# Using a video camera to RECORD on a VCR.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-video-camera-to-record-on-a-vcr/323374>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 25, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-video-camera-to-record-on-a-vcr/323374 "2005-09-25T21:15:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-video-camera-to-record-on-a-vcr/323374/1 "2005-09-25T21:15:15Z")

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I can get the video cam to PLAY on a VCR just fine.  
Still, when I want to record the video output from the video cam into the VCR I get nothing. Are these things designed just to _play_ their tapes into a VCR or is it somehow possible to use just their video output to record on a VCR?  
Basically, I’m trying to use it for a low-budget surveillance camera. A VCR tape will last up to 8 hours whereas video camera tapes don’t record nearly this long.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-video-camera-to-record-on-a-vcr/323374/2 "2005-09-25T21:26:29Z")

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You should be able to record from your camera just fine. Make sure your VCR has the correct input selected for recording – it might be trying record a modulated antenna/cable signal instead of your camera output.

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**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-video-camera-to-record-on-a-vcr/323374/3 "2005-09-25T21:33:52Z")

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IIRC, different cameras have selectable outputs such that you must send the pic output to external or aux or it will default to the internal tape. When in doubt, read Mr. Manual. 😉

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**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-video-camera-to-record-on-a-vcr/323374/4 "2005-09-25T22:36:44Z")

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Thanks all.  
Haven’t tried anything just yet, but the idea of the camera having a selectable _output_ and the VCR having a selectable _input_ is something to consider.

Thanks.