# Converting videotapes to DVDs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476 "2011-10-22T22:09:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/1 "2011-10-22T22:09:37Z")
I recently came across a box of my old videotape movies. I am debating whether or not it’s worth the effort to convert some of them to DVD. I don’t have a VCR set up currently and I don’t want to keep a VCR permanently set up. But I would be willing to set one up to convert movies over from VHS to DVD so I could then watch them on my DVD player. So is anyone familiar with the process? How much effort is it? How does it work? I assume there must be some way to connect the VCR to my computer. Is there some kind of adapter involved? What software will I need? Recommendations are welcomed. As for legality, I assume it’s legal for me to transfer a movie I own on to another format as long as it’s for my own use. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/2 "2011-10-22T22:20:41Z")
The easiest way is to get a combo player that has both VHS and DVD, and can record DVD. Or you can get a capture card or gadget for your computer, then burn to DVD. That’s actually more work, I think. Is quality important? Are they irreplaceable (like family movies)? If so, I have some more advice so you don’t lose quality. As far as legality, who’s going to police you? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/3 "2011-10-22T22:25:23Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I recently came across a box of my old videotape movies. I am debating whether or not it’s worth the effort to convert some of them to DVD. I don’t have a VCR set up currently and I don’t want to keep a VCR permanently set up. But I would be willing to set one up to convert movies over from VHS to DVD so I could then watch them on my DVD player. My rule of thumb is: If the movie available on DVD? If so, it’s not worth the time and trouble. > [@](#): > > So is anyone familiar with the process? How much effort is it? How does it work? I assume there must be some way to connect the VCR to my computer. Is there some kind of adapter involved? What software will I need? Recommendations are welcomed. Any computer store will have video digitizer cards, often combined with TV tuners. What you need is going to be determined by your computer. The cheaper once rely more on your computer’s processor, while the more expensive one have hardware to handle the conversion. [Hauppauge’s](http://www.hauppauge.com/) main business is cards and USB devices. I own [one of these](http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr950q.html), and it gives me an HD tuner that works great with my Windows 7 computer, allowing me to record and archive HD network programming (only non-scrambled cable channels and over-the-air) and it has a video input that I can use with the VCR. > [@](#): > > As for legality, I assume it’s legal for me to transfer a movie I own on to another format as long as it’s for my own use. The Supreme Court’s “Betamax decision” legalized time shifting, but not format shifting. If you’re really worried, buy the DVD. Personally, I only transfer things that I cannot buy. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/4 "2011-10-22T22:32:16Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I own [one of these](http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr950q.html)… It looks like that is a tuner, not a A/V digitizer. I realize you could take the antenna output of a VCR into it, but that wouldn’t be the best quality if VCR audio/video output can be used. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/5 "2011-10-22T22:50:12Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > It looks like that is a tuner, not a A/V digitizer. I realize you could take the antenna output of a VCR into it, but that wouldn’t be the best quality if VCR audio/video output can be used. It is a tuner/av digitizer. There is a [small connector on the side that a dongle fits into that inputs composite video, S-video and stereo audio](http://www.hauppauge.com/pics/hvr950q_av-cable.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/6 "2011-10-22T23:01:15Z")
I just found an old family video from 18 years ago that was on VHS and made a DVD out of it for the people on the video. I wouldn’t do this for any of my old recordings of commercial movies – in fact, I just threw away a ton of those tapes. But I would transfer anything that may be worth saving like family videos or even some old TV shows. The process is not hard, but you do need a VCR player to read the VHS tapes. If you want to do this on your computer you will have to connect the VCR output to an analog to digital device, and then capture the video as a file on your computer. You can do it without a computer by connecting the VCR to a DVD recording device, which could be on the same machine as the VCR (check out Panasonic). Or you can take the tapes to an outfit that will do the conversion for you for a price. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/7 "2011-10-22T23:14:10Z")
This is a copy from a 15 year old VHS Taped home movie we made on our boat to a DVD-R, then to you-tube. Not too bad considering the age of the tape and all the transfers. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mSi-U_Ru71o/hqdefault.jpg "Boat Cruising Lake Erie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSi-U_Ru71o) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/8 "2011-10-23T00:54:02Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > The easiest way is to get a combo player that has both VHS and DVD, and can record DVD. I hadn’t even considered that possibility. I guess I was thinking that the combos players played either format and discounted the recording capability. Something to check into. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/9 "2011-10-23T00:59:52Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > My rule of thumb is: If the movie available on DVD? If so, it’s not worth the time and trouble. > > The Supreme Court’s “Betamax decision” legalized time shifting, but not format shifting. If you’re really worried, buy the DVD. Personally, I only transfer things that I cannot buy. It’s a mixture. I have a lot of old movies on tape. Some of them were never released on DVD. Plus I have stuff like TV shows I recorded. And there’s the stubborness of not wanting to buy something I’ve already bought once. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/10 "2011-10-23T01:01:47Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I hadn’t even considered that possibility. I guess I was thinking that the combos players played either format and discounted the recording capability. Something to check into. Here’s the thing about those - if the tapes are pre-recorded ones from Hollywood studios, you’re going to run into the copy protection system they used called Macrovision. I’ve never tested it, but I’m pretty sure most of the combo units are going to obey the Macrovision rules and either not record, or give you a crappy unstable, flashing copy. If you use a computer, you can get an external Macrovision stripper. None of this is a problem if you’re only talking about stuff you recorded yourself from TV or camera. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/11 "2011-10-23T03:42:55Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Here’s the thing about those - if the tapes are pre-recorded ones from Hollywood studios, you’re going to run into the copy protection system they used called Macrovision. I’ve never tested it, but I’m pretty sure most of the combo units are going to obey the Macrovision rules and either not record, or give you a crappy unstable, flashing copy. If you use a computer, you can get an external Macrovision stripper. Or if you use separate VCR player and DVD recorder instead of a combo unit, the anti-Macrovision unit can be put in between them. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/12 "2011-10-23T03:45:34Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > It is a tuner/av digitizer. There is a [small connector on the side that a dongle fits into that inputs composite video, S-video and stereo audio](http://www.hauppauge.com/pics/hvr950q_av-cable.jpg). Well, that would cover it. However, the [specs for the tuner](http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr950q.html) make no mention of this add-on. Is that an extra-cost accessory? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/13 "2011-10-23T04:14:36Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Well, that would cover it. However, the [specs for the tuner](http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr950q.html) make no mention of this add-on. Is that an extra-cost accessory? Nope. As I said, I own this exact unit, and it is plugged into the computer I’m typing on. If you run Windows 7, this inexpensive little device turns it into an HD-DVR. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/14 "2011-10-23T04:23:18Z")
I just double-checked the label of the device - 950Q. From the web site: > [@](#): > > Included with WinTV-HVR-950Q models 1191, 1176 and 1283 > > ``` > WinTV-HVR-950Q USB 2.0 TV stick with cable TV or ATSC antenna connection > Hauppauge credit card remote control > Audio/video adapter cable > USB extension cable > Portable TV antenna* > Installation software and WinTV v7 application on CD-ROM > Quick Installation Guide > > ``` The only variation in the models is one is for the US, one for Canada, one for Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/15 "2011-10-23T05:11:31Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Nope. As I said, I own this exact unit, and it is plugged into the computer I’m typing on. If you run Windows 7, this inexpensive little device turns it into an HD-DVR. But does it get around the Macrovision system? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/16 "2011-10-23T16:13:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But does it get around the Macrovision system? No idea. I’ve never tried to capture pre-recorded tapes using any video digitizer because the DVD is going to be so much better quality that my time is worth more. As **Musicat** pointed out, you could get one of the cheap Macrovision removers if you need it. They are usually called video “stabilizers”, and since they are pretty much obsolete, you should be able to find one for $5. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/17 "2011-10-23T19:24:39Z")
I use a standalone DVD recorder and a VHS deck. I also use the DVD recorder to convert 8mm and Hi8 tapes. One piece of advice. Always use 1 hour or at worst 2 hour mode on the recorder. The 4 hour mode degrades even the VHS tapes. You can also use Dvdshrink to convert the DVD into an ISO file, which is handy when someone asks for another copy. I wonder if I could make a better copy if I used a S-VHS deck? I would think a S-video connection you degrade the image less than a composite video connection. Warning: if it gets around that you can copy VHS tapes, you are going to have people coming out of the woodwork with tapes to copy. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/18 "2011-10-24T05:24:03Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > I wonder if I could make a better copy if I used a S-VHS deck? I would think a S-video connection you degrade the image less than a composite video connection. Yes, but not for that reason. First is that S-VHS decks would usually have video heads optimized for SP speed, where cheap consumer decks would have narrower heads optimized for the crappy EP speed. Also, S-VHS decks are just generally better decks with better motor control that will handle the tape more gently, a more solid frame that will improve picture quality by minimizing “time base” errors (the tendency of vertical lines in a VHS picture to become fuzzy) and even “time base correctors” that will stabilize the picture even more. And the last part, the S-Video output will be fed by a Faroudja decoder that further enhances quality. People have given me very nice Mitsubishi S-VHS decks for free, and yeah - a better one defintely produces a better tape. But make no mistake, the very best S-VHS deck ever made, playing the very best pre-recorded studio VHS tape ever made will _still_ look like dogshit compared to a DVD of the same title. Just better dogshit. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/19 "2011-10-24T05:50:27Z")
[Sony VRD-M6](http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665936279) "Transfer home movies and digital pictures to DVD without a PC. Connects with virtually any camcorder, VCR or DVR, and even accepts the four most common memory cards. " ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476/20 "2011-10-24T06:14:29Z")
I have a combination DVD-VHS recorder, and I’ve been transferring movies all summer. In most cases it’s things I simply can’t get on DVD, or in some cases, in any format. Like _Judge Dee and the Mnastery Murders_, which I taped from TV. or the Giorgiou Moroder version of _Metropolis_, which to my knowledge still hasn’t been released on DVD (and is rare enough on VHS) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-videotapes-to-dvds/600476.md?page=2)