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VCR > Replay

2088 Views 44 Replies 18 Participants Last post by blabber, Jan 28, 2006

coupster

Discussion Starter · Dec 30, 2005

I've got a collection of VCR tapes that I'd like to transfer to DVD. I figure the easiest (and cheapest) way would be to record them onto the 5040, download with DVArchive and burn.

What's the easiest way to input from a VCR for recording on a 5040 Replay? And would you have to set up manual records for each tape?

TIA

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l8er

· #2 · Dec 30, 2005

The sync signals from most VCRs are not good enough for a ReplayTV. The symptom is frequent blue screens with a "no video signal" message while recording from a VCR to a ReplayTV. This can be overcome by using a time base corrector (TBC), which produces a standard sync signal for the video coming from the VCR. Do a search here or with Google to find a time base corrector.

Aside from that, yes, manual recordings for each tape you want to record is about the only way to do it.

BaysideBas

· #3 · Dec 30, 2005

Also, keep in mind that starting the recording by pressing record does not necessarily mean it will continue recording until you stop it. It used to be that such a "manual" recording (unless that behavior has been fixed in later software versions) would stop at the next hour rollover. The only way around this idiosincracy was to set up a timed manual record set to start in a minute or two, and then manually starting playback after the Replay started recording.

nded

· #4 · Dec 30, 2005

If the collection is fairly large, it might be worth investing in a DVD/VHS combo unit with DVD record capablity. I have a couple of the G0-VIDEO brand devices like this. You drop the VHS tape in, insert a recordable DVD, press one button (VHS>DVD dub), and the rest happens automagically. Depending upon how picky you are about the video quality, you can easily put several VHS tapes onto 1 DVD.

You will save a ton of time, and your PC and ReplayTV won't be tied down to a process that can be handled by a stand alone device.

YBDBDOO

· #5 · Dec 30, 2005

You might also check the price on combo VCR DVD recorder units. They are getting pretty cheap these days, maybe less than a TBC. I bought a GoVideo model at Costco (a while back...) for just this purpose, works fine.

Hope that helps.

BaysideBas

· #6 · Dec 30, 2005

Note that VCR/DVD combo units are usually hobbled with Macrovision copy protection. So, if your VHS tapes are of the "protected" variety, you'd better look for other means of transfer.

lucindrea

· #7 · Dec 30, 2005

well if your going to spend the $ on a dvd/vcr combo .. look into the hauppauge 150 pvr ( NOT mce version ) it's about $85 right now and it records right to dvd combatable mpeg and you dont have to fiddle with x-fering it from replay or macrovision.

Wrecks

· #8 · Dec 30, 2005

Copying from VHS to DVD is a waste of space. There are only 261 scan lines recorded on the VHS tape (each line is doubled up on the screen). Recording this to a 720 by 480 medium is overkill. I use a VCD recorder to archive VHS tapes. If you do use your ReplayTV to record them, use standard resolution.

Also, go to the trouble to actually set up a manual recording block to see if there will be any conflicts with TV shows you were planning to record. There is nothing like setting up the VCR to play, walking away, and then come back later to find that the ReplayTV switched to recording something else.

Slack

· #9 · Dec 30, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by l8er
The sync signals from most VCRs are not good enough for a ReplayTV.

I dumped a ****load of Disney cassettes into a 5040 without an isuue. No bluew screens at all. It was a nice Sony deck tho.

Slack

· #10 · Dec 30, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaysideBas
Also, keep in mind that starting the recording by pressing record does not necessarily mean it will continue recording until you stop it. It used to be that such a "manual" recording (unless that behavior has been fixed in later software versions) would stop at the next hour rollover. The only way around this idiosincracy was to set up a timed manual record set to start in a minute or two, and then manually starting playback after the Replay started recording..

I stopped setting up manual records two minutes into the future when I realized the following was much more straight forward.

Goto To Main Menu....

Goto Inputs...

Select proper Input (i.e. the feed from the vcr)...

Cue Video Tape - Pause.

Press Record.

Enter Time - Category Etc...

Select Done.

Un-Pause VCR.

Walk away.

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plyons10

· #11 · Dec 31, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by l8er
The sync signals from most VCRs are not good enough for a ReplayTV. The symptom is frequent blue screens with a "no video signal" message while recording from a VCR to a ReplayTV. This can be overcome by using a time base corrector (TBC), which produces a standard sync signal for the video coming from the VCR. Do a search here or with Google to find a time base corrector.

I've read this many times and yet have never experienced it in the dozen or so t'fers I've done.

blabber

· #12 · Dec 31, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrecks
...overkill. I use a VCD recorder to archive VHS tapes. If you do use your ReplayTV to record them, use standard resolution.

Question from a DVD-R newbie; will a VCD disk play on older DVD players? If not, creating disks of old home videos for relatives with legacy DVD players is a problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrecks
Also, go to the trouble to actually set up a manual recording block to see if there will be any conflicts with TV shows you were planning to record. There is nothing like setting up the VCR to play, walking away, and then come back later to find that the ReplayTV switched to recording something else.

Yeah, I hate when that happens!! I used to watch DVDs via the Replay when I only had one S-video input on my old TV. The warning would pop up, and I had to either cancel the recording or interrupt the movie I was watching.

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rm -rf .

· #13 · Dec 31, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by blabber
Question from a DVD-R newbie; will a VCD disk play on older DVD players? If not, creating disks of old home videos for relatives with legacy DVD players is a problem.

From what I've seen, most older DVD players will play VCDs, but only some will play SVCDs. YMMV tho. If you can get the make and model #'s pf the units in question, you can look up the capabilities at www.vcdhelp.com

A comment on VCDs: I'd recommend sticking to a VCD v1.1 w/o PBC - that way your neanderthalls, I mean, relatives can just drop the disc in and punch the play button and use the RW/FF controls to either watch again or skip over parts. If you get into a VCD v2.0 w/ PBC controls, sure, all the stupid video tricks (uh, oh... now I'm getting those subliminal messages from Dave... Why, I thought he'd never ask...) are rather cool, but to do it, the controls are used differently - like FF = chapter skip, and east arrow = fast fwd (sometimes) and if the remote doesn't have an OK/Select key or it's not fully implemented in the player's SW, then they're in for a world 'o hurt.

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rm -rf .

· #14 · Dec 31, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by l8er
The sync signals from most VCRs are not good enough for a ReplayTV. The symptom is frequent blue screens with a "no video signal" message while recording from a VCR to a ReplayTV. This can be overcome by using a time base corrector (TBC), which produces a standard sync signal for the video coming from the VCR. Do a search here or with Google to find a time base corrector.

Aside from that, yes, manual recordings for each tape you want to record is about the only way to do it.

The bigger problem is that video tape rolls at 24 frames/sec and DVDs (and ReplayTVs) are at 29.975 frames/sec. Do the math. Between that and the fact that you are lacking any kind of syncronizing signals between the two devices, can you say "incomplete frame" kids? I knew you could do it...

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blabber

· #15 · Dec 31, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by rm -rf *.*
The bigger problem is that video tape rolls at 24 frames/sec and DVDs (and ReplayTVs) are at 29.975 frames/sec. Do the math. Between that and the fact that you are lacking any kind of syncronizing signals between the two devices, can you say "incomplete frame" kids? I knew you could do it...

Add to that the fact that a lot of my archived family videos came from Super-8 film that was dubbed to VHS in the early '80s. You aren't too far off using the term "neanderthal"!!!!

rm -rf .

· #16 · Dec 31, 2005

Ohhhh, Super-8, my favorite... FLICKER-FLICKER-FLICKER-FLICKER-FLICKER-GLITCH-FLICKER-FLICKER...

"LOOK MA! There goes a piece of the President's brain!"

blabber

· #17 · Dec 31, 2005

I think I have some grainy 8mm "Bigfoot" sighting clips from a family camping trip, too.

Grog!

WarrenJ

· #18 · Dec 31, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrecks
. . . . There are only 261 scan lines recorded on the VHS tape (each line is doubled up on the screen).

No . . . . this keeps popping up here every so often. I'd like to meet the old wife who originated this tale.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rm -rf*.*
The bigger problem is that video tape rolls at 24 frames/sec and DVDs (and ReplayTVs) are at 29.975 frames/sec.

Nope, tape uses the same refresh rate as any standard TV signal. Same old wife??

Regards,

Warren

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Wrecks

· #19 · Dec 31, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenJ
No . . . . this keeps popping up here every so often. I'd like to meet the old wife who originated this tale.

It really disturbs me when someone calls me a liar. Do some research. Search for VHS and INTERLACED.

icecow

· #20 · Dec 31, 2005

Let me join this barfight. I was just in one across the street. If I do my job right you two will shake hands then turn and beat the hell out of me.

The way I heard it a vcr records two iterations of 240 lines (or was it 220?, but it was not 261, heh heh) to make up one frame. The interlace makes it smart to manage the bandwidth this way. So the whole frame is shown, just recorded as two parts.

(I think everyone agrees, but I wrote it out to be noobie friendly)

But the wording, "There are only 261 scan lines recorded on the VHS tape (each line is doubled up on the screen)." is bad wording. It reads like the same 261 data is displayed twice, and propogates that myth. Only people that already know about interlace could interpret that statement correctly so it's a logic error to word it that way.

The 'Post Quick Reply' button is giving me a dirty look and I'm going to poke it in the 'i'. Here it goes.

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