VHS to DVD

cit_k

Be aware some combi units will not do protected films (ie tapes protected with Macrovision), should be fine for home tapes though.

If you get one with a hard drive as well, you can edit bit of the tape out that you dont want, ie skip ads etc.

ellay864

The Magix thing mentioned in a previous post lloks kinda similar to the click & convert gadget I use. You can drop directly from a home recorded vid to DVD and tho you do it via the PC, it doesn't tie the PC up - you can carry on using it fine while it's doing it

BritRael

cit_k wrote: »

Be aware some combi units will not do protected films (ie tapes protected with Macrovision), should be fine for home tapes though....

What does Macrovision do? Could it be this that is causing my syncing problems?

Is there any way around it?

KillerWatt

Miroslav wrote: »

Still interested to know the answer to - If I convert a 240 minute VHS onto a 120 minute DVD @ Extended Play speed (EP), will I notice any major drop in quality from the original recording? If it's possible to do this?

What are the other alternatives? Dual Layer DVD's?

Although VHS cannot get anywhere near the video bandwidth (or scanlines) that a DVD can, you will see a slight roll off in the finished article.
Go for a dual layer disc and it won't be an issue.

BritRael wrote: »

What does Macrovision do?

Macrovision is a copy protection system

BritRael wrote: »

Could it be this that is causing my syncing problems?

When Macrovision kicks in, it normally destroys the whole picture in the form of colour dropouts, complete loss of video sync, etc.
If your sync problems are simply the audio lagging behind the video (or vice cersa), that is just down to crap hardware.

BritRael wrote: »

Is there any way around it?

A Macro buster defeats Macrovision protection.

http://www.consolesandgadgets.co.uk/catalog/macromaster-macrovision-remover-p-2119.html

socks_uk

I'd agree with the person who suggested a dvd with hard drive. I bought my first quite a while ago and it is ace... It's a Pioneer and last year I managed to find 2 more on ebay for about £25 each. I wanted one at home to transfer my home movies and I got the other one for school for recording the schools programmes that run in the middle of the night/early morning.

Yes, you can leave your vhs to play and it will record for up to 6 hours but what it lets you do is then 'chapter mark' it so when you watch the dvd you have made you can skip to the next chapter. (the teachers at school often need this when I transfer school videos)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pioneer-DVR-530Hs-160-Gig-HDD-DVD-Recorder-Player-/150443425261?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_DVDPlayers_Recorders&hash=item2307207ded#ht_2055wt_1165

This is the next model up to my 3, mine are only 80gig each but there is plenty of room for me to use on a day-to-day basis, soaps, record a whole series etc. It is totally compatible with freeview boxes and cable/satellite boxes so it would be very useful even when you've finished transferring your vhs. You've just reminded me I've got a stack of school's programmes to still transfer to dvd so the teachers can use them on their PCs for the children to watch on the interactive whiteboard.

If you're not desperate to get one soon, keep looking on ebay, the 80gig ones come up quite often as people want the 'latest kit'. Good luck!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PIONEER-DVR433H-DVD-HARD-DRIVE-RECORDER-/280508508160?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_DVDPlayers_Recorders&hash=item414f9c2800#ht_1565wt_1165

Just seen this one... it doesn't look the same as mine but I think it does the same thing. I really shouldn't be searching ebay... I'm tempted to place a bid myself but won't... 3 is enough!

Miroslav

cit_k wrote: »

Be aware some combi units will not do protected films (ie tapes protected with Macrovision), should be fine for home tapes though.

If you get one with a hard drive as well, you can edit bit of the tape out that you dont want, ie skip ads etc.

All the VHS I wish to record are blank VHS that I have taped on personally, so no worries with Macrovision

A hard drive video recorder, preferably a combi would be better, but depends on cost

ellay864 wrote: »

The Magix thing mentioned in a previous post lloks kinda similar to the click & convert gadget I use. You can drop directly from a home recorded vid to DVD and tho you do it via the PC, it doesn't tie the PC up - you can carry on using it fine while it's doing it

When I burn DVD's I usually leave the PC alone for 15 minutes, I tend to be quite clumsy and would hit cancel by accident

KillerWatt wrote: »

Although VHS cannot get anywhere near the video bandwidth (or scanlines) that a DVD can, you will see a slight roll off in the finished article.
Go for a dual layer disc and it won't be an issue.

Hopefully it won't be too much of an issue with quality, although I agree dual layer and 240 min discs may be the way forward - it's just the cost.

Verbatim are expensive and I have alot of VHS to do, but I guess it will be a long term project.

I'm guessing you wouldn't recommend datawrite DVD's - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-DATAWRITE-DVD-R-DUAL-LAYER-DL-DISKS-240MIN-8-5GB-/250627474380?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_BlankCDsDVDs&hash=item3a5a8fc3cc 10 for £3.95 - so much cheaper but i'm guessing they won't be much cop (alot of guessing I know.)

Miroslav

socks_uk wrote: »

I'd agree with the person who suggested a dvd with hard drive. I bought my first quite a while ago and it is ace... It's a Pioneer and last year I managed to find 2 more on ebay for about £25 each. I wanted one at home to transfer my home movies and I got the other one for school for recording the schools programmes that run in the middle of the night/early morning.

Yes, you can leave your vhs to play and it will record for up to 6 hours but what it lets you do is then 'chapter mark' it so when you watch the dvd you have made you can skip to the next chapter. (the teachers at school often need this when I transfer school videos)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pioneer-DVR-530Hs-160-Gig-HDD-DVD-Recorder-Player-/150443425261?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_DVDPlayers_Recorders&hash=item2307207ded#ht_2055wt_1165

This is the next model up to my 3, mine are only 80gig each but there is plenty of room for me to use on a day-to-day basis, soaps, record a whole series etc. It is totally compatible with freeview boxes and cable/satellite boxes so it would be very useful even when you've finished transferring your vhs. You've just reminded me I've got a stack of school's programmes to still transfer to dvd so the teachers can use them on their PCs for the children to watch on the interactive whiteboard.

If you're not desperate to get one soon, keep looking on ebay, the 80gig ones come up quite often as people want the 'latest kit'. Good luck!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PIONEER-DVR433H-DVD-HARD-DRIVE-RECORDER-/280508508160?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_DVDPlayers_Recorders&hash=item414f9c2800#ht_1565wt_1165

Just seen this one... it doesn't look the same as mine but I think it does the same thing. I really shouldn't be searching ebay... I'm tempted to place a bid myself but won't... 3 is enough!

A hard drive sounds a decent idea and i'm not desperate. although getting started soon would be quite nice. Right machine, right cost and all that. I just read elsewhere that as VCR/DVD combi would be better as it would not have any noise from the background.

I don't want to buy a cheap machine that is more hassle than it's worth. I'd sooner spend more if it's ideal for what I need.

If you have 3 already, i'd say you had enough

BritRael

KillerWatt wrote: »

...If your sync problems are simply the audio lagging behind the video (or vice cersa), that is just down to crap hardware....

Yes, this my problem. However, the hardware is in 3 pieces: VCR, SCART lead and DVD HDD recorder, and each are pretty good quality and not low end. :cool:

socks_uk

Miroslav wrote: »

I just read elsewhere that as VCR/DVD combi would be better as it would not have any noise from the background.

I'm not sure what background noise you mean.

These Pioneer DVDHD's were around the £300 mark when I first got mine maybe about 8 years ago so when I saw the ones I got for around £25 (well that's what I won them for on ebay) I was over the moon! I do a lot of recording of TV programmes for my sister who lives in America and so like to be able to edit beginning and end of each episode although I do leave any adverts in as she said she likes to see them.

Good luck with whichever method you choose.

Miroslav

socks_uk wrote: »

I'm not sure what background noise you mean.

These Pioneer DVDHD's were around the £300 mark when I first got mine maybe about 8 years ago so when I saw the ones I got for around £25 (well that's what I won them for on ebay) I was over the moon! I do a lot of recording of TV programmes for my sister who lives in America and so like to be able to edit beginning and end of each episode although I do leave any adverts in as she said she likes to see them.

Good luck with whichever method you choose.

I've read (on other forums when googling) that some machines have background noise from people doing things around the house when copying?

I've been thinking, maybe a DVD Recorder with HD may be better. If I record onto a DVD RW something from the TV straight onto a DVD RW, if it overshoots and records a bit of the next program, can I edit the DVD RW and delete the bits I don't want or do I have to delete the whole chapter? Or is it easier to record onto HDD, edit, then put it onto the DVD - hopefully without finalising so I can then add more to the DVD at a later date.

Sorry for all the questions, I have nightmares about buying the wrong thing and it not working!