VHS to DVD using PC? HELP!!!

lucylucky

If you have the right connections it is straightforward;)

silvasava

The Dazzle kit has White, Red & Yellow inputs and an S Video. My VHS player has L & R In & Out Red & White Audio. One yellow (video) in and a scart plug marked video/audio AV (its an elderly Akai unit)
I've just tried to post photos but I don't know how to do that either - copy & paste didn't work!!

A.Penny.Saved

You need to connect the correct connection types. There can be different varieties on VHS videos. There can be S-Video and Composite video SCART outputs, possibly RGB SCART, Composite video & audio - either mono or stereo phono connections which would be two phono connectors, composite would be one phono.

That Dazzle hardware sounds like it might have composite video input. It's the lowest quality signal type.

What different types of connectors are there on the VHS video? Are there any SCARTs? Those are larger connectors with 20 pins.

VHS quality is quite poor compared with digital video formats and clean up is often required to make them look half decent. But you probably aren't that bothered or prepared to mess around with it.

A.Penny.Saved

silvasava wrote: »

The Dazzle kit has White, Red & Yellow inputs and an S Video. My VHS player has L & R In & Out Red & White Audio. One yellow (video) in and a scart plug marked video/audio AV (its an elderly Akai unit)
I've just tried to post photos but I don't know how to do that either - copy & paste didn't work!!

[I was typing when you posted this so missed it]
The yellow phono will be composite input, the red and white phonos will be Left and Right audio. You will have to use the SCART and get a converter like luckylucky posted. Then use either phonos from composite and audio to the DAZZLE or use a S-Video cable and phonos for audio if you want better quality.

An Adapter like this one - it's the cheap version. Or this one is a better one which I have myself.

But it would be wise to make sure that the SCART is S-Video and composite before ordering! SCARTs can be RGB & Composite or S-video & Composite video but I am not sure that VHS videos ever had RGB SCARTs. I know that VHS SCART inputs for recording were S-Video and Composite but I'm not certain about outputs which were meant to go to TV's.

silvasava

Thanks Lucky, Googler & Penny

I need to go to Maplins tomorrow!!! If I have any further probs I'll buy a DVD recorder & have done with it!!
DH has some videos with his & my late mums on them & also one of GD so I do need to get this sorted. I will post how I get on in case I need your expertise again!!

Thank you all so much - its very much appreciated:T:T

A.Penny.Saved

silvasava wrote: »

Thanks Lucky, Googler & Penny

I need to go to Maplins tomorrow!!! If I have any further probs I'll buy a DVD recorder & have done with it!!
DH has some videos with his & my late mums on them & also one of GD so I do need to get this sorted. I will post how I get on in case I need your expertise again!!

Thank you all so much - its very much appreciated:T:T

If I was you I would re-think going to Maplins unless you have lots of money to waste. It's very very expensive and can be easily beaten online even taking into account delivery. For example:

A good quality Scart to S-video/Composite converter £15.99@Maplins and only £3.12@Kenable with £1.99+vat delivery which means you save £10.48. For the money Maplins charge you could buy the cables as well and still be saving money

Or this SCART to S-video lead which should do what you need but costs £20.99@Maplins.

A cable which would do the same thing and being as good a quality cable as the one at Maplins costs £8.52@Kenable or £10.51 with 1st class delivery or £11.51 with 1st class recorded so you would have it on Tuesday. That's a saving of £9.48 or £10.48 which is half the price.

I have ordered from Kenable on a number of occasions and they are a good company to deal with. They don't charge a lot for delivery which I like a lot. Needless to say, I don't go into Maplins very often any more.

birkee

My preferred method, is not MSE approved I suppose, but......what about when the TV system goes totally digital?
I've got a Freeview HD/DVD recorder, that stands on top of a VHS machine (but that needs to go now, except for a couple of tapes I MIGHT DVD)
The VHS plugs into the DVD directly, and copies straight to the hard drive. Within the DVD machine, you can do editing and create chapters etc (not on VHS tapes), and write straight to DVD disc.

Best look at your entire setup re. TV / video recorder etc, and judge your future needs, before buying equipment that solves todays problems, but ignores tomorrows.
This Panasonic kit is terrific: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DMR-EX83EB-K-250GB-Recorder-Freeview/dp/B0038VZXNW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1298723101&sr=8-2
and at that price (£204) is a steal, as it's sometimes over £300. (Yes....I paid more for mine....Grrr.)

lucylucky

birkee wrote: »

My preferred method, is not MSE approved I suppose, but......what about when the TV system goes totally digital?
I've got a Freeview HD/DVD recorder, that stands on top of a VHS machine (but that needs to go now, except for a couple of tapes I MIGHT DVD)
The VHS plugs into the DVD directly, and copies straight to the hard drive. Within the DVD machine, you can do editing and create chapters etc (not on VHS tapes), and write straight to DVD disc.

Best look at your entire setup re. TV / video recorder etc, and judge your future needs, before buying equipment that solves todays problems, but ignores tomorrows.
This Panasonic kit is terrific: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DMR-EX83EB-K-250GB-Recorder-Freeview/dp/B0038VZXNW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1298723101&sr=8-2
and at that price (£204) is a steal, as it's sometimes over £300. (Yes....I paid more for mine....Grrr.)

It might be terrific but it is not blu-ray or got Freeview HD so not really future proof.

birkee

lucylucky wrote: »

It might be terrific but it is not blu-ray or got Freeview HD so not really future proof.

Lucylucky.

Too right. Not future proof re. blue ray & HD.
Mind you, at this point in time, if there is anything out there that covers these as well, it is WELL out of my price range.
But also, I'm not bothered about blue ray as the Pani does 'upscaling' on DVD's, and on a good TV, I can't tell the difference anyway. Hell of a price escalation for something I can't see.
Also, were the above equipment available with blue ray and HD at a reasonable price, you go and buy it, and find that it can't do 3D.
You have to jump in the river at some point, and there will always be something more upstream.

lucylucky

In this day and age I would certainly want HD capability as a minimum standard.