Archiving VHS To DVD?

August 26, 2004 11:06 AM

Do any MeFites have ideas/experience/recommendations for a way to archive VHS tapes to DVD? So far my Google-fu has turned up software that requires having to add video cards to computers, plus a DVD burner, etc. My work would prefer a product that is a stand-alone thing that you can pop in a tape, then convert it to DVD and pop out a DVD. Is there such a thing?
posted by Lynsey to computers & internet (9 comments total)

DVD Recorders. And for a do-it-all device, search for "VCR" in that category.
posted by mragreeable at 11:15 AM on August 26, 2004

Oh, and if you're copying commercially-bought VHS tapes, these recorders usually fall victim to Macromedia protection. If that's the case, the units with built-in VCRs won't work, and you'll have to peruse the "gray market" for a Macromedia-defeating device of some sort and put it between your VCR and the DVD recorder.
posted by mragreeable at 11:21 AM on August 26, 2004

I think mragreeable means Macrovision not Macromedia.
posted by soplerfo at 11:28 AM on August 26, 2004

A MiniDV-format camcorder that uses those small DVD-Rs for media might work through the video in.
posted by turbodog at 11:30 AM on August 26, 2004

Did I say Macromedia? Twice? What a tool.
posted by mragreeable at 11:33 AM on August 26, 2004

Bear in mind that while it will be easy, you'll probably be able to squeeze a lot more quality out of it if you do go the computer-capture card-DVD burner route -- simply because of the processing you can do on the computer side. There's lots of free or near-free software that will help with this.
posted by j.edwards at 11:41 AM on August 26, 2004

Following from what j.edwards said, This is a procedure I've had pretty good success with.
posted by ChasFile at 11:45 AM on August 26, 2004

HP's dc4000 is designed for this purpose. Walt Mossberg reviewed either it or its predecessor last year and found it easy to use.
posted by pmurray63 at 2:15 PM on August 26, 2004

Ok, thanks everyone!
posted by Lynsey at 6:13 PM on August 26, 2004