VHS to DVD

Kool_Kool

You can stil; buy combined VHS and DVD players/recorders, useful to have if you have quite a few VHS to transfer.

BritRael

KillerWatt wrote: »

...Well it's either the VCR dropping the sync before the signal goes out, or the DVD recorder losing track of it when it gets it.

Have you tried recording from another source using the same input?

Not yet...but I will

As I said earlier though, it only does this on some original videos not homemade ones. This is why I was thinking it might be some kind of protection.

Miroslav

ih8stress wrote: »

Believe me, I am a technophobe, so if I can do it, I'm sure you will be able to. Besides the lovely people on this forum will be sure to talk you through it if necessary.

Yes, my recorder is a Sony one. I didn't know this was Sony specific as it is the only hard drive one I've had.

Try not to get TOO stressed with it - that's MY domain:D Don't worry, the right machine will come along. You are doing right to research first and buy later.

Need to recheck your thread but if you've already got your video player and tapes perhaps you could be sorting these ready ie. positioning where you need to start copying them from/doing lists etc. This will save you doing it all when you DO get your recorder as it can be very time-consuming.

Pity you don't live nearby and only needed a couple doing, I would have done them for you. Mind you, I think you will find a hard drive recorder will come in very handy afterwards anyway. One of the best things I've bought.

Incidentally I always copy anything to the hard drive first, THEN make a dvd of it. That way, if the disk turns out to be a dud, I've still got it on the hard drive. I finally check the disk before deleting from the hard drive (or if it's important, leave it on the hard drive as a back-up copy).

Good luck. Sorry for the long reply:eek:

I might need talking through :rotfl:Usually my worries are when buying as I hate wasting money Always think i'm getting the wrong thing and then will have trouble with getting a refund.

I have to be patient, but have found a couple I like the look of, so hopefully...

I have more than a couple of vids to do - more like a couple of hundred - I see it as a long term 'job' plus then my flatmate will probably want all hers doing as well from down the years They should all be straight forward copies - i.e no ads, but the ones i'm unsure about i'll sort ready anyway

I think a hard drive recorder will become handy, which is why thinking about it, even if I don't need something right now, I probably will do eventually, so best to get it in now!

Good idea doing it to HD first. Saves any disaster later

Thanks for your reply - long is good when informative

Kool_Kool wrote: »

You can stil; buy combined VHS and DVD players/recorders, useful to have if you have quite a few VHS to transfer.

This is probably the easiest way. I may even buy both a VCR/DVD combi and a DVD Recorder with HDD....but then that may be a waste of cash if the DVD Rec can do the same job. A thought though

Miroslav

Going back to these

I didn't realise the latter two are the same machine (different seller and prices - slightly) One seller says it will copy VHS to DVD, the other says it won't and has pointed me to another of their auctions for another system (£170+) :eek:

Which one is correct and if it can copy VHS to DVD, what would folk prefer - that one or the Samsung model I have listed?


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Samsung-DVD-SH895M-250GB-Hdd-DVD-Freeview-Recorder-/270581808082?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_DVDPlayers_Recorders&hash=item3effeebbd2

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190397238250&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320529222662&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Thanks again

socks_uk

The beauty of a DVD recorder with hard drive is being able to edit it. I leave videos to play/record when I'm not there or overnight. If you know how many minutes the home movie is then you can press the record timer button (a bit like a sleep timer button to record for 30mins/1hr/1hr 30mins/2hrs etc. up to 6 hours) and then it will switch off. So if you know it is an E180 VHS on SP then press for 3 hrs... of recorded on LP press 6 hrs. It's hard to explain things without a visual explanation too.
I've never owned just a dvd recorder so I don't know if/how you could edit. It would be a pretty long process if you have to sit and actually watch each VHS to be able to stop it at the right point.

Miroslav

socks_uk wrote: »

The beauty of a DVD recorder with hard drive is being able to edit it. I leave videos to play/record when I'm not there or overnight. If you know how many minutes the home movie is then you can press the record timer button (a bit like a sleep timer button to record for 30mins/1hr/1hr 30mins/2hrs etc. up to 6 hours) and then it will switch off. So if you know it is an E180 VHS on SP then press for 3 hrs... of recorded on LP press 6 hrs. It's hard to explain things without a visual explanation too.
I've never owned just a dvd recorder so I don't know if/how you could edit. It would be a pretty long process if you have to sit and actually watch each VHS to be able to stop it at the right point.

DVD Recorder with HD is definitely the way to go and if it has some kind of time record, it will help - although these videos are not an exact 3 or 4 hours as VHS all seem to have 3 or 4 mins extra on.

I don't aim to sit at each VHS copy but I shall put the machine in another room and leave it as I do other things

BritRael

Miroslav wrote: »

DVD Recorder with HD is definitely the way to go and if it has some kind of time record, it will help - although these videos are not an exact 3 or 4 hours as VHS all seem to have 3 or 4 mins extra on.

I don't aim to sit at each VHS copy but I shall put the machine in another room and leave it as I do other things

This is what I do also. :cool:

Just leave it on, go back a few hours later, burn it to an RW disc, copy it on to my PC, then delete it from the DVD HDD and the RW disc and start again on another one

However, as I've said a few times it doesn't always work (even with an expensive DVD HDD recorder).

Miroslav

BritRael wrote: »

This is what I do also. :cool:

Just leave it on, go back a few hours later, burn it to an RW disc, copy it on to my PC, then delete it from the DVD HDD and the RW disc and start again on another one

However, as I've said a few times it doesn't always work (even with an expensive DVD HDD recorder).

I'm researching the ones i've found and some of the more expensive ones have more issues than the cheap ones!

socks_uk

I'd still go with a pioneer... but then again I'm very used to my (3) and haven't used any other makes. If this 45 yr old woman can figure it out, anyone can!

Miroslav

To be honest i'm losing the will to live. I think i've found one and then I discover it's got bad reviews and/or 7 day warranty