DVD Recorder w VHS

[iluvalex]

I figured this would be the best place to ask.

First, I need to get my old VHS home movies transferred to DVD. So I'm looking at a DVD/VHS recorder. I have about 20 VHS tapes, so doing it through Wal-mart or Walgreens is prohibitive.

But once I've recorded my tapes, the VHS portion becomes moot. But I figure the DVD player upconvert would continue to provide me with the basic needs for my DVD's.

Any recommendations or experience with what's out there?

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by iluvalex

I figured this would be the best place to ask.

First, I need to get my old VHS home movies transferred to DVD. So I'm looking at a DVD/VHS recorder. I have about 20 VHS tapes, so doing it through Wal-mart or Walgreens is prohibitive.

But once I've recorded my tapes, the VHS portion becomes moot. But I figure the DVD player upconvert would continue to provide me with the basic needs for my DVD's.

Any recommendations or experience with what's out there?

This probably belongs in the standard definition section.

But in answer to your question, there was an article in Wired magazine that gave various options for transfering vhs to dvd. I will try to remember to look that up and tell you what it said. I am considering doing the same myself, because I have some VHS tapes I would like to just send to the dumpster.

[chlngr1970]

Yeah, Std Def for this topic. My dad has a Samsung DVD/VCR that we use to transer home made VHS tapes to DVD. I know that most all combos have to follow Macrovision guidelines that do NOT allow the copying of production, copyrighted tapes to DVD. Just an FYI.

j

[kimfair]

When my last DVD player died, I wanted a DVD player/recorder to replace it, as I had tons of VHS tapes of music acts live on various TV shows, as well as some films that are only available on VHS (like Tom Waits Big Time). After consulting a friend (who spent some time on hardware forums) I ended up getting a Pansonic DMR-ES15. It is great. It isn't a dual player (I didn't need one as I still have a working VCR), but I have had great luck with it. I have transferred all my music stuff (about 10 2hr DVD's worth), as well as some movies, and even some laserdiscs that haven't been released on DVD or where the DVD is OOP and expensive (like Ian McKellen's Richard III, and the CRiterion Baron Munchausen). It won't copy Macrovision copyrighted tapes, however, but I've copied about 10 commercial tapes, and only one wouldn't copy, so it's my experience that most of the older VHs tapes don't have copy protection.

[iluvalex]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

Yeah, Std Def for this topic. My dad has a Samsung DVD/VCR that we use to transer home made VHS tapes to DVD. I know that most all combos have to follow Macrovision guidelines that do NOT allow the copying of production, copyrighted tapes to DVD. Just an FYI.

j

Am I also to understand that the copies I make to DVD are also protected? Meaning I can't make a DVD from my newly copied DVD? If I want 5 copies of that tape, I need to use the tape each and every time?

[videoworx]

If I want 5 copies of that tape, I need to use the tape each and every time?

In order to sell standalone DVD recorders in the US, manufacturers were pressured into not allowing copies to made of the DVDs that are recorded. The only method available to them was to purposely record an error to the disc, which prevents copies from being made in a PC, or otherwise. There are plenty of software solutions that bypass this problem (most free), so it's not the end of the world.