Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > General Discussions > Off-Topic Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-01-2006, 01:48 PM
Achieving Salvation
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Madison, Wis.
Posts: 223
Transferring VHS to DVD ... was I told a load, or is it the truth?

Went to the local electronics store to purchase a VHS/DVD combo machine for a friend's birthday, and while I was there, I was looking at some DVD recorders. They've really come down in price - about $125 will buy you a decent one.

I want to convert some of my VHS tapes to DVD to save space and to not have to pack so much when I move my stuff around. I was tempted to purchase the recorder and connect it into my VCR so that I could do just this. So I asked the "techie guy", and his response to my questions as to whether or not I could do this was, "Can't do it. Purchased VHS taped movies have this encryption algorithm in it, and the DVD's won't turn out if you try to copy them from the VHS tape. Only home movies will work."

I said, "OK ... thanks for the info.," knowing that I smelled something really funny here. I think he gave me a massive load, but I'm not sure. My brother-in-law had an all-in-one DVD writer/VHS device, and he converted ALL of his VHS tapes to DVD without an issue. I have also dubbed VHS-to-VHS tons of times, and have never had a problem copying stuff.

So did this guy give me a major load, or is there some element of truth to this situation?

Thanks,
Michael

__________________
+AMDG+
2005 W203
Running as fast as I can to stay behind!!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-01-2006, 02:48 PM
DuckMuck's Avatar
Feathered Member
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA
Posts: 804
It is true...some VHS movie tapes have copy protection that will prevent you from copying it...it is called macrovision...but in order for it to be effective, the VCR that is playing it must also support macrovision...so VHS tapes with macrovision can still be copied if you have a VERY old VCR sitting around that was built before the macrovision copy protection was implemented...or you can buy this small device that sits between your DVD recorder and VHS player that will disable macrovision...but it is pricey...I think around $60~80US...and obviously, it won't work on the DVD/VCR combo units...
__________________
1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :

Last edited by DuckMuck; 04-01-2006 at 02:54 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-01-2006, 02:57 PM
1990 500SL
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hawthorn Woods, IL. USA
Posts: 329
I have not done this, but do plan too when I get some time.
Our old family 8mm movies were transfered to Video years ago, I want to move them to a DVD. Note I don't even have a DVD writer on my PC yet.

I did get a AverMedia DVD EZMaker card (no cost at the time after rebate) that should allow me to plug a VCR into my PC and eventually burn to a DVD.

So there are PC cards that will do it, maybe not a full movie easily anyhow, but home movies etc ?????
__________________
KLK, MCSE

1990 500SL

I was always taught to respect my elders.
I don't have to respect too many people anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-01-2006, 04:43 PM
DuckMuck's Avatar
Feathered Member
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA
Posts: 804
If you have home movies, old VHS tapes of recorded television shows, old VHS movies that were released before macrovision, etc. you should have no problems transferring them to DVD...
__________________
1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-01-2006, 07:34 PM
MTI's Avatar
MTI MTI is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 10,626
Doing "video capture" from an analog source, like VHS tape and writing a digital file (DVD) has some technical issues. First, it helps if you have a decent VHS deck, preferably one with S-video out, for better picture quality.

Second, the PC that you're going to use, should be at a bare minimum a 800mhz P3, but that's a bare minimum and you'll likely have "lost frames" during the capture if your trying to get decent quality on the capture. Most systems recommend a 1.8Ghz P4 or better to avoid lost frames. The more memory the computer has the better, especially if the end product is going to be MPEG-4 files, which usually only is available if the system memory is 1GB or more.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-03-2006, 07:05 PM
Achieving Salvation
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Madison, Wis.
Posts: 223
VERY interesting ...

Well ... needless to say, these posts were all very intersting, and informative. I'm going to email my bro-in-law to see if he had to do anything to convert his movies. He has a VERY new VHS/DVD recorder device, and he converted like 70 VHS movies that you'd buy used at Blockbuster or at Suncoast Motion Picture Company. I'll post back with any findings of interest ...
__________________
+AMDG+
2005 W203
Running as fast as I can to stay behind!!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-04-2006, 10:23 AM
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Varies
Posts: 4,741
Run some google searches with the info you got in this thead. There are forums on the web where people openly discuss these techniques.

If you use Windows XP, learn to shut down the services. The entertainment industry has their software running on your computer.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page