Converting vhs tapes to dvds

[tiredtoo]

Not sure if this is the correct group/forum but....
I have a bunch of old vhs tapes from years gone by. Would like to put them on dvds. Would also like to be able to edit them during or after process.
Search gives me some equipment at amazon for reasonable prices.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=convert+vhs+to+dvd+machine&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=31671743096&hvpos=1t2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4317225377450051035&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_3sxukddgmy_b

I don't even know if this is what i want or if this will do what i want to do.
Any thoughts, suggestions?
Thank you

[arcane1]

1. I recently bought a used VCR for this very purpose

I'm not interested in converting them to DVD, but I at least wanted some sort of digital format on my computer.

I also got this device from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002H3BSCM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Which is along the same line of the things you were looking at.

I haven't actually completed anything, but I did test it and it worked.

So yes, I think you're on the right track. Step one, digitize them onto your computer. Step two, burn that file to a DVD (for which you'll likely need some program to do the conversion).

[Mnpaul]

2. Are they tapes that you created?

Commercial tapes may not copy well due to macrovision. If the box you buy allows macrovision through, you will get distorted video or just a green screen. I have one of these:
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Hauppauge-WinTV-PVR2-Personal-Video-Recorder-USB-Video-Capture-Device/216824616?gpid=68416460701&gpkwd=&goog_pla=1&gclid=CJO9xPLa8cICFWMLMgodwT0AQw

The software is kind of clunky but it filters out all copy protection. It will record anything that is input to the antenna or rca connectors. I can even record off my sony netbox.

[tiredtoo]

3. Yes they are all vhs tapes

we created over the years with our handheld recorder. Some good stuff but also some junk. I would like to get them digitized or whatever on a disk so i can both view them and hopefully edit out the junk.
Will probably stop by Best Buy tomorrow to get some advice possibly some equipment.

[hunter]

4. Converting tapes you made is easy.

I don't use a computer for that, just an older DVD recorder.

High quality VHS players sell at our thrift stores for ten bucks and I got the DVD recorder, which doesn't have a modern digital television receiver in it, as obsolete new-in-package surplus merchandise.

There are several layers of copy protection on commercial VHS tapes. Some older tapes have none. Our DVD recorder simply refuses to record tapes with copy protection, it's programmed to reject them. There are gadgets you can put between the VHS player and the DVD recorder that remove copy protection, and there are also computer video conversion cards and dongles that ignore copy protection.

BTW, Disney tapes and certain movies that appeal to the pirate crowd have the highest level of copy protection, sometimes at levels confusing to modern flat screen televisions. Our flat screen television does a marvelous job with most VHS tapes, they look better than they ever did on our CRT television. But I still see artifacts on the screen caused by copy protection, which I'm certain will appear in other sorts of digital conversion too, no matter what sort of device does the conversion.

It's actually pretty rare that a copy protected commercial movie that wan't available on VHS isn't available on DVD. I've accumulated DVDs of most of our old VHS movies.

Duplicating DVDs or converting them to another digital format is easy. My favorite method starts with Handbrake.

https://handbrake.fr

It's free, and it produces outputs that are friendly to most video editing software.

[madfloridian]

5. This might work.

http://www.vhs2dvdconverter.com/vhs-to-dvd.php?tid=ADW09To%20Copy%20Vhs%20Tapes%20To%20Dvd

I have an older Lite On recorder converter, and it actually still works. I have transferred many to DVD for years.

Don't think you can buy them anymore, but they were a great product

[truedelphi]

6. Thanks, madfloridian. I am seeking out a way to convert my VHS to dvd's.

Certainly plan on seeing if your suggestion works or not.