OT trying to copy VHS tape to DVD recorder

I know there is a vast amount of expertise in this group which goes way beyond DIY so I am hoping you can help with this problem.

The VHS tape contains a short piece of film that was taken at a wedding

50 years ago, originally on 8mm film, later transferred to the tape. The only VHS player I have access to is an old analogue only "portable" tv with a VHS recorder built in (18" CRT, weighs a ton).

I have an old Panasonic analogue/digital dvd recorder which is connected to a fairly new LG flat screen tv via a scart lead which work well together. I connected the old telly to the dvd recorder via another scart lead hoping to copy the VHS tape to the recorder's HDD, using the LG tv as a monitor. After a lot of faffing about with the three remotes I managed to get the dvd recorder to playback through the analogue tv but I can't get it to work the other way.

Can anyone here work out what I'm doing wrong, if it works in one direction why doesn't it work in the other?

I could take it to a specialist photo shop but the quality of the recording is already poor so it's not worth it. The content however is of sentimental value so I keep trying.

Thanks for reading this. finger crossed.

Reply to
G r o g
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Is one of the cables you're using not fully connected, or one of the TV ports not fully capable? Googling the pinout shows composite video and audio in both directions but RGB input only (i.e. from devices to the TV, not from TV to the other devices).

Reply to
Rob Morley

I think one should start with a simpler proposition. Can you connect the combi TV/VCR to the LG TV and get an output from the VCR section on the new TV. If you can't do that much, then there is not much point adding the DVR into the equation.

It may be that the SCART on the combi TV does not actually output composite video when being drive from the internal VCR. (unless its a SVHS deck, you wont get S-Video on it, and are pretty unlikely to get RGB either from a VCR)

Make sure you have a fully wired SCART lead.

Have a look also if there are any additional ports that might work - like a composite output from the combi TV on phono connectors etc.

If you can get a composite video out from the VCR (either the one you have, or one you can borrow), a USB capture device for a computer can be had for a tenner these days - it might be easier to capture direct to hard drive etc, and burn a DVD from there if you particularly want it in that format.

Reply to
John Rumm

You'll get better results of you go back to the film.

Andy

Reply to
Vir Campestris

It might be worth reversing the SCART lead in case it is only wired for one direction. I have a couple of SCART output connectors which have a switch to select whether they are for Input or Output, this could be the same thing.

Reply to
Davey

I'd imagine the film is long gone by now, all the splices on mine fell to bits. Unless its a fuji a lot of it also goes brittle with age.

However expanding onthe switch idea, there are scart adaptors with phono sockets on the back and a switch to set in or out, and if the dvd has phono sockets too this will at least prove if the things can work, they are cheap. Brian

Reply to
Brian Gaff

I'd be surprised if a TV with a built in VHS outputed audio and video from that via a SCART.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

In article snipped-for-privacy@davenoise.co.uk>, "Dave Plowman (News)" snipped-for-privacy@davenoise.co.uk> writes

So would I.

Reply to
bert

Thanks for the comments so far. Still getting nowhere but still trying. I found the manual for the ancient tv, scart pins 19 and 20 are video out and in. The RGB pins are connected, but in only. I have sent off for one of those capture devices, "Easycap" which is due to arrive today. I suspect it does have something to do with the scart lead wiring. The set has phono connectors on the front for video and audio but the booklet doesn't say if they are in or out or both.

Whilst searching for the manual I came across other interesting bits, Mullard Data Book 1973/4, Brimar Data list 1968/69, Illife Radio Valve Data 1966...it seems I never throw anything out! Thanks again, will report back.

Reply to
G r o g

SCART connectors are odd. Can have both COMP video and stereo audio in and out, but only one way RGB etc. And not every SCART is fully populated. I did once have a Philips TV with three SCARTS - only one RGB - which allowed you to dub between two VCRs or DVD to VCR, etc by selecting in the menu. But the vast majority are inputs only.

Phonos on a TV set on the front are usually games inputs.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Almost certainly input only alas.

Reply to
John Rumm

If you are going to capture using a PC capture USB adaptor, you will probably need a SCART-phono adaptor. Get one which is switchable so either the input or the output pins on the SCART can be connected to the composite video and audio L/R sockets. You may need a set of phono-to-phono leads for comp, L and R connections from SCART-phono to Easycap.

My experience with those USB adaptors is that sometimes the quality is not very good. VHS denatures the signal quite a bit at the best of times, and I've found that I got a lot of dot-patterning on stronger colours. Ironically, I got better results from an old Windows XP computer with a built-in video-grabbing card (the PCI equivalent of Easycap) than from a modern USB device - using the same VHS machine and tapes.

Reply to
NY

I have a similar requirement but don't even have a VCR.

Are there any reasonably priced commercial converting companies?

Reply to
polygonum_on_google

Hold a smartphone fixed optimally at the TV?

Reply to
Adrian Caspersz

When I was doing this a few years go, there was EZCap, the real device, and a copycat product, called Easycap, which was supposed to be inferior. This might have got sorted out since then, but it's worth being aware that it existed. I can't tell you what the difference was, I had the good one.

It worked fine, as far as I could tell. It even managed to let me convert NTSC tapes, as long as they were played on a suitable VCR. Although I normally use Linux, I could not find how to make this work, so I keep the PC's Win7 just for the EZCap. The supplied software is fine with Win 7.

I have a couple of small jobs to do soon, when I can get a round tuit, so it will be interesting to see if I can remember how to do it.

Reply to
Davey

How's he going to send it to the TV without a VCR?

Reply to
Rob Morley

Erm...

Syntax Error at Line 10 >_

Reply to
Adrian Caspersz

From the OP "I have access to is an old analogue only "portable" tv with a VHS recorder built in (18" CRT, weighs a ton)"

Reply to
John Rumm

While that is true, polygonum_on_google wasn't the OP.

Reply to
Rob Morley

Hmmm, fair point :-)

Reply to
John Rumm

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