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ChatterBank0 min ago
Converting Vhs Tapes To Dvd
13 Answers
Are there any gadgets online that I can buy to convert VHS tapes to DVD, it will have to be an 'idiots guide' to doing this as i'm not too savvy regarding tech stuff, a simple, plug a couple of leads in, press a button and away we go type thing.
Thanks for any help and stay safe everyone.
Thanks for any help and stay safe everyone.
Answers
1 to 13 of 13
A quick bit of googling, SP48, shows that your machine can only play DVDs (and not record them). So, unless you buy a secondhand machine that can record from VHS to DVD (as in my eBay link above), you'll need to use the two-stage method I referred to in my first post, using a device like the one in my first link. (Once again, I've assume that your computer can...
19:27 Thu 23rd Apr 2020
Oh, if only it was as simple as that! You have to go through a 2-stage process, firstly creating a video file on your computer and then burning that file onto a DVD.
I'm unaware of any standalone device that actually incorporates the tape player itself. Therefore, if you've not still got an old one lying around, the first thing you'll need is a secondhand VCR. (Around thirty quid on eBay).
Almost all VCRs were built with RCA outputs (as well as Scart ones). but it would be wise to check that any VCR that you're considering purchasing actually has them. (An RCA outputs is a set of yellow, red and white 'phono' sockets). Alternatively an S-Video output, which is much rarer, would also do.
Then you'll want something like this:
https:/
Unsurprisingly, you plug the yellow plug into the yellow RCA/phono socket on the back of your VCR, matching up red-to-red and white-to-white in the same way. Equally unsurprisingly, you plug the USB connector into a spare USB port on your Windows PC or laptop.
Such devices normally come with video-grabbing software, which you install onto your computer. (Alternatively they might come with a web link to something like VLC, which you then download from the net and install).
You simply open the software, activate the 'Record' feature and start the VHS video playing. Once it comes to the end, you stop the recording and save it to your hard drive (usually in MP4 format).
Then you move to the second stage, which is to burn the video file to a DVD. Modern versions of Windows include built-in burning software but this freebie is probably better:
https:/
(You'll also need to be using a PC or laptop that's actually got a DVD-writer built into it. Not all DVD drives can write DVDs; some can only play them. Otherwise you'd need to purchase an external USB DVD-writer for about 14 quid on eBay).
You need to be aware that unlike 'ripping' CDs, there's no fast way to carry out the first stage above. You can only do it in 'real time'. So, if you want to transfer twenty 90-minute tapes onto your computer (ready for subsequent burning onto DVDs), it's going to take you 30 hours to do it!
I'm unaware of any standalone device that actually incorporates the tape player itself. Therefore, if you've not still got an old one lying around, the first thing you'll need is a secondhand VCR. (Around thirty quid on eBay).
Almost all VCRs were built with RCA outputs (as well as Scart ones). but it would be wise to check that any VCR that you're considering purchasing actually has them. (An RCA outputs is a set of yellow, red and white 'phono' sockets). Alternatively an S-Video output, which is much rarer, would also do.
Then you'll want something like this:
https:/
Unsurprisingly, you plug the yellow plug into the yellow RCA/phono socket on the back of your VCR, matching up red-to-red and white-to-white in the same way. Equally unsurprisingly, you plug the USB connector into a spare USB port on your Windows PC or laptop.
Such devices normally come with video-grabbing software, which you install onto your computer. (Alternatively they might come with a web link to something like VLC, which you then download from the net and install).
You simply open the software, activate the 'Record' feature and start the VHS video playing. Once it comes to the end, you stop the recording and save it to your hard drive (usually in MP4 format).
Then you move to the second stage, which is to burn the video file to a DVD. Modern versions of Windows include built-in burning software but this freebie is probably better:
https:/
(You'll also need to be using a PC or laptop that's actually got a DVD-writer built into it. Not all DVD drives can write DVDs; some can only play them. Otherwise you'd need to purchase an external USB DVD-writer for about 14 quid on eBay).
You need to be aware that unlike 'ripping' CDs, there's no fast way to carry out the first stage above. You can only do it in 'real time'. So, if you want to transfer twenty 90-minute tapes onto your computer (ready for subsequent burning onto DVDs), it's going to take you 30 hours to do it!
^^^ Agreed, Mexican18, but your post refers to 'a' tape, whereas SP48's post refers to 'tapes' (plural). If he's got dozens of them he wants to transfer (and a great deal of patience to do so!), buying the gadget I've linked to would make sense financially (especially if he's still got a working VCR with an RCA output).
^^^ They no longer manufacture combined DVD/VHS devices but there are a few used ones available on eBay. Most are priced at around £150 but this is a bit cheaper:
https:/
I agree that if you can still get hold of such a device in good working order, it'll be the simplest way to make the transfer.
https:/
I agree that if you can still get hold of such a device in good working order, it'll be the simplest way to make the transfer.
Thanks everyone for the help.
I have just dug my old VHS machine out of the garage, it is a JVC, and its a dual VHS and DVD player, it has scart sockets and also the red, white and yellow phono inputs, it is about 20 years old and has been in storage for about 10 years.
Will this make it easier to convert tapes?
I will have a look around tomorrow to see if I still have the instruction manual.
Any further tips are very much appreciated.
I have just dug my old VHS machine out of the garage, it is a JVC, and its a dual VHS and DVD player, it has scart sockets and also the red, white and yellow phono inputs, it is about 20 years old and has been in storage for about 10 years.
Will this make it easier to convert tapes?
I will have a look around tomorrow to see if I still have the instruction manual.
Any further tips are very much appreciated.
>>> its a dual VHS and DVD player,
If it's got a DVD recording function then you've got all you need. You should be able to copy a VHS tape directly to a DVD. If it hasn't, you'll have to use a device like the one in my first link above and go through the two stage process of first creating a digital file on your computer and then burning that to a DVD. (As above, that assumes that your computer has a DVD writer, rather than just a DVD reader, built into it).
>>> it has scart sockets and also the red, white and yellow phono inputs
I really hope that you mean that it's got red, white and yellow phono OUTPUTS (either instead of, or as well as, phono INPUTS). Otherwise you'll need an adapter, like this one:
https:/
The make and exact model number of your re-discovered machine (probably from the plate on the back of it) might help here.
If it's got a DVD recording function then you've got all you need. You should be able to copy a VHS tape directly to a DVD. If it hasn't, you'll have to use a device like the one in my first link above and go through the two stage process of first creating a digital file on your computer and then burning that to a DVD. (As above, that assumes that your computer has a DVD writer, rather than just a DVD reader, built into it).
>>> it has scart sockets and also the red, white and yellow phono inputs
I really hope that you mean that it's got red, white and yellow phono OUTPUTS (either instead of, or as well as, phono INPUTS). Otherwise you'll need an adapter, like this one:
https:/
The make and exact model number of your re-discovered machine (probably from the plate on the back of it) might help here.
A quick bit of googling, SP48, shows that your machine can only play DVDs (and not record them). So, unless you buy a secondhand machine that can record from VHS to DVD (as in my eBay link above), you'll need to use the two-stage method I referred to in my first post, using a device like the one in my first link. (Once again, I've assume that your computer can actually burn DVDs, rather just play them. Otherwise you'll need to buy a USB external DVD-writer (or rewriter) as well).
If the rear panel of your machine looks like this (as that nice Mr Google suggests it will)
http://
you've got BOTH RCA outputs (labelled as 'Component Video Out') AND an S-Video socket, so you could use either of them.
Another way of achieving your aim might be to look for a secondhand DVD recorder that's got phono INPUT sockets. Then you could connect your existing machine to the DVD recorder, play your tape on the old machine and set the 'Source' on the new machine to 'External' (or 'Aux' or 'Line In' or whatever other label it might use to refer the the phono input). You'd simply need a phono-to-phono lead to connect between the two. (e.g. https:/
If the rear panel of your machine looks like this (as that nice Mr Google suggests it will)
http://
you've got BOTH RCA outputs (labelled as 'Component Video Out') AND an S-Video socket, so you could use either of them.
Another way of achieving your aim might be to look for a secondhand DVD recorder that's got phono INPUT sockets. Then you could connect your existing machine to the DVD recorder, play your tape on the old machine and set the 'Source' on the new machine to 'External' (or 'Aux' or 'Line In' or whatever other label it might use to refer the the phono input). You'd simply need a phono-to-phono lead to connect between the two. (e.g. https:/
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