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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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What is a simple way to convert old VHS tapes to DVDs?
Jan 9, 2010 5:51AM PST

Use a TV Capture card, feed the video from the VCR to the TV Card and then use the record function and save the file. Later burn it to a DVD using DVD movie software.

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VCR to DVD

I am using WinXP pro. SP3. I have installed a Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1600 NTSC/ATSC/QAM combo.I have the video player hooked directly to Hauppauge.Directions to recording and an editor comes with setup disc.Fairly simple, even I can record.

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Converting tapes to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 6:17AM PST

I purchased a Panasonic DVD Recorder, model DMR-ES20, a couple of years ago and have been converting VHS tapes and tapes directly from my Camcorder ever since. About 150 by now. In addition, when I record a program to my DirecTV TIVO and want to keep it, I record it to a DVD-R on the DVD Recorder. No problems at all.

Erik Jensen, Bountiful, Utah

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Simple way to convert VHS to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 6:28AM PST

The easiest and cheapest way to go is to take your tapes to Walgreens or a major pharmacy/photo chain. For $24.99/2 hours, they will DVD non-copywritten VHS tapes. Beats having to shell out $$$ for a machine that you'll only use once. Of course, if you plan on regularly transferring VHS to DVD, you'll have to invest in a machine.

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Easy to Convert VHS Tapes to DVD's
Jan 9, 2010 6:40AM PST

I am presently using a fairly ?low-tech? method to convert my old VHS tapes to DVD. I purchased a DVD Recorder (under $100). Use RCA cables to connect the old VCR (line-out) to the DVD Recorder (line-in). Then connect the DVD Recorder (line-out) to your TV (line-in). Play the VCR tape and record with the DVD Recorder - while watching the tape on your TV. Make sure that your DVD Recorder is set to a disk length sufficient to record the whole VHS tape. Adjust the tracking on the VCR so as to capture the best image. This method works very well and I have even used the same process with my old Beta tapes using my old Betamax player in place of the VCR.

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Converting old VHS tapes to DVDS
Jan 9, 2010 6:53AM PST

The simple way is I have done and still doing with Daewood combi unit which is a VHS and DVD Unit combined and nothing could be easier.
Regards William

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Converting VHS to DVD.
Jan 9, 2010 7:29AM PST

I don't fuss around with computer software to do this.
I connect my VHS recorder using a SCART lead to my LG DVD recorder, press play on the VHS and Record on the DVD recorder, and away I go: simple.

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VDR to DVD Easy
Jan 9, 2010 7:29AM PST

You can use a "Toshiba DVR620 - DVDr/ VCR combo" to transfer your tapes to DVD. Cost about $150.

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VHS to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 7:53AM PST

I run my old VHS tapes through a VCR player with RCA cables to a Canopus ADVC110 analog to digital converter, from it is a firewire 400 cable into my IMovie editing program. It downloads as quickly as it plays the tape and then I burn DVDs. Works great for me and I've done alot of friend old tapes too.
peter

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Old VHS tapes to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 8:15AM PST

You have to make sure you have the right hardware. I use a capture device that has video and stereo audio channels from Turtle Beach called Video Advantage PCI. I didn't care for the program associated with it so I use Corel Video Studio PRO X2. It's a very intuitive program. Simply capture the video and follow the steps to make a finished DVD.One tip here- if you are using an old mono VHS player for the tapes(or the tapes are mono) when plugging in the audio, you can get a simulated stereo by using a splitter on the audio cable and plugging it into the left and right audio jacks of the capture device. This way , you'll have sound on both channels of your finished DVD.

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Converting tapes to DVD's
Jan 9, 2010 10:14AM PST

The easiest way is to get a DVD standalone recorder, and record directly from the VHS machine. This will have to be real-time, you will have to start the recording cleanly, and end it when the video you want to copy is done. I use a Panasonic one myself, but most any should work, and they are inexpensive these days.
Once the DVD is finalized, which is a procedure most DVD recorders need to do to make the final disk, you can make copies via the computer easily, with Toast or a number of types of burning software.

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convert VHS tapes & VHS-C tapes to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 10:26AM PST
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VHS To DVD Device
Jan 9, 2010 10:35AM PST
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Converting VHS to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 11:06AM PST

For less than $250, you can get a unit that has BOTH a VHS and a DVD recorder. You can record on either media and dub to either as well. That way you can put a DVD on videotape and avoid damaging the DVD.

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VHS to DVD - via TV Dongle
Jan 9, 2010 12:05PM PST

Hi,
a method I used a few years ago was to use a USB analogue TV Dongle in my PC. I guess a video card with an analogue TV input would work too. I'm assuming here that your VCR has a co-ax output that plugs into the TV. Unplug that from the TV and plug it into the USB Dongle. Play the VCR and scan for the signal channel in the dongle software. Once you have a TV picture on the PC, restart the tape and use the Dongle software to record the incoming signal to hard disk. When complete, check the hard disk recording and if you are happy with it, burn it to the DVD.

Cautions. The quality cannot be better than that on the tape, so your DVD will likely be lower quqlity than DVDs produced directly from digital signals. You may not be able to get hold of an analogue dongle in countries like the US that are now entirely digital TV. Then again, you might find one very cheap in the legacy bin! The quality of the software that comes with the devices is very variable - mine was a Hauppage and I'd describe it as "adequate" rather than "excellent". This method does not work with digital signal dongles.

Good Luck.

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Convering VHS tapes to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 12:13PM PST

The easiest way is to buy a combination VCR/DVD player/reorder.

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VHS to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 12:17PM PST

Hi folks,

Try Roxio easy VHS to DVD.

Best regards,

John B. (UK).

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Several ways to transfer VHS (Beta too)
Jan 9, 2010 12:55PM PST

There are many options available. Ion makes a USB VHS player that will plug in directly to your computer. Easy to use. Just remember that you cannot copy any VHS that is "copy protected" meaning nearly all commercially produced VHS tapes. Roxio has another solution that will also copy VHS to your hard drive via USB. You can hook it up to a VCR and run it directly to your computer. Try capturing copy protected tapes this way too. There are several different makers out there so do a search online for VHS to Computer capture and you will see what I mean. Alternatively, you can also purchase a VHS/DVD recorder that will copy all but "copy protected" VHS tapes directly to DVD, without having a DVD/VHS recorder.

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Several ways
Jan 9, 2010 1:07PM PST

The quick and easy way is to use a DVD/VCR recorder unit with dubbing capabilities. I bought one several years ago (an LG) and have used it to dub from VHS to DVD many times. It'll also dub in he other direction as well. Copying copy-protected sources is out, but you won't have to worry about that with your home tapes. You'll have limited editing capabilities, but if all you want to to is put tape to disk, they'll work fine. Figure on spending anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars up for one.

Alternatively, I've been a fan of the ATI All-In-Wonder cards for several years now. My current card is the All-In-Wonder 2600 PCI-E which works very well for me. The card is several years old, but for a non-gamer with occassional video capture/editing needs, it was a budget solution and it captures composite/S-Video and television inputs. The card comes with DVR software (among others, including a very handy FM-radio receiver!) that I use to capture TV or - through the RFI input - VCR output to a .WMV video file. From there you can easily burn the file to a DVD. The benefit of this method is that you have the ability to easier edit/compile/manipulate your images before you burn them to disc.

If you don't have a VCR/DVD combo unit or an ATI All-In-Wonder video card, you'll have to shell out some money. If you're going to have to do that, you may want to consider a dedicated video capture card, particularly if you're happy with your current video card and don't want to add components to your current A/V rack. I'm sure there are many who can advise you on what the best bang for the buck options are.

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VHS to DVDs
Jan 9, 2010 7:24PM PST

I had the same problem,untill I bought a Philips comboplayer then I could make a copy of a VHS to a DVD very easy.. I had hundreds of VHS tapes..

B.Gustafson

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vhs to dvd
Jan 9, 2010 7:25PM PST

i purchased a vhs/dvd player, with the capacities to record the vhs to dvd, and dvd to vhs. I bought it at sam's club, but there also software on newegg.com that will help using computer and hookups.

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convert vhs tapes to dvds
Jan 9, 2010 7:42PM PST

get a dvd recorder. Obtain DVD-R or DVD+Rs to create a collection.
you can record from 2-6 hrs on a single layer or from 2-8 on a double layer dvd.
1
Connect VHS video out to DVD video in(3 cables).
play vhs tape and record to DVD recorder. hit record and keep pushing till it approximates length of video to be recorded. When recording ends record next tape till you have used the dvd recording time available. You can then label the segments using the recorder instructions and finalize the dvd.
2
you can also use a capture device and a dvd recorder all on your computer. Obtain a capture device (one is available on ebay for less that $4. Install software or download a vidso capture software like
Arcsoft Showbiz . Connect vcr to your computer using the cable supplied. Capture video to your hard drive. Record video to your DVD recorder using onstructions from the software.

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VHS to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 9:48PM PST

Hi i have been doing this at my work for a year or so .
I copy the video from a VHS player to a HDD recorder and then using the builtin software edit the pieces out that i don't want.
Then i just burn the DVD, and finalise it to make it playable in a standard DVD player.It works great. this can only be done with NON copyrighted videos ,so home videos are fine.
hope this helps

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This is what I use
Jan 9, 2010 9:49PM PST

I have a Dazzle DVD converter. From Radio Shack. Easy to use but time consuming. Goes from VHS to DVD, skips your hard drive, direct to DVD. Other ways to do it, but the Dazzle is the easiest. http://www.DVDVideoServices.com

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Converting VHS to DVD
Jan 9, 2010 10:52PM PST

Probably the simplest way of converting VHS tapes to DVD requires a working VHS machine, a DVD recorder and a set of RCA Leads. Plug the leads into line out jacks of the VHS player, and into the line in jacks of the DVD recorder. Select the correct line in on the DVD and start it recording, and then press play on the VHS and then let the machines run until you have recorded everything you want off the tape.

Once you have recorded it onto the DVD you can copy the content onto your computer and depending on your software convert it to whatever format you want. If your DVD has a hard-drive and available space, I suggest you record it onto the hard-drive first because it is usually easier to do any editing (eg. edit out any commercials or overly long intro?s or credits) on the hard-drive than it is on a DVD disk. Then when you are happy with it you can copy it onto a DVD disk and then onto your computer. Hope this is useful.

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If you don't have to edit them.....
Jan 9, 2010 11:13PM PST

A home VHS / DVD recorder is the absolutely easiest way to convert anything to dvd. My old JVC dvd recorder is as simple as press play on vcr, pause where you want to start then press dubbing button. After you've initialized the dvd of course. I used dvd rw's for practice since they can be written over in case I goof.

But if you need to do any editing of any kind you'll need some kind of capture device for your pc. Anything beyond that, I'll be tracking your thread too as I'd like to know the best format to capture it to and the best editing tool.

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video converter
Jan 9, 2010 11:16PM PST

You must buy a video capture converter that will convert analog to digital. You get a USB to RCA cable and software that converts the signal. Once the video is converted and captured to your PC you can edit and burn to DVD. Best Buy, Amason, Meritline, all have them ranging from $20 - $60. I bought a cheap one and it works great.

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If no editing is needed then.......
Jan 9, 2010 11:29PM PST

If no editng is wanted or needed then do what I did. Purchase a resonably priced DVD recorder/VHS comb unit for a TV. Simply put in blank dvd and the vhs/vhs-c tape, (with vhs-c adapter), press dub and walk away. When all operations are complete close the dvd and that is that. The dvd will play on almost any dvd player. Can do several conversions with in a day or two. If you should ever want to edit at a later date then again do what I did. Place the selected dvd into PC, use the dvd editing software of your choice, (Roxio is mine), import dvd, drag to time line, delete parts you don't want to keep, save the rest, burn the remaing 'keepers' to dvd, either one per dvd or use the consolidate feature and fill each dvd with a collection of your recently edited movies.

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burning vhs to dvd
Jan 10, 2010 12:19AM PST

First you need a usb or card video capture,usually they come with burning software,second burn it to 720x480,no dropped frames,third be sure you have a fast pc,I,consider tnis the most important.
Hope this will help you.

Davy

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What is a simple way to convert old VHS tapes to DVDs?
Jan 10, 2010 1:05AM PST

I have been doing this procedure extensively lately by using a DVD Recorder and hooking the VHS player to it with a scart lead.If it's dconnected correctly the VHS signal is monitored on the TV.
Hope this helps