DVD Recorders - Can you copy old home video tapes onto DVD?

bobobrussel · 22 July 2005 at 4:08PM

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to buy one of these budget standalone DVD recorders and use it to copy my holiday video's onto DVD? Any special model or cables required?

flang · 22 July 2005 at 4:20PM

Yes, its easy, just connect the scart cable or aerial cable from your video into your DVD Recorder.
You can even copy dvds if you have two DVD Drives, and disable macrovision.

alison74 · 23 July 2005 at 10:26PM

As Flang said, you can.

I have just done this, but had difficulty playing the DVD's back on another machine other than the one I had used to record it on.

After a huge thread on this forum / other forums etc, I found out that for whatever reason, you can only record them on to DVD RW's as opposed to DVD Rs (which you would maybe choose since you wont want to record over them again)

It might not happen on the machine that you get, but just to forewarn you in case it does and stop you from wasting hours like I did.

Backbiter · 23 July 2005 at 10:31PM

That's not true. I've recorded plenty of VHS tapes onto DVD+R discs.

The important thing is to finalise the discs when you've recorded what you want.

It may be that some models prefer certain types of disc - always read the manual from cover to cover before you waste money buying the wrong discs.

alison74 · 23 July 2005 at 10:35PM

It might not happen on the machine that you get, but just to forewarn you in case it does and stop you from wasting hours like I did.[/QUOTE]

Thats why I put this bit in

The DVD R's I was using were top quality and 3 different brands and it did not work nor did I have the option to finalise.

Bossyboots · 24 July 2005 at 9:54AM

alison74 wrote:

It might not happen on the machine that you get, but just to forewarn you in case it does and stop you from wasting hours like I did.

Thats why I put this bit in

The DVD R's I was using were top quality and 3 different brands and it did not work nor did I have the option to finalise.[/QUOTE]

I thought it was only - discs you had to finalise manually but I only use RWs so I could be wrong.

It seems clear from forums, that many machines are disc sensitive and even top brands can fail. I was given a freebie box when I brought my machine and as they work fine, I always stick to that brand.

flang · 25 July 2005 at 10:45AM

My DVD recorder will not play DVD-R discs and its very annoying!

Donnie · 25 July 2005 at 2:00PM

There are three competing DVD Recording standards, DVD-R/DVD-RW and DVD+R/DVD+RW have pretty similiar features and are compatible with many standalone DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs while DVD-RAM has less DVD Player and DVD-ROM compatibility but better recording features.

DVD-R and DVD-RW
DVD-R was the first DVD recording format released that was compatible with standalone DVD Players.
DVD-R is a non-rewriteable format and it is compatible with about 93% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs.
DVD-RW is a rewriteable format and it is compatible with about 80% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs.
DVD-R and DVD-RW supports single side 4.37 computer GB* DVDs(called DVD-5) and double sided 8.75 computer GB* DVDs(called DVD-10).
These formats are supported by DVDForum.

DVD+R and DVD+RW
DVD+R is a non-rewritable format and it is compatible with about 89% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs.
DVD+RW is a rewritable format and is compatible with about 79% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs.
DVD+R and DVD+RW supports single side 4.37 computer GB* DVDs(called DVD-5) and double side 8.75 computer GB* DVDs(called DVD-10).
These formats are supported by the DVD+RW Alliance.

So, check the spec of your machine before you but it.

bobobrussel · 26 July 2005 at 6:43AM

Thanks for all the advice everybody. I'll choose carefuly!!

DVD Recorders - Can you copy old home video tapes onto DVD?

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