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General discussion

Transfer a VHS movie to DVD

by eanwjn Oct 10, 2008 12:59AM PDT

I bought the movie "The Uninvited" with Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey on VHS. I tried to transfer the movie to DVD through my television, (My dvd player also copies)but it didn't work. Does anyone know how I can transfer or a place that can do the transfer for me? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

14 Posts
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That's usually the COPY PROTECTION.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Oct 10, 2008 1:06AM PDT

Remember the forum rules do not allow for me to write how to circumvent this. However you can google about this using words like VHS MACROVISION COPY TO DVD or other similar searches.

Remember that it is designed to thwart you moving the content to other media.
Bob

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(NT) Copy protection on a VHS tape?
by Kees Bakker Oct 10, 2008 3:27AM PDT
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Yup.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Oct 10, 2008 4:36AM PDT
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Thanks. Didn't know it.
by Kees Bakker Oct 10, 2008 4:40AM PDT

The first hit said it was common in the USA than in Europe. That might be part of the explanation.

Kees

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Re: copy VHS to DVD
by Kees Bakker Oct 10, 2008 3:28AM PDT

I don't see any need to use a television in between.

Just connect the output of the VHS (that you normally connect with the antenna-in of the TV set) to the antenna-in of your DVD-recorder and it should work.

Kees

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Copy protection (as shown above) ...
by Kees Bakker Oct 10, 2008 4:41AM PDT

might mean indeed that it doesn't work.

Of course, you didn't describe the symptoms or the results or how it didn't work. So their might be another cause.

Kees

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Copy Protection
by Dan Filice Oct 10, 2008 5:43AM PDT

All electronic devices (VHS and DVD units) manufactured in the U.S. have electronics built-in that recognize copy protection. When you plug the video-out wires from a VHS player into any recording device, like a DVD recorder, the VHS player sends the copy protection encryption and the DVD recorder recognizes the copy protection signal and messes up the video. Most people are familiar with copying commercial DVDs that have copy protection, but VHS is a different animal since you can't use computer software to thwart the protection. An outboad device will be needed.

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outboard device
by eanwjn Oct 25, 2008 8:34AM PDT

What kind of outboard devices are out there? I never heard of them. Thanks.

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Re: copy VHS to DVD
by eanwjn Oct 11, 2008 3:58AM PDT

I should have explained myself better. I tried to copy the vhs tape from my vcr to my dvd player. It didn't work.

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You want a place to transfer the movie for you?
by ahtoi Oct 10, 2008 4:34PM PDT

Is this a commercial movie? It's probably cheaper just to buy the dvd (I get mine for $3 at big lots.

In the old day I use to do it with a black box but now you may not be able to find one available any more..beside, it may not for the newest protection method anyway.

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No dvd available
by eanwjn Oct 11, 2008 3:57AM PDT

As far as I know this movie isn't available on dvd. That's why I'm trying to figure out how to transfer from a video tape.

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I've done it
by Dan Filice Oct 11, 2008 4:26AM PDT

As my post above states, you need an outboard device ($$$) that your VHS player hooks into that in-turn plugs into a computer or a DVD recorder. I've done this to many VHS tapes. It's time consuming because the tape plays in real time. I've ingested the video into a computer to burn a DVD so I can't comment on using an actual DVD recorder.

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I read your post again, and...
by ahtoi Oct 12, 2008 5:09AM PDT

it sound like you may have problem other than "copy protection" issue. Was it because the video get dark intermittantly or what? If that's not the case then you have other problem.

If you have a Big Lots store near, go take a look anyway (you never know).

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Gets dark is something that Macrovision causes.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Oct 12, 2008 8:30AM PDT

"I see this light to dark all the time when playing a DVD using a VCR to connect to TV. If I copy the DVD and remove macrovision (or whatever), I do not get..."

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