VHS to DVD possible?

Pycroft
Pycroft Posts: 1,961
edited July 2010 in Electronics
Hi all,

Is it possible to take a VHS tape and make it into a DVD? I have bootleg performances and rehearsals that are personal recordings that I'd like to last forever (Or close to it). They are getting old, and so is VHS. Is there a way to make the transfer, and if so, what do I need? No way I'm letting go of the dress rehearsal of the Verdi Requiem with Zdekik Macal, or the dress rehearsal of St. Paulus oratorio with Kurt Masur conducting go because the stupid tape may break.

Thanks,

James
2 Channel/HT:
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Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
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Harman Kardon HK354
Sony SACD Player
Post edited by Pycroft on
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  • Disc Jockey
    Disc Jockey Posts: 1,013
    edited July 2010
    There's a few ways you can do this. If you have, or a buddy has, a dvd recorder you can hook your vcr up to that and make a dvd. There are also dvd recorder.vhs player combo units out there that do the same thing. You can also run your vcr through a video capture card on your computer and burn a dvd from that.

    If you don't want to do either of those you can also look in the yellow pages for people that offer that service. If you don't want any titling, effects, etc., you can probably find someone to do it for around $20.
    "The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage." Thucydides
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited July 2010
    You need some DVD burn software and VIDEO CAPTURE software and a USB device that can plug into a VCR (has composite RCA and L/R RCA audio cables on the non-computer end). As long as there is no copy protection you can easily turn the analog video into digital video files and burn that onto a DVD with almost any laptop.

    There are many apps available for this.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
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  • Pycroft
    Pycroft Posts: 1,961
    edited July 2010
    I'm not great with computers. Can someone link it if you have the time? Also, a link to a USB-VCR plug may be necessary too :) Any idea of the quality I can expect? Is it crap?

    Thanks for the info so far!

    James
    2 Channel/HT:
    Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
    Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
    Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
    Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
    TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
    Harman Kardon HK354
    Sony SACD Player
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited July 2010
    James,

    If you can wait a day on this I can get you several links. I own the device..but can't remember the name brand. However, one of my best friends is a software engineer who does this all the time. He did it for me when he came to China as I needed some VHS to DVD conversion for classes. The quality is not that different from the actual VHS tape, which is sub-DVD quality of course!

    I'll send him a note and get back to you!

    Actually, if you want...he could do it for you..they live in Bethlehem, Pa.? Another option?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited July 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    I'm not great with computers. Can someone link it if you have the time? Also, a link to a USB-VCR plug may be necessary too :) Any idea of the quality I can expect? Is it crap?

    Thanks for the info so far!

    James

    Here's a few.

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D1266092011&field-keywords=dvd+recorder+combo&x=0&y=0


    Happy hunting.:)
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  • vlam
    vlam Posts: 282
    edited July 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    I'm not great with computers. Can someone link it if you have the time? Also, a link to a USB-VCR plug may be necessary too :) Any idea of the quality I can expect? Is it crap?

    Thanks for the info so far!

    James

    James,

    Believe it or not. I still have a VCR and a standalone dvd recorder. How long is the video? If you want, you can drop it off (if you remember where I live) can I can convert it for you.

    I am not much into audio these days but I still browse the forum occasionally. Email me at vlam168@gmail.com

    Van
    Main Gear
    Panasonic 50" Plasma, Polk LSi15 (Front), LSiC, LSi7 (Rear), Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080, AM-9080 bi-amp to LSi15, AM-9080 bi-amp to LSiC and LSi7.
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  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited July 2010
    I have a Sansui-branded (Funai?) all-in-one DVD/VHS recorder that I purchased from Sears many years ago. On this machine, after the dubbing process has been set up, it's really just down to pressing a couple of buttons. The VHS tapes I had were recorded on SLP mode and therefore nothing close to even broadcast TV quality, but the DVD dubs were actually a little cleaner. As everyone knows, crap in and crap out. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the DVD dubs.
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