Record VHS to DVD -- Help please!!

D

Davis Goertzen

New Member
Hello all,

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but does anyone know what sort of equipment I need to get to use my laptop to record VHS tapes onto DVDs? Thanks.

Davis
 
A VHS deck and a DVD recorder (separate or some combos) is all you will need. Or, you can go the more complex/expensive route and purchase a video digitizing card, DVD authoring software suite and a DVD burner for your computer.
 
Thanks for the replies. Zatharus, is the video digitizing card route more expensive than just a VHS deck and DVD recorder? I have a VHS deck; can I just get a DVD recorder and run a standard white-red-yellow RCA cable? Also, do I take it that they make video digitizing cards for laptop expansion ports? As far as DVD authoring software goes I have Nero PowerProducer Gold, as well as Roxio. Will either of these work?

And yes, effinMaster, if you could get the name of that software kit (as well as stuff like where to get it, what it costs, etc) that would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry if these are all a bunch of stupid questions. Thanks for your helpfulness.

Davis
 
Davis Goertzen said:
Thanks for the replies. Zatharus, is the video digitizing card route more expensive than just a VHS deck and DVD recorder?
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Yes, it can be. Most basic DVD recorders can be had for around or under $100 now. A digitizing interface, DVD creation software (if it doesn't come with the interface) and DVD burner together will start around the same price point though. It depends on what you get and what you want to do and if you have a computer powerful enough to capture decent quality video (pretty much anything in the last five years will do). The advantage having some recording/creation software on your computer is that you have more control over how the final product works. The VCR to DVD recorder method is the simplest and the least customizable.

Since you already have the software to get started, you only need the video interface (also assuming you have a DVD burner in your computer. You can get interfaces that will work with laptops, too. Pinnacle and others make USB or Firewire video interfaces, and most of them come with additional software. Also, you can always use Windows Movie Maker to capture the initial video. So, you really don't need any extra software for that.

Have a look over here for some USB hardware ideas.


I have a VHS deck; can I just get a DVD recorder and run a standard white-red-yellow RCA cable?
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Yes you can. Or, if your VHS deck has an S-Video port, I would recommend using that over the RCA composite output for video.
 
To help sum up quickly;

If you link the VCR to a DVD recorder you will get exactly the same as on the VHS. Eg, very basic menus etc.

If you use Nero, which you have, and digitalise the video, you will be able to create fancy menus, edit the videos if you want, put backing tracks on. Anything that you could do if you already had the video on your comp in .avi or .mpeg etc format.

I have a VHS deck; can I just get a DVD recorder and run a standard white-red-yellow RCA cable?
Click to expand...
Yes you can. Or, if your VHS deck has an S-Video port, I would recommend using that over the RCA composite output for video.
Click to expand...

Or perhaps a scart??

Hope that helps, Doug.
 
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