dylan

I'm looking for a simple device to convert my VHS recorded-from-TV collection tapes to DVD. I noticed the following in Maplins:


http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...C=SO&U=Strat15

Can anyone recommend this or another similar device?

I'd like to know how long it takes for the transfer - is it the play length or is it speeded up?

I presume commercial VHS tapes are copy-protected.

D.

Fellwanderer

I just connected my video player to dvd recorder via a scart lead - much cheaper. Transfer that way is in real time. Of course, if the Maplin's device speeds it up and you have a large amount to do, it might be a more cost-effective solution.

Commercial tapes are not necessarily that protected - I've certainly transferred a couple of very old commerical tapes onto dvd with no problem.

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

dylan

I don't have a recorder so a combined unit seems an attractive purchase.

D.

DB7

I borrowed a friends once and it wasn't great. You can't speed it up and have little to no editing control.

Fellwanderer

In that case, it looks a decent proposition. However, I think I'd look at a dvd recorder with a HD for comparison as that would give you a bit more flexibility if it can connect to a video easily. Mine does and also has freeview built in.

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

sippog

Common sense dictates that you're going to run out of VHS tapes to transfer - unless you're a real recidivist - so why saddle yourself with old technology?

From experience, not many pre-recorded VHS tapes are worth transferring unless they're really rare; the DVD version is bound to be released next week and cost less than the trouble of doing it - and getting an inferior version. That just leaves the unreleased archive stuff and you should have a finite amount of that.

VHS players are still out there (just) and a cheap one will last long enough to get the tapes done. Buy one and a DVD recorder like Fell suggests. That at least will be future proof for a while

Fellwanderer

As sippog says, sooner or later you'll run out of tapes to transfer and then it would be redundant so a separate dvd recorder would give you more for your money.

I'm hanging on to my old vhs player as I'm still clinging to the hope that a dozen or so missing treasures will turn up and I'd hate to have no way of transferring them if they were on vhs. With my luck, they'll turn up on betamax

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

johng

I'm sorry but I cannot agree that the VHS copy will be in any way inferior to the DVD.

Unless the original recording has been digitally remastered and that does not always happen neither is it necessary if the original tape/film is in good nick, there will be no noticeable difference between VHS and DVD. After all you cannot get on a DVD what is not there in the first place.

I have checked this out comparing a DVD with the tape released a few years back and could see no noticeable difference whatsoever.

There is no guarantee whatsoever that a DVD will eventually be issued. take as a common example the three Z car episodes which circulate freely on VHS. I doubt that the BBC will ever re-issiue them on DVD.

Better to snap up the VHS copy if avai;able since it can usually be obtained much cheaper than what one would pay for a DVD.

Older commercial tapes are unlikely to incorporate Macrovision or similar but even if they do there are ample devises available on the internet which will enable you to overcome this.

Mt video recorder is no longer connected to the system but remains so that it can be brought out if some difficult to get programme surfaces.

amina

Be careful if you decide to buy a Macrovision remover as some of the cheaper ones are completely useless. I hear the ones that have more controls are better, as the allow you to adjust the settings so you don't get a darkening effect on the transfer.

narabdela

I'm sorry johng, but I'm afraid that either some new equipment, or a trip to Specsavers is called for.

Steve Crook

That's what I keep telling people. But it's remarkable the number of people that think a DVD is automatically a higher quality recording than a VHS. The power of advertising

Some even thing that a DVD recording from a VHS improves the quality.
It must be nice to believe in magic

Steve

earlb

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

narabdela

Quite true, a poor transfer is a poor transfer, whatever the medium:
but, given a level playing field, a DVD is capable of noticably superior resolution and image quality than VHS. Even with relatively poor source material.

batman

If they could perform that miracle, why would all those really bad vhs to dvd transfers be for sale on ebay? They'd all be super quality .... which they most certainly are not!

Don't miss out on a chance to win a rare film in Bat-Quiz 13 closing date - 31/8/8.

lordtednfs

The same goes for plasma, LCD and rear projection TV's, it's all to do with lighting in the area it's to be shown in.

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