Recording a video from anothe video

[fusilier]

Is it possible to make a copy of a wedding on video to another video without using a SCART plug?

[LeMarchand]

Depending on your available connections, either us co-axial (aerial) cable and tune the video you are recording on into the other; or you may have a composite or S-Video socket you could use (unlikely if you haven't got SCART).

[Buenchico]

(This ought to fit into 2 parts but AB is being awkward so it might be 3 or 4!)):

I'm not sure why LeMarchand only got one star for his answer as it seems fairly comprehensive to me but, in case you're still confused, I'll try to elaborate.

The first thing to say is that scart-to-scart will normally give the best quality but I'll assume that this is not possible because at least one of the VCRs hasn't got a scart socket. (If it's just the lead that you're missing, they're a couple of quid in Tesco or Asda).

[Buenchico]

As LeMarchand has suggested, one way to make the recording is to plug an aerial fly-lead into the 'RF Out' socket of the VCR with the original cassette in. (The socket might also be marked 'Aerial Out' or 'To TV'). The other end goes to the 'RF In' socket on the VCR which will make the copy. (The socket might also be labelled 'Aerial In'). It will be necessary to tune the 'copy' VCR to receive the signal from the 'original' VCR. To do this first connect the 'copy' VCR to your TV (using whatever method you normally use, ie. Scart or aerial fly-lead). Press 'Play' on the 'original' VCR and then tune the 'copy' VCR using whatever method this particular VCR uses. (i.e. read the handbook. All VCRs are different).

[Buenchico]

It might also be possible to connect the two VCRs by using phono leads. This will be possible if the 'original' VCR has 'AV Out' phono sockets and the 'copy' VCR has 'AV In' phono sockets. (Again, a suitable lead will cost you a couple of quid in Tesco or Asda). This will be easier than the above method because you won't need to tune the 'copy' VCR. All you have to do is to make sure that the channel is set to 'AV'. (On a few older systems you had to select Channel 0 but most reasonably modern VCRs have an 'AV' button next to the ordinary channel buttons on the handset). Then just select 'Play' on the 'original' VCR and 'Record' on the 'copy' VCR.

If only one of the VCRs has got a Scart lead but the other has got either 'AV In' or 'AV Out' phono sockets you can still use the method that I've just described but you need a 'Scart-to-AV' lead. Take care where you purchase one of these. When I visited a branch of Currys, the cheapest on offer was �19.99. Tesco Extra (and some larger ordinary Tesco branches) sell them for �1.97. If the Scart socket is on the 'original' VCR, make sure the 'In/Out' switch on the plug is set to 'Out' and that the phono leads go to 'AV In' on the 'copy' VCR. If the Scart socket is on the 'copy' VCR, make sure the switch is set to 'In' and that the AV leads are connected to 'AV Out' on the original VCR.

I hope that somewhere among that lot there is a solution that will help you. Just one polite request: If there's still something you need to know, please don't just award a single star. Please tell me what additional information you require and I'll do my best to provide it.

Chris

[Pudcat]

Thank you Chris.

The reason I might have appeared vague regarding the videos was because one was a very old model and the othe one qis a new one which of course has a scart plug as the old one does not. However your very useful message has been very comprhesive and I now propose to try your sugestion using a co-ax fly lead with a scart at one end and a suitable connection at the other..Thank you for your taking the trouble to help me. Fusilier