[Fredslist] Solution: VHS to DVD copying for personal use

[Andy Langsam]

I bought a simple GO video, they are now pretty cheap and it is an absolute snap to do the transfers.  Then I hired a young AV type kid to do the work and it took him about a week to transfer all the VHS and VHS-C to DVD.  If you are interested in doing this without buying equipment, the same kid is now doing this as a business, with my donated machine.
 
Andy Langsam
 

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From: fredslist-bounces at gothamnetworking.com on behalf of Phil Courtney - Urban Bear Marketing
Sent: Sat 2/4/2006 8:07 AM
To: fredslist at gothamnetworking.com
Subject: [Fredslist] Solution: VHS to DVD copying for personal use


Greetings Gotham,

 Solution to my posting a few days ago about copying my old VHS tapes to DVD for personal use:

Background: my 12 year old VCR finally broke down. With nearly 200 VHS tapes, some with tape quality that is deteriorating because of age,  I decided that I'd replace the VCR and get a DVD recorder to preserve the video.

First thing  I did was purchase a VCR/DVD-recorder combo unit. DO NOT DO THIS  IF YOU WANT TO COPY HOLLYWOOD/STUDIO TAPES FOR PERSONAL USE!  The combo unit is incapable of copying Hollywood/studio tapes because of the Macrovision copy protection on VHS tapes.

So, I did some research and discovered the solution was to purchase two separate units and install in between them a small video splitter that suppresses the Macrovision copy protection (the copy protect is performed on the video signal from the tape and does not suppress the sound).

Solution: I purchased a new stand-alone VCR ($50), a new stand-alone DVD-Recorder($125) and a video splitter (Sima GoDVD-I saw them available from CompUSA for about $50. Do a Google search on GoDVD. Big box stores such as Best Buy and Circuit City sell them too for about $80).

Connections: While your connections and equipment may be different, here's what worked for me (as per the instructions that came with my units). I installed/connected each unit stand-alone and tested to make certain each worked.

First, I set up the DVD-Recorder
DVD-Recorder: 


*	For input, cable tv connection 
*	For output:
	

	*	optical audio directly into stereo receiver (for Dolby Digital/DTS surround sound) 
	*	cable tv relay to television 
	*	S-Video connection to television
		

When complete, powered up, put in a DVD to watch, and all was fine.

Second, I set up the VCR
For VCR:


*	  connected audio/video out from VCR to audio/video in on DVD-Recorder
	

When complete, powered up, put DVD-Recorder on channel 3 (just like you would a television when watching a VCR), at was able to watch a VHS. Please note: I did not connect any input from the cable TV to the VCR. While my old VCR had this connection so that I can record from television, this is no longer necessary with a DVD-Recorder. The DVD-Recorder now has the direct connection from cable TV.

Third: Now that I was satisfied each unit worked independently, I installed the video splitter
All that is needed to connect the video splitter is to install it between the VCR and DVD-Recorder, connected the video out (yellow) from the VCR to the video in on the splitter. Then connect the video out from the splitter to the video in on the DVD-Recorder. (Instructions provided with the unit I purchased were clear)

Finally! I can now record my old VHS tapes on DVD. I just insert the appropriate recordable DVD in the DVD-Recorder, press PLAY on the VCR and RECORD on the DVD-Recorder and it works. Just remember, this is merely a copy of an analog signal. Whatever way your VHS tape plays will appear exactly the same when played from the copied DVD. (Sort of like recording LPs to cassette---the clicks and pops make it to the tape). But you'll have a backup copy on DVD that does not degrade like VHS tapes.

Most important, follow the connection and usage instructions that come from the manufacturers of your products. This is the solution that worked for me, your solution may require a different configuration to achieve similar results.

Hope this helps

Phil

-- 
Philip E.  Courtney
Urban Bear Marketing, Inc.
phone: (212) 786 9399 or (570) 588 5242
http://www.urbanbear.com
http://www.urbanbearmarketing.com

"We generate online sales and Internet sales leads"



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