DVD Recorder / VCR Combo for Techphobic Father?

In my opinion, you're asking for trouble giving a non-tech savvy person a modern combo unit. These things are so poorly designed they give fits to people who know what they're doing. DVD recording is flaky enough with good equipment.

Panasonic used to make a couple of decent combos (about the only good ones on the market) but they're all on the used market and go for a premium. The newest combo, the EZ-48, is a disaster.

The recommendation is that you get a DVD recorder with a hard drive and a decent VCR (if you don't already have one) and transfer the tapes to the drive. Then burn at your leisure. If the DVD burning screws up, it's still on the hard drive and you just pop in a new disc and try again. There is no magical one-button transfer machine. Although once you get the routine down it becomes pretty simple.

The added advantage is that the hard drive recorder can serve as a poor man's DVR if he still wants to record stuff today. The timers work very similar to a VCR, he can play back off the hard drive as much as he wants, and if the show's a keeper, he pops in a blank DVD and burns it.

As you've probably already read all the current combos are either buggy or poor quality. While the idea sounds good, a simple quality combo never really materialized. Panasonics ES-30v and ES-45v were probably the best combos but they were '05 and '06 respectively and truthfully weren't what I'd call totally easy to use.
That said I think your best option would be the Magnavox model with a HDD(check Wajo's sticky thread). He'll need a good VCR for playback, if he doesn't have one then a cheap combo player would be the only way to get a new VCR or check thrift/pawn shops or even Craigslist.org for a decent used VCR.
Contrary to what you might think it's easier to run separates than a combo for the recorder. The problem with a combo recorder is you've only got one display and one remote you've got to share between the two. The advantage of the HDD Magnavox is you can assemble the various tape clips on the HDD and finally copy them to DVD. Direct DVD recording is very unforgiving, recording to the HDD first makes things much easier.

I have no problem with my Toshiba DVR670. It is a VCR/DVDR combo. I have transferred VHS tapes to a DVD fairly easy. I set it for Dubbing and it works quite well.
I like that I can still tape from an antenna if I want to, as it has an ATSC tuner as well as the analog NTSC (which I still use as my cable is still analog).

Transferring VHS to DVD I have found that what you get on the DVD is exactly what is on the VHS tape. And taping at the slower speed as I always did...does not give the best quality but it will look as good as the VHS tape but not better.

A hard drive as suggested is a nice feature; however, because all my equipment is not in the same room, I am better off at this time with separate VCR/DVD machines and move the media back and forth.

Whatever sounds to you as the easiest for your Dad..is the one to get. Good Luck.

+1. JMO but for someone who isn't tech-savvy, I'm not sure if the HDD is a help or a hinderance. FWIW, I continue to get good results using a 2007 vintage Samsung DVD-VR330 combo.

Well, the hard drive might have a little steeper learning curve, but the frustration that can arise from trying to dub a DVD without one is pretty bad, too.

Good for you looking out for "the old man"...just don't start calling yourself Peggy. J/K Sorry, couldn't resist.

[VERY off-topic]
I can't believe I am going to say this, BUT, samsurd2, "I before E except after C." is only half the rhyme as I learned it. The way I was taught is: "I before E except after C, or when pronounced long A as in reindeer and sleigh."

It was vaguely Christmas-like, um, sorta.

Sorry...
[/VERY off-topic]

"Peggy, the sinister penguin," sounds like a good title for a series on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.

LOL That's the way I learned it too but I didn't feel that the rest of it was needed to make my point. However, in the spirit of Christmas, and because you're also a California guy, I've edited my signature. An early Merry Christmas to all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8L2cI8brzQ

Sinister, but no penguin. I've already seen that ad too often on TV.

I just COULDN'T help myself. I had to do it. ...sorry....

PLEASE excuse my lack of posting protocol but,
I'm in a similar predicament to Sinister_Penguin's father.


The Magnavox MDR515H/F7 500GB HDD and DVD-R with Digital Tuner fits in here somewhere I think.


Hi Guys - Gals, (I currently get basic cable now)

It's been said before and rightly so, "you guys seem to know what you're talking about";not that I stay abreast of AV material. I'm here to ask the question that I believe has been quoted here as being the most often asked question on the THE AVS Forum. That being, what do I need as of 12/ 20 / 10 to transfer about 200 / 250 - VHS tapes to DVD, about a 1/3 of which were recorded in S-VHS ET mode.

My first VCR was a JVC S-VHS 5500U, then a JVC (S-VHS) 75 or 9500 DynamicDrum/ET (its been awhile) and a 770U w/ET was handed over to me by my brother. I'm currently using 2 VHS VCR's, (a TOSHIBA 4 head Hi Fi W528 & an ORION 2 head).

I think I've correctly gleaned ? that the first thing I need to get a hold of is JVC's S-VHS w/ ET. ...don't know exactly what other types of ET machines are out there and if those would play JVC S-VHS ET Tapes as well as another JVC will; of course there's the AG 1980's on sale at places...but they don't play in the extended format I don't think...They have a few on e-bay, though I wasn't allowed to post the URL

*

What kind of DVD Recorder & VCR should I match-up to the Magnavox MDR515H/F7 500GB HDD with Tuner, and I guess I should buy one of those S-VHS ET machines off of eBay.

I need a - - what to buy and how - to guide, if you're doing this from scratch.

When I buy a DVD Recorder, I want it to be very good / best for doing what I'm about to do, if that's possible.

I Should say...which thread might do me the most good.

Hook your current VHS up to your current TV via the RCA Jacks. If you can stand the quality, then all you have to do is hook it up to your new Magnovox 515 and tape away.

If you do not like the quality, the 515 will record from s-video in.

Those are your two choices. At least from my "peggy" 50 cent viewpoint.

I suppose there are still some machines that offer svideo out, but it's becoming harder and harder to find. I think for VHS conversion, the RCA cables to one of the magnavox's Line inputs probably will be sufficient. I'd think the recording speed would make a bigger quality difference than the line input, no? Record at a decent speed (2 hr per disc SP, for example) and the transfer should be fine. It wont look BETTER than the original vhs, but at least it wont look worse.

The process is pretty simple once everything is hooked up. When using an external vcr -- attach that via standard RCA cables or SVideo + audio cables to one of the line inputs of the magnavox, set your magnavox's "source" button to the line where the vhs signal in coming in (for example, line 1 means vhs is plugged into the back, line 2 means it's plugged into the front of the magnavox, at least on mine). Hit play on the VHS so the tape starts playing -- hit the red record button on the magnavox to record that signal to the hard drive. That's it. (Be sure the TV is set to display the recorder's input if you want to see what you're recording while you are recording it. Or simply set the recorder to the necessary show length and do something else. You can easily edit the recorded video on the magnavox HDD after the fact, so no need to baby sit it.

AFAIK the only VCRs to have a S-video OUT would be S-VHS machines or D-VHS machines. Older Panasonic Combo DVDRs would allow the VHS signal to be outputted from it's S-video output but that was a rather rare feature.

There were a few manufactures that produced VHS-ET machines. I know for a fact that Panasonic manufactured VHS-ET recorders, I believe some of the Panasonics were JVC clones as they looked exactly like JVC ET recorders. Toshiba also had at least one ET model, the W808 model.
The Panasonic AG 1980 was manufactured before JVC added ET as part of the SVHS spec. Although there are ways to force SVHS decks without ET technology to play back tapes recorded in ET.

One way is to drill a SVHS marker hole into the VHS tape itself, to fool an older SVHS deck into thinking it's playing back a true SVHS tape. I don't recommend doing this because little plastic shavings from the drilling may make it unto the tape, sticking to the tape than making it into the player's tape path and ruining the tape heads.

Another way of forcing ET play back mode on an older SVHS non ET machine is to open up the deck, look for the pin that drops into the SVHS marker hole take the pin off and force the pin mechanism into a position as if it was locked inside the marker hole. I don't recommend doing this because you may ruin your deck or at the very least your deck will no longer play regular VHS non ET tapes.

Final note on playing ET recordings on a SVHS deck without ET.
Although most specs are the same - the white clip level is slightly lower for ET.
See Below:
The question I have for you is - What speed did you use to record your tapes when using the ET mode? If you used any other speed then SP then your ET mode tapes most likely won't benefit from the extra resolution. S-VHS ET recordings can be viewed in most newer VHS SQPB players but of course a quasi playback deck will only output VHS resolution regardless if playing back SVHS or SVHS ET recordings. But for ET recordings made in EP or SLP this may be good enough.

For those who don't know ET means Extended Technology. ET mode biases the recorder for normal VHS type tapes while letting you record a higher resolution SVHS signal unto the tape. This technology consisting of "High-Resolution Recording System," "High-Performance Video Heads" and "Pre-Amp" makes it possible to record 1.6 times wider signal frequency range on VHS tapes.
High-grade tapes in SP speed mode are recommended.

I was thinking of my EA38 combo when I wrote that, but now that you mention it, it may only have S-video IN. I dont remember for sure, and I dont want to take it all apart to get to the back panel to check, since they probably can't find one of those oldies anyway. I vaguely remember connecting that to my eyeTV using svideo,but it might have been a workaround connection to something the vhs was feeding into. Haven't used it for that in a long time. Regardless -you're right... it's rare on a vcr! RCA cables should be fine

PS look what I dug up.... ea38 manual... it did have an s-video out after all

The SVHS-ET tapes I made on Philips and JVC decks played back on my Sony and Mitsubishi SVHS (non-ET) decks just fine, w/o drilling any holes. But, if one must make holes, the best way is to use a soldering pencil - no shavings!

That's because newer SVHS decks automatically recognize the higher MHz signal and automatically kick into SVHS play back mode. (Just like Hi Fi decks automatically recognize the HF signal and kick into Hi Fi)
However many older SVHS decks didn't have the SVHS auto recognition circuitry and needed to switch into SVHS mode by inserting the SVHS recognition pin into the SVHS recognition hole.

As for using a soldiering pencil to burn the SVHS hole - perhaps a good idea, just be careful not to melt any of the tape inside the shell. A little scary if you ask me.

Does anyone know if the AG1980 will automatically recognize a SVHS ET recording?

Actually, my Mitsu and Sony SVHS decks were older ones, but high end. The Sony was the R5u, don't recall the Mitsu, but both are 20+ years old.

Actually, I started out drilling tapes with a power drill, and using the soldering pencil is far less scary. I used a small metal square to locate the spot, and the soldering pencil contacted it while entering. You just need to make a quick poke. You are no more likely to hit the tape with the soldering pencil than you are with a drill.

For me both methods of poking the hole are scary. It's not that I'd be afraid of actually touching the tape with the soldering pencil; I'd be scared of the heat just being close enough to damage the tape - it doesn't take much heat to damage a tape. As for the drill method, again I wouldn't be afraid of the drill touching the tape, I'd be afraid of the shavings making their way to the tape and eventually the tape path inside the VCR.

To bpitch: It is best to check if your SVHS VCR will reorganize your ET recordings, as kjbawc's decks seem to do. I know not all of the older recorders will, as I had to drill holes in ET tapes for one of my friend's older SVHS decks, If I recall correctly I think it was an old JVC, one of the first SVHS models from the late 80s that didn't auto recognize ET recordings that I sent him long ago.

"Hook your current VHS up to your current TV via the RCA Jacks. If you can stand the quality",

It's sad but true timtofly.

Most of the tapes that I have for conversion were edited on-the-fly at the time they were recorded, believe it or not; saving on tape being the major factor in that. I can't believe how much my future taping recordings will change.

Not really knowing which recording and player units go to which device (or the Magnavox) I was thinking I'd atleast have to buy a used S-VHS ET machines to play those Extended Technology Tapes - - about a third of my VHS tapes I'm figuring, and all of my tapes were recorded in SP mode, except for the Charlie Rose tapings [ch 4 pbs]

That hook-up sounds like something I can handle though: "hook it up to your new Magnovox 515 and tape away" yeah, I plan to do exactly that.

On a serious note, to play those ET tapes I'll need an ET machine...got a dozen or so S-VHS Tapes also, and that means ebay, I think/know...

I do not need to get a DVD recorder, is that correct: artwire

"When using an external vcr -- attach that via standard RCA cables or SVideo + audio cables to one of the line inputs of the magnavox, set your magnavox's "source" button to the line where the vhs signal in coming in (for example, line 1 means vhs is plugged into the back, line 2 means it's plugged into the front of the magnavox, at least on mine). Hit play on the VHS so the tape starts playing -- hit the red record button on the magnavox to record that signal to the hard drive. That's it".

If I'm getting things correctly...haven't studied what each of you wrote as of yet but it sounds too good to be true. I do not need a DVD Recorder, other than the Magnavox, and I don't need a used JVC other than to play those ET Tapes.

"If you do not like the quality, the 515 will record from s-video in".

On my honor I'll do my best to...use the S-video in.

I thought you used a DVD recorder because the Mag or any of the electronic devices really didn't record from the VCR's electronics that well. I thought this in addition to recording to a DVD Recorder somewhere in the line would help to clean up the signals.

jjeff
"AFAIK the only VCRs to have a S-video OUT would be S-VHS machines or D-VHS machines. Older Panasonic Combo DVDRs would allow the VHS signal to be outputted from it's S-video output but that was a rather rare feature."

I hope to get a used S-VHS JVC VCR jjef.

I think I read on the AVS Forum that the Panasonic's recorded the best signals because of something or other and JVC were tough to beat in the player department but, how that plays with anything other than VCR's...

Took a quick look at the back of my 5500U (it's still inside the house, but failed years ago) kinda hard to see but it doesn't look as if it has an S-video out...seemed as if the VCR's had S-Video outs for Monitors & other VCR's; I've forgotten a few things, lol.

What about this Guys:

[i]The recommendation is that you get a DVD recorder with a hard drive and a decent VCR (if you don't already have one) and transfer the tapes to the drive. Then burn at your leisure. If the DVD burning screws up, it's still on the hard drive and you just pop in a new disc and try again. There is no magical one-button transfer machine.

timtofly

artwire

jjeff

reported, keep it simple ......! ...just playing with use.

I had the same concern about the shavings. I converted a small number of tapes by opening the cassette, removing the tape reels, drilling the hole and blowing out the shavings before reassembly.

If I'm getting things correctly...haven't studied what each of you wrote as of yet but it sounds too good to be true. I do not need a DVD Recorder, other than the Magnavox, and I don't need a used JVC other than to play those ET Tapes.

"If you do not like the quality, the 515 will record from s-video in".

On my honor I'll do my best to...use the S-video in.

I thought you used a DVD recorder because the Mag or any of the electronic devices really didn't record from the VCR's electronics that well. I thought this in addition to recording to a DVD Recorder somewhere in the line would help to clean up the signals.


Sometimes you can do better by putting something between the vhs and the recorder to stabilize and clean up the signal, but for general dubbing, as I understand your situation, you need a vhs recorder than can PLAY your old recordings and you feed that into the Magnavox 515, recording to the HDD. Then when you want to dub it to dvd, you use high speed dubbing on the magnavox. If you PLAY a lot of DVDs, you may find it useful to have a cheap DVD player around, so it gets the wear & tear , and you can extend the life of the laser, but ... if you are not dubbing COMMERCIAL VHS tapes, this should do the trick. I assumed you were talking about stuff you grabbed off tv back in the day -recorded to VHS or SVHS. If you're talking about converting commercial movies that were released as VHS tapes, that's a different issue. You can always add a stabilizer later, if you find you need it, but I'd try a 'direct" VHS player to 515 hook up first. It may be sufficient.

PS - sometimes passing a signal through a recorder (like your now defunct JVC) can be useful, even if it no longer records . For example, I use an old vhs to pass through the audio, so I can add headphone to a recorder that did not have a headphone jack. The audio passes through the dead VHS and out into my headphones. Since you haven't thrown in out yet, it would be interesting to see if you can input into that old recorder and get the signal sent OUT, even though the JVC no longer records. Might come in handy at some point during your project. Might even improve' the signal before you re-record it... worth a try if it's stil in semi-working condition. I have an old Panasonic ES10 recorder that usually corrects the vertical shaking and horizontal tearing that sometimes shows up when playing back VHS tapes, so I use that as a passthrough to clean things up. You might be able to find something like that on Craig's list or ebay really cheap. Depends on whether or not you have a tracking/jitter problem.

I probably put holes in several hundred high quality VHS tapes, to make them 'SVHS,' using a soldering pencil, and never damaged a tape. The only real worry was pulling the soldering pencil out quickly enough that the hole didn't get too big. Still, I was glad to get SVHS-ET machines, and not have to make holes any more.

The shavings could be devastating on a VCR, and I didn't want to open that many tapes. Oddly enough, the standard sized shaft on a soldering pencil is just the right size.

That's certainly the safest way to do this task.

Novices may run into problems trying to assemble the tape shell and shell door back together. But for folks like you, who know what they are doing that's certainly the safest way of doing this.

The soldering pencil method is perfectly safe, and far, far, quicker. You don't need to worry about the tape, just make sure it is wound on the side you aren't making a hole in.