VHS to DVD

[The sound guy]

I have a bunch of home tapes that are slowly deteriorating.

I don't have a DVD recorder drive in my IBM style computer. Can anyone suggest the cheapest method of making DVD copies, whether I buy a cheap DVD recordable drive or is there a single piece of equipment where I can plug in both medias at the same time and presto . . . I magically have a DVD copy?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Johnd]

What format?

This will work for VHS:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2289569

 

[Hi Ho]

Wow I have never seen a VHS/DVD recorder that cheap. I'm not so sure about the quality of that machine but it may work fine if you only plan on using it to copy some tapes and be done with it.

If you want a better quality machine then take a look a the Panasonic DMR-EZ37VK.

If you already have a VCR then you can do it with a standalone DVD recorder that doesn't have VHS built in. The DMR-EZ17K is a good one.

It is much less time consuming to copy tapes with standalone units rather than doing it through a PC. When you do it through the PC you must copy, author, and then burn. Depending on the software you use and the speed of your PC that could take three hours per hour of tape. When you use standalone equipment it's done in real time so it takes a little over one hour per hour of tape when you count the finalizing and labeling time (10 minutes).

 

[allargon]

That Accurian should work. Just be warned that not all recorded DVD's play in all players. I have a Magnavox that only burns DVD+R's. However, most standalone DVD and upconverting players won't read those burned +R's. Moreover, none of my Toshiba HD DVD players will either. As a result, I have a Philips DVD recorder attached to my VHS player via composite cables to record my stuff.

Just be warned--Macrovision protection may at times rear its ugly head. I've had my Philips recorder refuse to record when trying to record downconverted high def shows (via composite or S-video).

 

[The sound guy]

For some reason, when I click the link you provided, I get a Radio Shack screen that states the number can't be found.

Could there be a missing digit? Could you provide me with the model number?

Thanks

 

[Johnd]

For some reason, when I click the link you provided, I get a Radio Shack screen that states the number can't be found.

Could there be a missing digit? Could you provide me with the model number?

Thanks

They have changed the price on it. It was priced at $29.99...a real steal! I think they left a 1 or a 2 off the front of it, and within 12 hours of me posting the link...they changed it. Here is the product though:

http://www.epinions.com/content_362542239364

Cheers.

 

[The sound guy]

I just finished looking at the Radio Shack website and then spoke with a local outlet. After much fuss (because I don't think they ever found it in their computer) they simply said it must have been discontinued and therfore isn't available.

Do you know of someone who actually bought one? If so I'd be interetsed in finding out where they got it.

Thanks.