Connecting Video recorder to PC DVD.

MissMoneypenny

I have lots of VHS tapes of my children and I would like to record them to DVD by connecting my video recorder to my PC, DVD-RW. What cables will I need? Is there an Idiots Guide for this somewhere?

Thanks.

berkshiregaz

If they are straight forward home made videos of the kids this should give you a start;

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/digital-home/11484/how-to-transfer-movies-from-vhs-to-dvd/

If you were wanting to "Back up" kids VHS videos to PC/DVD its a bit harder as the signal goes through but gets distorted by Macrovision copy protect signal, there are ways to get rid of that signal but probrably best for you to Google it rather than me posting something that could be used "illegaly" on this board!

Good Luck

BargainGalore

http://www.which.co.uk/technology/tv-and-dvd/guides/transfer-vhs-video-to-dvd/
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-transfer-old-vhs-tapes-to-dvd

Something like this. I think Aldi sometimes sell capture devices but not all time. Remember quality will never be brilliant due to vhs being low res and tape may contain noise

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001O5CUJ4/ref=asc_df_B001O5CUJ43106983?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&!!!!!googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B001O5CUJ4

MissMoneypenny

That was quick! Many thanks both of you, that is just what I wanted.

asbokid

Don't spend more than a fiver on the equipment, MissMoneyPenny!

£3 inc. P&P from a famous auction website


£2 inc. P&P from a famous auction website

MissMoneypenny

Many thanks asbokid. That's moneysaving:money:

googler

It's perhaps worth pointing out that you won't be connecting the VHS machine directly to the drive in the PC and pressing 'Record' - the solutions given here will require you to copy the VHS to the PC's HDD and burn to DVD from there.

So you'll need space on the HDD. Lots.

MissMoneypenny

Spare:
33GB on C -I reinstalled Windows this week (not through choice) so lots of rubbish has gone.
63GB on D
24GB on E

plus external HD 500GB

I assume that's enough?

googler

Looking at some that I have stored, would suggest 4Gb per 60-80 mins, depending on what quality you store them at.

Best quality will use more space, lower quality less.

I'd suggest you'll need 12Gb or so for a 3-hour VHS. You say you have 'lots' of tapes, and 120Gb, so that suggests you'll get 10 VHSs onto your disc before you have to burn to disc and wipe them from your HDD.

Edit: Sorry, just noticed external HDD! Loadsa space there for more.....

Have you considered a stand-alone DVD recorder, and not using the PC at all?

MissMoneypenny

googler wrote: »

Looking at some that I have stored, would suggest 4Gb per 60-80 mins, depending on what quality you store them at.

Best quality will use more space, lower quality less.

It has to be the best quality as there are some very special moments on there. I'm not sure how good the quality of the VHS tapes will be as when we started taking those videos, we had to use those massive video cameras you had to balance on your shoulder and could only use in short stints as they were so heavy! We started taking the videos in 1984.

googler wrote: »

Have you considered a stand-alone DVD recorder, and not using the PC at all?

I have a stand-alone DVD RW but it was just a cheap one that I bought years ago when someone on moneysaving grabbit said "quick, Asda are selling DVD RW for £26".

I've got a lot of VHS tapes, but really want to record them to DVD with the best quality I can get, so I thought that might be better through the pc DVD RW? The pc was only built 2 years ago.