VCR-to-DVD advice sought

[amedia]

I have a bunch of videotapes that I'd like to convert to DVD - things like the Shining Time Station Christmas special and the Harris/Dietrich pimping tape. I don't think my computer has the horsepower to do it digitally, so I'm thinking about getting one of those machines that's basically a videotape player and a DVD burner together. (I think Go-Video makes one.)

Has anyone used any of these? Can you recommend a good one? All input gratefully received!

Comments

[moonys-autumn.livejournal.com]

My dad has one, but you have to be careful because even old storebought tapes have copyguards on them so you can't copy them onto DVDs.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the speedy response!

Hmmm... the old Go-Video tape-to-tape machines would make one copy of a tape that was copy-protected, but you couldn't then turn around and copy the copy. We used to rent tapes and make copies of them all the time, just to have more time to watch them. I was wondering if they could keep that circuitry in the tape-to-DVD machines.

But then again, everything I want to make copies of is something I taped off the television; things I bought on videotape I can just buy again on DVD.

Do you know what brand your dad has, or whether he's happy with it?

[moonys-autumn.livejournal.com]

It's a Panasonic. He says once and a while it freezes up and he has to unplug it, but otherwise he likes it pretty well. :)

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I'm in the UK, so I can't give you advice as to brand, but a friend of mine has one and she loves it! She's converted a few videos of mine (a copy of The Glass Slipper I taped off the TV, as that *still* isn't out on DVD), and she said it's really easy. She's not a techy person herself, so she went to a good store, told them what she wanted and asked them to recommend a good, solid machine that was easy to use.

If you have Panasonic over there, that's what she went with.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

This is good to hear! We don't really have a good electronics store nearby (by "good" I mean, with knowledgeable salespeople), but Panasonic is a well-known brand here - I'll definitely see what they offer! Thanks for the input!

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I hope you find a good, easy to use machine. My friend, Christine, swears by hers!

[lash-larue.livejournal.com]

If the tapes you have aren't protected, it's easy. Slow, but it's not like you have to turn a crank or something.

Google is your friend, but if you've heard of the brand you'll be okay. I am unaware of any commercially availble VHS/DVD machine that strips copyright stuff. It's pretty much a pushbutton thing.

Pick the slowest option for the copy if you care about the quality.
L

[lash-larue.livejournal.com]

Can't edit anymore, I decided not to give LJ money. Research online and try newegg.com to buy.

If you want real help, Crutchfield has folks that know their stuff.
L

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you! Much appreciated. *takes notes*

[akite.livejournal.com]

We bought a JVC DVD recorder a few years ago and spent a small fortune to transfer all of our tapes to DVD. Then we found out that they'll only play on that machine, which is now dead, or in theory, another JVC player. Just be careful.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Eeek! That's definitely something to watch out for.

I bought a freestanding DVD burner a few years ago, but it was basically just too early, I think, for the technology to have stabilized. It never seemed to work very well and it died early. Last time I tried to play one of the DVD's I burned with it, it didn't work. Maybe it had the same problem as yours!

[akite.livejournal.com]

We just bought a JVC player, but my husband said it would not play our JVC recorded DVDs. :(