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General discussion

What is a simple way to convert old VHS tapes to DVDs?

Jan 8, 2010 2:36AM PST
Questions:

What is a simple way to convert old VHS tapes to DVDs?


This question comes from three CNET members who
coincidentally e-mailed me all within the same week, so let's
find a solution for them. I'm sure many others who have a
collection of VHS tapes are also looking to move them to a
digital format.

I need to know how to convert my VHS tapes and my VHS-C tapes
to a DVD. I have quite a few tapes that I made of the CHRRs
and others that I'm afraid will become unplayable. Can you
help me? Thanks.

--Submitted by John S.

Is there a method to make DVDs out of my invaluable VCR
tapes? Thanks so much.

--Submitted by Gloria E.

What is the best and least expensive way to convert my home
video on VHS tapes to DVD without having to record to a
digital camcorder first?

--Submitted by Alan A.

Here are some member answers to get you started, but
please read all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this question within the discussion thread.

Re: What is a simple way to convert old VHS tapes to DVDs? --Submitted by mtrehan
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12542_102-0.html?messageID=3217007#3217007

VHS to DVD program(s) --Submitted by Mark R. Jones
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12542_102-0.html?messageID=3217102#3217102

Converting VHS tapes to DVD --Submitted by casey721
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12542_102-0.html?messageID=3217154#3217154

Converting VHS to DVD --Submitted by kwilsonjr
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12542_102-0.html?messageID=3217248#3217248

Re: What is a simple way to convert old VHS tapes to DVDs? --Submitted by DLGA
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12542_102-0.html?messageID=3217693#3217693

Video tape to digital format --Submitted by comp_dok
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12542_102-0.html?messageID=3217076#3217076

Thanks to all who contributed!

If you have any additional solution or advice for these members please click on the reply link below and submit your answer. Please be detail as possible when posting your solution and if you have references to how-tos, please include the link to them. Thank you!

Discussion is locked

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An answer but not cheap & takes time.
Jan 8, 2010 9:17AM PST

I have a Panasonic DVD recorder and of course a VHS player.
When we transferred our Family VHS tapes to DVD, it was simple.
Connect the two devices with cables via VHS out to the Panny DVD In, add a blank DVD-R and away you go recording to DVD!
Of course, don't forget to finalize the DVD disc & please leave a little unrecorded time space on the DVD disc for finalizing.
This takes time, 1:1 ratio to do the transfer but it's worth it.

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Converting VHS to DVD
Jan 8, 2010 9:18AM PST

I wanted to do this as well and I found a Toshiba DVD/VHS Recorder at Future Shop. This unit costs around $200.00, but I happened to get it on sale for 179.00. The unit works great! Put a VHS movie in the one side, place a blank DVD in the other side, set the time...you can either put one vhs movie,depending on the length, on one dvd...Or you can set Long Play or Extended play on the dvd player like you would when recording on vhs, and put several movies on one disc. Included with the unit is a remote, manual(which is quite easy to follow) and an audio/video cable.

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Set top DVD Recorder
Jan 8, 2010 9:18AM PST

By far the easiest way to convert VHS tapes to DVD is with a set top DVD recorder. The process is to plug the VCR's output into one of the inputs of the DVD recorder. Start recording on the DVD recorder, start playing the VHS tape and then walk away. After the tape finishes playing you have a DVD ready to finalize. After finalizing, the DVD should play in all DVD players. If you want to edit the video, it is relatively simple to import the DVD onto your PC and edit it with a program such as Nero Vision or Roxio. Many DVD recorders are available for under $100 and since you don't need one with a tuner, you should be able to find one for about $60 online.

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simple ways
Jan 8, 2010 9:23AM PST

Go on ebay and pick up a vcr/dvd combo player/recorder. can be had
for $50 to 70... I got two Panasonic DMR-ES46V that way. its a no brainer to go from one to the other.
Way 2. buy a tv video receiver card for your pc ... can be had for about the same price but also must have a dvd player/writer in the pc
plus some cables to go from the vcr/dvd to the pc card.
ted

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One easy, One a little harder
Jan 8, 2010 9:26AM PST

The easiest way to convert vhs to dvd is to purchase a dvd recorder and connect your VCR or camcorder and record them to DVD. no fuss, no mess.

If you want to be more creative and a make a dvd with chapters and credits, and you have a computer with a little muscle and ram, use the Roxio Easy VHS to DVD. It takes some time to learn, mainly because Roxio does not give you a lot of help in the included manual, but the DVDs I have made have been pretty good.

Just don't expect dvd quality from the vhs. If you want that, take it to a pro, and expect to pay a little.

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VHS to DVDs
Jan 8, 2010 9:27AM PST

I have a Toshiba VCR and DVD Video Recorder # D-VR5SU. It's a bit old now but it duplicates Tape to DVD very nicely albeit in real time. Hence for a 6 hr tape it takes 6 hrs.
Easy to setup, just select the DVD record speeed (I always use SLP since I don't know how long the tape is), rewind the tape and press the DUP key then enter. The process runs until the tape ends. If you want to set searchable chapters you have to stop and start it yourself. After DUP is over, you must FINALIZE the DVD so you can view it on other machines... Works for me !
Bill in Mint Hill, NC

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Converting VHS tapes to DVDs
Jan 8, 2010 9:30AM PST

Just before Christmas I stumble across a Magnavox ZV457MG9, Digital Video Recorder & Video Cassette Recorder with Digital Tuner. This due to a little internet browsing. I wanted to do some tape editing and my 20 year old Vhs recorder decided to give up the ghost. In short I was able to convert Vhs tape to DVD and impot them directly into my video editing system. The people that handle technical support bent over backwards to help get the equipment started properly. There is other equipment which might work but to me did nut meet my requirements. No I have no connection with Magnavox and have never owned any Magnavox equipment.

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how do I hook up a video stabilizer ?
Jul 24, 2010 11:58PM PDT

I'm trying to hook up a video stabilizer to my Magnavox ZV450MW8A video cassette recorder/ dvd recorder and can't figure out how to do this. Does anyone know how this works?

Thanks

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VHS to DVD
Jan 8, 2010 9:31AM PST

I face dthe same dilemma until recently.
I found an inexpensive DVD+R/RW recorder that costs less than RM250 here in Malaysia(~US$75 )and tranferred the VHS-content directly to disc.
Of course I had a working VCR. It has options for 2 different inputs via composite,1 component,1 S-video and also a USB port. Outputs were also either composite or component. Can't recall exactly now.
It doees not have an internal HDD.The VHS has to be played for the content to be recorded and burned onto the disc at the same time.

Cheers,
Wong
Malaysia

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Here's how I did it
Jan 8, 2010 9:31AM PST

I connected my VHS player to my DVD recorder with a stabilizer filter; (a little black box) sometimes called a Digital Video Macrovision Stabilizer. These cost about fifty bucks. Play the tape hit record on your DVD recorder.

It's worth mentioning that this takes a while an eight hour tape takes eight hours to record.

Have fun!

Don

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Converting the easy and cheap way!
Jan 8, 2010 9:33AM PST

The cheapest and fastest way would be to buy a dvd recorder and do it at home in your spare time.Today you can buy a dvd recorder from $36.00 on up from e-bay shipped to your door free! Then it can be used to record tv,cable,camcorder etc usig dvd-rw discs which can be used over and over up to a thousand times. Ive done this with two pioneer recorders I own. Works great!

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I do it two ways...
Jan 8, 2010 9:34AM PST

One, I found a small production company that was going out of business and bought a VCR/DVD recorder for cheap. I can dub right over from VHS to DVD. The other way is to use my Sony camcorder as an Analog to Digital converter. I plug a VCR into the video input, a firewire cable into the digital output, and roll tape. I use Premiere Pro to capture the video, but have also used Windows Movie Maker. The advantage of the second technique is I can edit the video before burning a new DVD.

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sony analog cam to DVD
Jan 15, 2010 11:11AM PST

I have a Sony Hi-8(1999 model)but have no input. What model is your Sony camera?

Tom in Chapin SC

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converting VHS tapes to DVDs
Jan 8, 2010 9:36AM PST

I recently converted all my parents' home movies to DVD and it only cost $8 plus the cost of blank DVDs. Most people will not have this equipment handy, but if you do, this is good to know.

I found a VCR with S-Video output. I didn't have an S-Video cable so I had to buy that ($8 at Radioshack). I plugged one end of the S-Video cable into the VCR and the other end into our Sony HVR-Z1U video camera. For the sound I had to use composite cables, or RCA, or whatever they're called.

The camera manual told me what settings I needed to have the VCR signal pass through the camera and then output to my computer (this required a Firewire cable). After I had done this, capturing the tapes to Final Cut Pro was actually simpler than capturing HDV tapes. You just start capturing, then hit play on the VCR, and when the footage stops you stop capturing and turn the VCR off.

If anyone is interested in more detailed how-to guide on how to capture and process the footage for virtually lossless results, let me know. This is the cheapest way to do it if you happen to have the required equipment, and probably the highest quality method, but it's not quite as simple as alternative solutions.

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Converting VHS to DVD
Jan 18, 2010 2:58AM PST

Please forward the further information you mentioned in your advice.

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If Money is no object:
Jan 8, 2010 9:38AM PST

ION Audio makes just the deivce you need, it will convert your VHS tapes with simple to use Features and will be money well spent.
I own one of Their USB Turntables for converting my old Albums into CD's and have had great luck with it. Their Web Site is very good and full of great products for all types of converting projects like the one you describe.

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capturing VHS
Jan 8, 2010 9:38AM PST

I have been happy with the Pinnacle line of products.If all you want to do is transfer from VHS to DVD there is the Dazzle line with dongles and software.If you want to edit video check the "MoviveBox" options such as Studio 14.It includes a dongle with the editing software.

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converting VHS tapes to DVD
Jan 8, 2010 9:41AM PST

Very simple. Buy a DVD recorder, not a DVD player but a DVD recorder. Follow manufacturers instructions to dub VHS tapes to DVD disc. Usually a very easy process. I purchased a Sylvania DVD recorder for under $200 and found I used this process more than recording from TV. I found it very useful when staying at timeshares which now provide only DVD players and no VCRs. I dub a lot of my movie tapes onto to DVD discs and do not have to rent DVDs at the timeshare office.

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Buy a DVD/VHS Recorder Combo
Jan 8, 2010 9:44AM PST
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vcr2pc
Jan 8, 2010 9:44AM PST
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combo unit
Jan 8, 2010 9:56AM PST

The easiest way I've used is our Panasonic DVD/VHS recorder-player combination unit. Just stick in the blank DVD disk and the recorded VHS tape, format the disk if needed, and hit the shuttle button to copy VHS>DVD.

If you don't have a combo unit, there are several ways to hook your VCR to your computer, including devices specifically designed for transferring video and data and that have any necessary software for the transfer included. Programs included with Windows XP and Vista or Windows 7 may already have transfer ability if you can get the right cables. Once on your computer's hard drive you may be able to edit the videos if needed, depending on what software you have available, then simply burn to your computer's DVD recorder drive.

Unfortunately, when you get the computer involved, things don't always go swimmingly, and compatibility problems or technical issues that need sorting out can ruin your day. I much prefer not to mess with that, and just use my combo DVD/VCR.

You asked what the simplest method was, and the combo unit is nothing but simple.

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PS
Jan 8, 2010 10:12AM PST

You can also go to Costco and get Roxio Creator. Costco's version includes a bonus device, Roxio's video capture USB and cables, that easily connects to your VCR. The VCR's video copies to the device and then via a simple USB connection to your computer. You do have to install the driver from the Roxio Creator CD onto the device via your computer, but that shouldn't be difficult since you need to install the entire Creator program to your computer off that disk anyway. Creator is the best I've experienced when it comes to moving, editing, and creating digital media.

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Video tape to digital format
Jan 8, 2010 9:58AM PST

One solution is http://www.ionaudio.com/vcr2pc - Ion has a pretty good history and also produces tape decks and record players that plug in to USB ports for converting those types of media.

Another option would be to get a video capture setup from Pinnacle, like this one - http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Dazzle/Dazzle+Video+Archiving/Dazzle+Video+Creator+Plus.htm

or from Roxio like this one - http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/easy-vhs-to-dvd/standard/overview.html?rTrack=b_easyvhs

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What is a simple way to convert old VHS tapes to DVDs?
Jan 8, 2010 9:59AM PST

The most simpliest, reliable, quality, best way recording VHS to DVD is to buy or get a DVD Recorder with Hard Drive, now days you can get it for a very affordable price.

Record VHS to Hard Drive and from there you can easily "edit", "cut", erase" and record to DVD.

What only counts is what kind of money you want to spend into a brand name quality DVD Recorder.

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DVD/VHS Recorder with Hard Drive
Jan 30, 2010 12:38PM PST

I bought a Panasonic DMR-EH75V. Paid $500. Worked great. However, over time it got picky and started rejecting blank DVDs. Now it will not work with any brand. I have tried every brand known to man. This machine is no longer made. I have not found any others with a Hard Drive. Do you know one that is made and currently available with Hard Drive?

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Converting VHS tapes to DVDs
Jan 8, 2010 10:00AM PST

First, you'll need a Dazzle 100 or similar hardware device to convert the analog signal to digital. Then buy Pinnacle Studio 12 for video editing. It's features include everything you'll need to produce slick finishing effects. It a self-contained system that allows you to pull videos or clips from your hard drive and include them in your final video. Try buying it on Amazon or eBay.

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Saw one yesterday
Jan 8, 2010 10:01AM PST

A DVD writer and a VHS player all in one around 100 at Sam's club and Best Buy has them.

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dvd recorders
Jan 8, 2010 10:02AM PST

there are several dvd recorders on the market and the price has dropped substantially since i did this about 4 years ago

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Converting VCR tapes to DVDs
Jan 8, 2010 10:03AM PST

This may not be the least expensive method but it works well.
Some time ago, I bought a Magnavox combination VCR/DVD RECORDER. Its manual explains how to make the transfer. The key is to ensure that the unit is a DVD RECORDER, not merely a "combination VCR/DVD player".
It may take a little practice, but is as simple as inserting the VCR tape in the VCR drive and a recordable blank DVD in its drive. Follow the instructions for "Dubbing". You monitor the transfer on your attached TV set. The Magnavox also has the advantage of being able to dub both ways (from DVD to VCR tape, too). There are other brands of these combos on the market. Good luck.

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VHS to DVD program(s)
Jan 8, 2010 10:06AM PST

I purchased Honestech's VHS to DVD 3.0 Deluxe some time ago. (It has since been updated to 4.0 which is a discounted "for purchase" upgrade to 3.0 users). I have not upgraded my 3.0, (yet) and from what I can tell both programs are identical in operation, 4.0 is just an enhanced version.

http://www.honestech.com/main/vhs-to-dvd-40-deluxe.asp

I am reasonably pleased with the program and Honestech's product support. (On support I would give them (4-1/2) of (5) stars). I have received several upgrades/patches for the 3.0 version and the program has version/update check built in. Given what the 4.0 offers I totally understand why it is a purchased upgrade. I have talked with other people that have similar programs from other developers and they all seem to have their quirks, (the programs, not the users). The other thing that must be considered as it is inevitable is that there is no such thing as high speed dubbing such as what you could do with audio cassettes years ago. Real time is real time and dependent upon how you set your video capture up there is a "digest" period following the capture before it writes to the CD. Nothing is fast but it can run either unattended or with minimal supervision and user inputs in the Advanced Mode. Would I buy it again? Yes. Will I buy the upgrade? Probably.