Anyone still mess with VCRs? - Page 2

I see. Must be obscure titles. Just about everything else on Laserdisc was also released on DVD at some point. I guess there are a few titles here and there that weren't. I could see getting into a discontinued format for the nostalgia, but if you just want to watch the material, it's easier to find a more widespread format.

It's the same reason I haven't gotten into Betamax. Almost no exclusive content that I would be interested in to bother chasing down a machine for. I have toyed with picking up an HD-DVD player as there are a couple of titles that haven't made it to Blu-ray that I would like to have in high def, but they're also now on VUDU.

There are definitely a few interesting things available on LD, but not DVD. One thing that jumps to mind is Criterion's reconstruction of Welles' original cut of The Magnificent Ambersons. They used the original shooting script, and replaced the missing film with stills of the scenes, and text from the script. This has not been done on DVD. The Compleat Tex Avery was only issued on LD, and likely will never be on DVD.

I know that B&H still sells the controller (for editing) - so *someone* must be using them.

I know that the special edition of 2001 that I purchased on LD had the entire Clarke book included. I haven't purchased a copy of 2001 on DVD, but somehow I doubt it has the whole book included on the disk(s). If I'm wrong, I apologize in advance. It's just that some LDs had the kind of "extras" that DVD haven't included (to my knowledge).

Yeah...who needs 1080p and uncompressed audio when we still have vhs.

You were high when you posted this correct?

As long as my cable company broadcasts analog, I have 4 VCRs going daily as all we watch are tapes.

When I have no choice but digital...then I will be using 2 DVDRecorders that can record from my antenna, and also my one vcr/dvdR comb actually can record from my antenna onto a VHS tape. (yes, digital signal). Between having some ATSC tuners for OTA and the Zenith STB tuners.....the OTA is covered.

But there are not many OTA channels here, so I know I will have to get either a TIVO or a cable STB (UGH!). Cable made sure our TVs no longer have tuners to even watch digital cable much less record from it. Its called "your poor cable company needs the rental of our Set top boxes...one for every TV set you have...oh yes, plus pay for a "gateway", which you didn't need before digital. etc.".

Anyway, picture and sound are just fine on my recorders...so have avoided cable gouging for the last 3 years but then...all good things have to come to an end......(Sigh). I anticipate that 2012 may be the end of my "free" analog...meaning I get my cable through my NTSC tuner on my TV and recorders. It was nice while it lasted.
Can't afford to pay for all the bells and whistles coming to the consumer now.

Anyway, the answer to the TS's question is: Yes, still daily use of VCRs and still enjoying it. Plus Netflix DVD by mail rounds out our viewing. (and Roku Player's Instant Video).

I think there will always be ways to down convert to composite/s-vid though?? Hmmm don't know. Will there be a widely available HDMI to analog converter? I kinda find it hard to believe the whole world will commit to the one and only connetion format being HDMI. Even then if that happens, i am sure more devices like the HD fury will come along. It will be no different to macrovision removers. We probably are not really ment to have them but companies still make them and you can buy them. Even if no new devices come out with composite/component/s-vid/scart etc i am sure there is going to have to be aftermarket devices you will be able to buy that willconvert HDMI or possibly even a newer future connection standard. There is not much that can not be made or is not made in asia.

AMEN to that! Some things that can be done I have...been there...done that...and it may be I will have to go back to what worked before...depends on how much will be "throttled back" from the consumer. The old saying of where there is a will, there is a way.....does have a way of coming true. Consumers do help each other....as we know the ones in charge of everything are NOT out to help the consumer...except to "help" empty out their wallets.

What I would like to see (file under: pipe dream) is an RF modulator for the HD signal...ie. convert unencrypted HDMI or Component outputs to ATSC via coax

Well, you could almost do that now but with 2 devices? I know there are RF modulators for composite, you would just need something else to convert HDMI to that. An all in one device would be good though. The down convert to RF probably wont be that good though but you never know, I have been rather surprised with the quality of picture that can be had on CRT's with just composite so i might be surprised at the quality of downconverted composite/component/HDMI to RF.

Not sure if you misunderstood, but I'm not talking about downconverting the RF, but keeping it at HD-level for use with an ATSC HD tuner.

Actually, he does represent a great many people who DO NOT CARE at all for HD or any of the digital mediums. While I am something of and HD snob, My brother believes HD is a gimmick and rip-off as he can't see any real SIGNIFICANT PQ improvement. My mother, while she can see the difference and enjoys HD, she really doesn't care and completely enjoys crappy VHS and awful SD sources. She just doesn't care and just wants to see the image and hear the sound. In fact, most of my family feels that way. The just want to see the stuff and don't care about formats being "superior"

Now, here is the ugly irony: with the advent of Netflix and "cord cutting" and more content delivered via broadband internet, people are now viewing really crappy PQ from such streaming services. The sad part is that these same people have HDTV's and 5.1 sound and can appreciate the difference, but they LOVE their Netflix streaming crap SD and stereo at best. Most people just wanna see that movie or TV show, however they can get it. One aunt is a Netflix fanatic, but she LOVES her stuttering, buffering, macro-block PQ on her massive HDTV and diminished audio that doesn't even begin to take advantage of her high-end Yamaha A/V with high-end speakers and 5.1, yet she raves about Netflix. Of course, Vudu and other such services are a different story, but those services charge per title rather than a flat fee.

I won't get into how MP3's and the late Steve Jobs have killed good quality audio for the future, but this is where most people are at and others are going. SAD!

Convienence trumps quality every time

Also do not forget that warm analog sound of the LP and the HI-FI VCR.

Yeah i cant believe how many people are out there that just want to download stuff for free and dont want to buy or hire the DVD/Blu ray. They all want it for free and what to download it!. There seems to be an obsession with downloading & uploading stuff. You see it a lot on You Tube. People post clips from a film and these people ask 'oh where can i get that, where can i download it' I am there just thinking, you can just go to ebay or amazon and buy your own fricken copy. Its not hard.

Don't know where everything is "free". Everything I watch...I am paying for, whether it is Netflix or cable.

Reading new member Harry Kerry's post....wanted to get him a shovel cause he mentions "crap" that often. If he wonders why some watch SD and RCA audio.....and don't want to get into HD, etc., at least for some people...what is available as far as video and audio in any format frankly is all ....what he said that made me think of a shovel.

Don't need to get the latest and greatest in electronics because the content quality of what you receive through it belongs on SD and analog audio.

Whatever is required for someone to enjoy it...I say..go for it but if someone else enjoys it differently.....well, they are the ones watching it....

The content quality of TV, movies, and music today, is very sad. Watching it in HD may improve the actual PQ but it will not make a lousy content more enjoyable.

So I say...to each his own and whatever helps make one's viewing or listening more enjoyable to him or her.....do it...go for it.....and don't let anyone make you feel you have to defend your likes or apologize for them.

If HD is for you...great. If it is not that important....that's okay too. The one viewing is the best judge of what is really important to them.

"Different strokes for different folks" should not be taken lightly or made fun of.

Added Information: For those who are not aware and believe Netflix Streaming is not good...may be surprised to know that with the right Roku box, one can stream in 1080p and 5.1 surround sound.

My dear friend it will happen. The industry decided that all the HD links/cables/equipment available in the AV world would have to be replaced at the customers expense, and no one will complain.

I still record on vhs and pick up blanks at the dollar store new. brought a unit to convert vhs to dvd and for the life of me cannot get it hooked up! This unit's remote also turns on my vhs/dvd combo. I am just ready to scream. Googled this unit and seems like no one else is having this problem. Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

This point cannot be stressed enough. It seems that the HD or 3D technologies are being used as a crutch or a mask to put out lower quality content. Give me substance over style every time.

someone's forum signature: "I'll watch paint drying on TV if it's in HD...and I have a beer in hand"...sad.

My local cable provider still gives me a 1920x1080 16-20m signal. Terrific PQ (not BD quality but very good). My HD moto box outputs 1080i/5.1 audio as a firewire bitstream. I record 2hrs of 1080i/5.1 audio to a DVHS tape.

I am a libertarian politically. I could care less if people want to watch macroblocked 480i streamed over the net. That is their choice. My issue is when someone posts and implies that HD is crap and some sort of conspiracy to take their money. Reminds me of the "hippies" who build 90sq ft houses with no indoor plumbing and imply that the rest of us in the 21st century are mindless heathen.

I have a collection of restored early transister radios. Beautiful stuff and fine for local AM talk radio. But when I really want to rock the Icom or JRC stuff gets powered up.

No conspiracy theory here. Just a comment on the obvious lack of quality content being produced, likely due to no real demand for it beyond the special effects. Just a product of the short-attention-span, instant gratification society we live in today.

3D? Eh, it's the new kid on the block, so yes, it'll be put into mindless blockbusters.

HD? Well, everything is HD today, and some of it is damn good. Ever see TV shows lately? It's way better today than it has been. Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Wire, Oz, and many others, all have aired within the HD era. I'll take it over any other TV at any other point in history. Because it's RARE that old TV shows hold up.

I swore back around 2000 to never ever again have a tape deck in my household after throwing my old JVC SVHS deck into the trash bin, but back in 2010 I became nostaglic and ended up picking up a JVC DVHS deck off ebay. I now have every DVHS deck ever sold in the USA except the DirectTV models. I have acquired since 2010 new units of:
Panasonic PV-HD1000
Mitshbishi HS-HD1100U
Mitsubishi HS-HD2000U (Multiple decks-some still boxed up)
JVC 30K (Multiple decks-some still boxed up)
JVC 40K (Multiple decks-some still boxed up)
JVC 100U
JVC Pro 400

It seems around 2009/2010 JVC Canada purged its service inventory of brand new units and these ended up being listed mainly on ebay.

These decks are still one of the only ways to archive HD content flagged copy once by the content owners.

My favorite machine is the JVC 30K overall.

BTW-I only use the digital bitstreaming side, not the analog capabilities of the machines.

Didn't entirely mean to focus on HD and 3D, those were just examples. As far as TV show quality goes, for every quality show like some of the ones you mentioned, there are many more reality shows, or crime/medical/law drama-du-jour cluttering up the airwaves.

I also notice that you more or less fed into my point...most of the shows you mention as quality shows aren't even shown on broadcast TV to wide audiences. Generally, popularity and quality are like oil and water...they don't mix well.

And in the past the meager channels we had were clogged to high heaven with dumb gameshows, boring-as-all-hell sitcoms, and dull-as-dishwater crime dramas (seriously, have you watched some of them? I challenge you to make it five minutes through the old 60s police shows.) And the quality shows were even more hard to come by. For every St. Elsewhere or All in the Family (which aren't all that great in retrospect, I'll take House over any of them) there were tons of Family Affair and My Three Sons, which watching now makes you want to stab your eyes out. I'm sorry, but the Munsters and Beverly Hillbillies were horrible then and they're still horrible now.

At least now there's enough good shows to keep an average person occupied, and with DVDs/DVRs, you don't have to wait until summer reruns to watch them if you missed them. We're also now getting more foreign shows, which were never available in decades past.



Mad Men and Breaking Bad are on AMC. While not broadcast, it is on basic cable, which is accessed by a majority of TV viewers. And the networks have better shows now. Lost was broadcast TV. Sherlock is on PBS, and I'll stack that show up against almost anything.

And even if they aren't available to the masses, so what? You can access HBO and Showtime now and see those shows if you're looking for quality. That used to not be an option.

As far as TV goes, we're in a golden age compared to the crap that was broadcast back then. Not everything was better in the past, and this whole false nostalgia thing needs to end.

So, no, I don't think HD is a crutch. The quality of today's TV programming stacks up well against anything in the past.

The only "wrong" thing that I see, is the lack of accessible alternatives to freely record today's shows. That's sad.

If you need help or comments as far as converting VHS to DVD, you would probably get some answers if you:

Say your models of VCR and DVDR. Describe what and how you have your system hooked up now. Sounds like you just bought a VCR? But already have a DVDR/VCR? What are the connections? RCA jacks, component, etc.? What kind of VHS tapes do you want to convert. Your own home tapes should have no problem. There is copy protection if any are commercial DVDs.

Frankly, nothing should be impossible but without knowing your exact situation and equipment...it will be difficult to get suggestions. You want suggestions tailored to your situation...not for others to just guess what might work.

Don't give up but do give a lot more information.

Got my first HD LCD TV yesterday. Running a brand new NTSC VHS movie to it from my EZ48 panny via composite yielded quite good results (yeat to try HDMI as i dont have a long enough cable) but i am yet to be convinced by the whole HD thing. Yes my TV was cheap, but how much do you need to spend to experience 'high quality'?? Even if i spent $2000 on a LCD i doubt its going to make pictures look much better. This full HD TV certainly is not a massive improvement over my CRT either.
And the annoying part is most of our channels are only broadcasting in SD anyway. We have like 3 HD channels. I will admit you can see the difference between the HD broadcasts and the SD, but its not a major improvement. SD still looks fine, but its not a huge improvement over the CRT. At least i have a decent size TV now (60cm, which is still small for some people i know) and i can properly watch wide screen format now and dont have all the bending menues and flcikering as mentioned in one of my threads from the otherday.

Although the one tape i tried last night looked 'nice' on my new TV, i would still say it looks better on a CRT. LCD screens are just not that sharp or something, i dont know what it is. Its the same with my computer.

This has convinced me i will be buyng more VHS players as i still need to convert all my tapes (project i am building up to) and i am still buying a couple of commerical tapes a week, most brand new still and not on DVD. For me, good conditon tapes played on a good condition player on a good TV is still VERY exceptable. The only thing holding me back, is the thought of wearing out my newest Panasonic so i want to get another 'workhorse' VCR rigged up that i am not so scared of breaking.

I have 3 DVHS decks. Two HM-DT30000u, and one HM-DT100u. I use the 30k connected to a Panasonic E80H to do simple hard drive edits to burn to DVD. I try to avoid involving the PC.