-RECORDER-VCR-SVHS-V-NICE-/280642831...item41579dc2b4

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JVC-HR-S7722-PRO-SUPER-SVHS-VHS-VCR-VIDEO-RECORDER-HQ-/280662112...item4158c3f9d4

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JVC-HR-S7500-VCR-VIDEO-RECORDER-SVHS-BOXED-ETC-/270719976831?pt=...item3f082b057f

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JVC-HR-S7965EK-S-VHS-Video-Recorder-Remote-Instructions-/1505984...item23105dd235



The Panasonic s-vhs vcr's are more reliable and not so picky about what tapes they play well but the picture is not enhanced like it is in the JVC VCR's but if you can find a JVC dvd recorder M100S it does some pretty nice enhancements itself.



How many tapes are we talking about?