# How to copy a video using two VCRs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030 "2004-06-18T13:28:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/1 "2004-06-18T13:28:20Z")
**Disclaimer: This is not about copying something that’s copyrighted. Just a video made on someone’s camcorder.** The video from my graduation party, to be precise. Well, not just _my_ graduation, but I was one of the grads. The owner of the camcorder just informed me that she still has the video, long after I’d forgotten that anyone had been recording that night. “I’d be glad to make you a copy. I have two VCRs…but I don’t know how to use them for this purpose!” So I said I’d ask and get back to her. I have a vague sense that some kind of cable is necessary to connect the two machines, but other than that, I’m clueless. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/2 "2004-06-18T13:34:03Z")
Go to your local Wal-Mart and pick up a video dubbing cable. This will have three RCA connectors on each end (red, white and yellow). Plug one end of the cable into the OUTPUT connectors on the back of VCR 1. They should be color coded to match the cable, but if not, red is right audio, white is left audio and yellow is video. Plug the other end into the INPUT connectors on VCR 2. Put your original tape in VCR 1 and a blank tape in VCR 2. Press PLAY on VCR 1 and RECORD on VCR 2. Bingo! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/3 "2004-06-18T13:36:29Z")
Connect the video-out (usually the yellow cable) from the source deck to the video-in of the target deck. Connect the audio-out (usually the red and white cables – for left and right channel) from the source deck to the audio-in of the target deck. Connect the target deck to the television as usual. Pause-record on the target deck. Play the source deck, and un-pause the target deck. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/4 "2004-06-18T13:41:51Z")
Okay; thanks! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/5 "2004-06-18T14:32:15Z")
It’s just as everyone else said. Be aware that you will lose some image quality as VHS is bad at making multiple generations, though using two hi-quality VCRs will help relieve the effects. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/6 "2004-06-18T17:45:29Z")
Nobody mentioned it, so I will. The receiving VCR will have to have it’s input set to Line or Line 1 perhaps. Otherwise it will not receive the signal from the other recorder as it will be looking for a signal coming from it’s tuner. There are also image improvement devices that go in the line between the two recorders and can, in some cases, improve the image. You might find these at Radio Shack. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/7 "2004-06-18T19:13:23Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Nobody mentioned it, so I will. The receiving VCR will have to have it’s input set to Line or Line 1 perhaps. Most likely, but not always. Some VCRs are smart and will automatically switch to the AV inputs when a video signal is present. But, to further clarify your instructions, the remote is generally necessary to switch input modes, since few VCRs seem to have a front-panel button to do so. Usually, the button on the remote will be labelled “AV”, “Input” or something similar. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/8 "2004-06-18T23:21:15Z")
D’oh! Thanks for the info! ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/9 "2004-06-19T13:56:44Z")
Just make sure that the VCR onto which you wish to RECORD is actively connected to a television… then record something short (a minute at most), and play it back. You should be able to see exactly what you’re recording. If you don’t see the source (From PLAY VCR to RECORD VCR to TV) then something is wrong, check your cables. If the test-recording works, just rewind and start over. Oh, and use the fastest setting (Usually SP, the one that gives you the LEAST recording time) for the best quality. VHS sucks tho… get a DVD recorder. Disclaimer: Don’t use this method with copyrighted material. It’s illegal, possibly immoral, and it usually doesn’t work anyway… on newer VCRs, that is. q;} ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/10 "2004-06-19T15:55:43Z")
> [@Phnord Prephect](#): > > VHS sucks tho… get a DVD recorder. We have one. But it’s malfunctioning right now :mad: . However, it’s still under warranty. 🙂 But in this case, it doesn’t matter what _we_ have, because it’s my friend who has the video, and she’s in PA: too far to pop over and burn a DVD at my place. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/11 "2004-10-04T00:46:54Z")
> [@Phnord Prephect](#): > > Just make sure that the VCR onto which you wish to RECORD is actively connected to a television… then record something short (a minute at most), and play it back. You should be able to see exactly what you’re recording. If you don’t see the source (From PLAY VCR to RECORD VCR to TV) then something is wrong, check your cables. If the test-recording works, just rewind and start over. > > Oh, and use the fastest setting (Usually SP, the one that gives you the LEAST recording time) for the best quality. > > VHS sucks tho… get a DVD recorder. > > Disclaimer: Don’t use this method with copyrighted material. It’s illegal, possibly immoral, and it usually doesn’t work anyway… on newer VCRs, that is. q;} Actually, it is legal, moral and perfectly easy to copy stuff on two VCRs for your own use. It’s just the same as recording copyrighted stuff on TV in the first place. ---
**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 4, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/12 "2004-10-04T01:10:35Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > There are also image improvement devices that go in the line between the two recorders and can, in some cases, improve the image. You might find these at Radio Shack. You may be thinking of a device designed to strengthen one of the sync signals that is weakened by Macrovision, a copy-prevention scheme applied to many commercial VHS tapes. It will do nothing useful for original home recordings. **Rilchiam,** consider using a S-video cable between the units, if the source has S-video out and the destination deck has it in. It carries only the video, not audio, but the quality will be slightly better than the composite signal that uses phono jacks. This is typically found in upscale equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/13 "2004-10-04T01:16:57Z")
_Psssst._ Note the date of the OP. ---
**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 4, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/14 "2004-10-04T01:23:18Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > _Psssst._ Note the date of the OP. You talkin’ to _me?_🙂 You think **Rilchiam** may have finished his copy by now? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/15 "2004-10-04T01:40:07Z")
Her. Rilch is all woman. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/16 "2004-10-04T20:26:39Z")
hijack > [@Q.E.D.](#): > > since few VCRs seem to have a front-panel button to do so. Usually, the button on the remote will be labelled “AV”, “Input” or something similar. Why is that? I go through remotes around here at a rate just slightly lower than howitzer shells on D-Day. Somehow I’ve managed to keep the VCR remote for access to the input select menu. Seems that manufacturers would either add that functionality to the front panel or make the unit ‘smart’ to sense the line input. Argh! Hopefully a marketing guru at an electronics company is reading this and slapping their forehead. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/17 "2004-10-04T22:02:17Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > _Psssst._ Note the date of the OP. Whoops, my bad. There’s a four-month gap between my post and the previous one. Must have pulled it up in a search and them forgotten that it wasn’t current. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/18 "2004-10-04T22:41:12Z")
> [@rainy](#): > > Hopefully a marketing guru at an electronics company is reading this and slapping their forehead. The marketing gurus have been steadily putting more stuff on the remote and less stuff on the front panel for the last 20 years. The first VCR I ever owned had all the controls on the front panel. The “remote” (which was connected to the machine by a wire) had three buttons: Play, Stop and Record. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/19 "2004-10-04T23:50:51Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > You may be thinking of a device designed to strengthen one of the sync signals that is weakened by Macrovision, a copy-prevention scheme applied to many commercial VHS tapes. It will do nothing useful for original home recordings. I thought he was referring to a time base corrector (TBC), a device that cleans up and regenerates the sync and timing. They are commonly used to improve the quality of dubbed tapes. [http://www.broadcastpapers.com/sigdis/timebase01.htm](http://www.broadcastpapers.com/sigdis/timebase01.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030/20 "2004-10-05T00:48:44Z")
> [@rainy](#): > > Why is that? I go through remotes around here at a rate just slightly lower than howitzer shells on D-Day. Somehow I’ve managed to keep the VCR remote for access to the input select menu. Seems that manufacturers would either add that functionality to the front panel or make the unit ‘smart’ to sense the line input. > > Argh! > > Hopefully a marketing guru at an electronics company is reading this and slapping their forehead. In my (admittedly limited) experience, VCRs these days are designed with the AV inputs selectable as a channel. Push the CH- button, and you get one of the LINE channels. Fortunately, channel changing capabilities are often standard on the front panel. Although for some (like mine), changing channels from the front panel isn’t very intuitive, but that’s another complaint… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-copy-a-video-using-two-vcrs/251030.md?page=2)