Can't copy VHS to DVD with any program

[sanlyn]

I'm familiar with the $400-plus SONYs you mention. I thought you meant brand-new as in a year or two old. The big HDD SONYs were pretty good machines.

jman98, understand that if the owner wants to copy directly to DVD, that's his choice. In the meantime, I don't think the "stabilizer" is doing what he wants. I've transferred dozens of copy protected retail tapes directly to my Panasonic ES20 with good results (but those were good clean retail transfers, not crap). In any case, I was using another DVD recorder as pass-thru between the VCR and the recording machine; I did encounter a couple of tapes where the pass-thru machine didn't defeat copy-protect effects, forcing me to use a full-frame TBC in its place.

My experience with those cheap "stabilizers" is that that they're only partially effective and don't work with some forms of copy protection. If the O.P. wants to go cheap, but not too cheap, an AVT-8710 or TBC-1000 is what he might need. Perhaps he could transfer that problematic copy-once recording to DVD-RAM and feed it thru one of the DVD rippers ? ? But not all SONYs will work with DVD-RAM. I seem to recall that the higher-end SONYs will.

[scroller13]

Sanlyn, every copy protected movie I have copies using the setup I describe has played on either my computers or my dvd players with no problems. I just can't copy the copy, which is not a problem. I am not finicky about the outcome of the copy. All I am doing is creating a DVD collection of movies for my wife and I to watch as well as for the grandkids when they come to visit. As stated, I buy them cheap at yard sales and thrift shops (so far I have over 40 Disney movies) and just copy them. The video stabilizer is working as it should, allowing me to get around the copy protection.

I am perfectly content with the situation as it is. After making the copies I want I will donate the tapes back to a thrift shop so others can enjoy the movies for very little cost. I have a deal with one place where I can trade two for one, so we all win.

Thanks to everyone who has given input to my question.

[Brad]

Are you aware that you're breaking copyright law by doing that? It's the same as someone lending you a CD, you copying it and giving it back.

So you may as well download the DVDs or Blu-rays and save yourself the hassle.