Copying VHS tape to dvd

[Fallingup]

I have found my old video player with some vhs tapes in the attic (not porn unfortunately) . Does anyone know if it is possible to connect the players scart lead to a USB port on my desktop to copy and convert the video so I can put it on a dvd?

[TEKNOPUG]

Yes. Just Google it.

[David_M]

Fallingup said:

I have found my old video player with some vhs tapes in the attic (not porn unfortunately) . Does anyone know if it is possible to connect the players scart lead to a USB port on my desktop to copy and convert the video so I can put it on a dvd?

I think that it is probably easier (and maybe not much more expensive) to send the tape off for someone to do it for you. I have been thinking of doing this for ages (and haven't got round to it) for a few tapes and have bookmarked https://www.mr-scan.co.uk as they are close to me and seem to offer a decent service at a reasonable price.

[Fallingup]

David_M said:

I think that it is probably easier (and maybe not much more expensive) to send the tape off for someone to do it for you. I have been thinking of doing this for ages (and haven't got round to it) for a few tapes and have bookmarked https://www.mr-scan.co.uk as they are close to me and seem to offer a decent service at a reasonable price.

Thanks for that. Quite expensive. I would like to do it at home if possible. I've googled it and it seems there are connectors available. The ones on amazon get mixed reviews though.

[Fallingup]

The connectors I have found have red, yellow and white plugs to fit to the video player. My player only has red and white sockets. What is the yellow connector for?

[N111BJG]

I bought a special integrated VHS / DVD recorder machine from a mate to do this, which is why he bought it in the first place, but buggered if I could make it work. I have no evidence that he ever mastered it either.
I think that sending tapes off to someone is the answer.

[David_M]

Fallingup said:

The connectors I have found have red, yellow and white plugs to fit to the video player. My player only has red and white sockets. What is the yellow connector for?

I think that red and white are sound and yellow is video (so quite essential) but I'd recommend checking rather than listening to me.

Think it really depends how many you are planning to do (and your patience) - 1 to 3 is definitely cheaper for someone else to do and if you have more than a hundred you are going to need a lot of patience.

[98elise]

I used a WinTV capture card (external) which creates mp2 files, which can then be burnt to CD or converted to mp4

One of these:

Edited by 98elise on Thursday 21st January 19:35

[Fallingup]

David_M said:

I think that red and white are sound and yellow is video (so quite essential) but I'd recommend checking rather than listening to me.

Think it really depends how many you are planning to do (and your patience) - 1 to 3 is definitely cheaper for someone else to do and if you have more than a hundred you are going to need a lot of patience.

Thanks. Have six videos to convert. All the connectors I have found have a yellow connector so probably won't work.

[Fallingup]

98elise said:

I used a WinTV capture card (external) which creates mp2 files, which can then be burnt to CD or converted to mp4

One of these:

Edited by 98elise on Thursday 21st January 19:35

Thanks but that doesn't seem to be available these days.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

I used these guys. Good price, friendly etc http://milesav.co.uk/

[Fallingup]

Amazon are selling a scart to hdmi connector. My PC has an hdmi port. I wonder if this might work. That might allow me to view the video on the pc. However I don't know if Windows media player will be able to copy and burn it onto a dvd. It costs £14.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Converter-Techole-Aluminu...

[TEKNOPUG]

Have you got Windows 10? It has a built-in screen recorder.

[Fallingup]

TEKNOPUG said:

Have you got Windows 10? It has a built-in screen recorder.

Didn't know that. Will have a look. Thanks.

[Sheepshanks]

I did this using a USB adapter off Amazon that Father-in-law had. He also had a pretty high-end Sony VHS machine.

The resultant video didn't look too bad on a laptop screen, but played on our TV, a mere 49" job, and it's painful to watch.

[16v stretch]

Fallingup said:

Amazon are selling a scart to hdmi connector. My PC has an hdmi port. I wonder if this might work. That might allow me to view the video on the pc. However I don't know if Windows media player will be able to copy and burn it onto a dvd. It costs £14.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Converter-Techole-Aluminu...

It will not work. That HDMI port is 99.99% going to be video out.

You need a video capture device. You can find some direct scart ones advertised exactly for your needs, or a HDMI one and a scart/HDMI adapter.

Sheepshanks said:

I did this using a USB adapter off Amazon that Father-in-law had. He also had a pretty high-end Sony VHS machine.

The resultant video didn't look too bad on a laptop screen, but played on our TV, a mere 49" job, and it's painful to watch.

Analog TV was 576p (720 x 576). It doesn't scale well with modern HD (1920 x 1080) or 4k (3840 x 2160) so you're seeing all the issues that was smoothed out by smaller TV's and CRT display technology.

Edited by 16v stretch on Thursday 21st January 21:53

[Fallingup]

Sheepshanks said:

I did this using a USB adapter off Amazon that Father-in-law had. He also had a pretty high-end Sony VHS machine.

The resultant video didn't look too bad on a laptop screen, but played on our TV, a mere 49" job, and it's painful to watch.

Yes. That's a concern. I'm leaning towards getting it done professionally and will look at the suggestions. They're family videos so worth spending a bit. It just goes against the grain spending money if I could do it myself. Thanks everyone.

[teecee]

N111BJG said:

I bought a special integrated VHS / DVD recorder machine from a mate to do this, which is why he bought it in the first place, but buggered if I could make it work. I have no evidence that he ever mastered it either.
I think that sending tapes off to someone is the answer.

I have a friend with one of those. We found it would only work with DVD + and not DVD-. I think that's the right way round, I will ask her tomorrow.

[Troubleatmill]

Fallingup said:

The connectors I have found have red, yellow and white plugs to fit to the video player. My player only has red and white sockets. What is the yellow connector for?

Red - Sound one speaker in stereo
White - Other speaker in stereo ( no idea which is which off the top of my head )
Yellow - Video.

[dhutch]

Red is right in the middle.....

Red=RHS and center band on TRS jack.

Daniel