Convert VHS to DVD - Comments Page 5

I have been pretty successful when it comes to transferring commercial VHS tapes to DVD-R via a VCR-DVD Recorder combo however I always run into a problem trying to copy Disney tapes. What do you suggest on this note?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Some have reported success using a stabilizer such as the Sima CT-200. I recommend videohelp.com for more assistance if that doesn't do the trick.

Help please! I'm techno challenged & older, so bear with me.

I have made 100's of dvd's with my Sony combo: RDR-vx530....I had so much trouble getting them finalized,I just didnt try after a few.

Now my machine died...Can a new "any" brand finalize them? Will a new "same" brand? Any other option? I dont want to lose all my recordings...any help would be appreciated.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I read some postings on VideoHelp.com and came away with no clear answer. I suggest you post your question there, with as much detail as possible. People seem pretty friendly and helpful there.

My bro-in-law was really great to offer to tape my wedding, but he used 3 different cameras that consisted of 2 kinds of VHS and 1 memory card. I want to transfer my VHS into DVD so that I can edit them all together. I am trying to find information online about the best way to go about it, but I go glassy-eyed with too much techno-talk; I am a basic techno-girl.

Is there a difference between transferring to DVD and transferring to a digital file (like MPEG-2, etc)? If so, and I already bought something that was advertised to be transferred to DVD, can I convert it into an editable file?

EDITOR'S NOTE: MPEG is a video format that should be editable with most video editing programs, such as Windows Movie Maker or Sony Vegas. DVD is a physical disk, onto which you can burn a video file (such as an MPEG). In short, you need to convert the VHS footage into some video file format (MPEG is fine), open the video files with a video editor, edit as needed, then burn to a DVD disc.

I have been using a Pinnacle studio program for years to convert my home VHS tapes to DVD. They now have the Dazzle which allows you to connect your VHS player to the computer's USB port.

The cost is $51.00 dollars for the very basic model.

I dont know about dvd's. But I have burned cd's in the past, to be more especific in the year 2000 and now they are just blank cd's I was using RWcd's, the documents, pictures and music disapear. The computer read the cd as blank and full at the same time on the properties screen. So I know for experience that they go bad especially the RW They last it about 5 years. I dont use RW CD's or RWDVD's no more I prefer to use the others since until know I have never have a problem.

I am a big movie fan, been collecting for over thirty years, with over a thousand VHS movies, many not available on DVD. As a present my husband purchased a Samsung DVD-VR357 so that I could copy my old VHS (Fox, Disney, etc...) to DVD for my personal use, absolutely not to sell. Some work and some will only copy a few seconds and then state copyright protected. What do I need to copy these movies. Help we are running out of room and please go slow..... new technology is not my thing.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Judy, please look through the comments for info about Stabilizers. The Sima CT-200 or similar devices should do the trick.

Arkiva.com provides a really great digital conversion service. They not only convert VHS to DVD, but also convert many other forms of legacy media to digital, such as film reels, slides, records, betamax, etc. Plus they do it really fast and also upload the video online your personal Arkiva homepage.

It's really easy to use and has all the features of a disaster recover software program, media sharing site, and digital conversion service.

I want to tell you about interesting information related to combo DVD VHS recorders found on Dimax Grex FAQ page - http://www.xdimax.com/grex_faq/faq_vcrdvdcombo.html. It is generally impossible to DUB protected VHS to DVD but using Grex and instructions mentinode above you can do a tricks with your combo and make it record protected VHS to DVD without any external player or recorder.

Is it possible to put VHS tapes directly onto an external hard drive and bypass the computer completely?

EDITOR'S NOTE: No, you need something to read the data from the tape, and write it to the disk. I don't know of any VHS player that can write directly to a hard drive.

You may want to have a look at the TVIX PVR R-3300. It can record to MPEG via S-Video or Composite inputs. This allows one to avoid scratchable media, tapes, etc., and go fully digital.

i am using tevion dvd maker usb 2.0 to convert my home made movies from vhs to dvd and it comes up that they are copyrighted. I am using my new laptop with vista. is there something that I need to change.

EDITOR'S NOTE: You need a stabilizer. See the comments for more info.

In the mid '80s we recorded music on VHS tapes as in this pre-DVD/CD era - it was a good way to record digitally. Is there a good, low-tech system for conversion to DVD?

Above you say, "Once you capture the images on your computer, you can use movie editing programs such as Windows MovieMaker..."

So... How do I "capture the images" on my computer? I have the VHS tapes, computer with moviemaker & tapes... & even a "TV tuner" on one of our computers. But how do I upload the VHS stuff onto the computer?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I offered a number of solutions, both hardware and software, in the article...

I cannot edit my recorded DVD clips from my home VHS tapes. I can play the DVD on TV and computer, but editing software (iMovie) does not recognize any of the files.

What are the correct machines or settings I need to use to make an editable DVD recording? I have several tapes and want to archive the footage, yet be able to transfer the files to my computer and make edits sometime later.

EDITOR'S NOTE: What video format are the clips stored in?

Using a Panasonic DMR-EZ485V. The copyright issue put a big halt to my project - copying a few hundred classic VHS tapes to DVD-R. After a quick Google search, discovered others with identical issues. So, I purchased a GREX Dimax Digital Video Stabilizer ($100 shipped). All reviews indicate this is just the ticket. Web site xdimax.com shows specific hookup diagrams and instructions for most DVR's & VHS players & combo units. Appears to be a no-brainer. I'll know in a week or so once it arrives.

How do I transfer a VHS to a dvd without using a computer Please help asap. My partener is not computer savy at all.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Read the article again, you'll see this question was answered in depth.

Great Article! I went the low tech way with StashSpace, a video conversion service that offers direct duplicates of your tapes as well as an online video editng application for creating custom DVDs.

I had them convert my VHS tapes and used thier software to create a combo movie of all my birthday parties. It costs $7 per hour video tape for the transfer to digital and $15 for a DVD.

This is a great option if you want to make customizations to your movies or combine footage from multiple tapes. Check them out at http://www.stashspace.com

Hi Bob,

I made a movie on VHS tape in 1996. It was broadcast on local public access TV. I have converted my VHS tape movie to a DVD. I would like to RIP the DVD movie to Windows Movie Maker and then upload the Movie Maker video to YouTube.

Could you please tell me the best and easiest software product to RIP my DVD movie to Movie Maker? (I already know how to upload a Windows Movie Maker video to YouTube.)

EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm pretty sure WMM can rip the video from a CD or DVD, via the Import function.

I have taken my old VHS tapes that contain the videos taken with our older camcorder. I purchased a Dazzle video converter on e-bay(you can by this at Best Buy). I connected this to my VHS player and my computer. This device converted the tapes to a digital format and stored them in a file on my computer. Then I used Roxio Media Creator, the Videowave part of the program, edited them and then recorded them to a DVD, in high quality. The results were great!

Thelma, I also have a Dazzle DV90 video converter, but on my new laptop (Vista) the laptop does not pick up the vcr. Any suggestions.