Posted by Paul Heslop on 01/15/07 09:39

irwin wrote:
>
> Paul Heslop wrote:
> > irwin wrote:
> > >
> > > I want to convert dozens of VHS tapes to DVD. Am I better off buying
> > > a high-quality DVR (e.g., Pioneer DVR-640H-S DVD Recorder) and inputing
> > > the VHS signal from a stand-alone VHS player. Or, should I buy a combo
> > > VHS / DVD recorder (e.g., Panasonic DMR-EH75VS Progressive Scan DVD
> > > Recorder with Built-In 80GB Hard Disk) as your article seems to imply?
> > > I'm wondering if the latter, which is designed specifically for
> > > converting VHS to digital, would do a better job converting VHS than
> > > simply pushing analogue signals into the more sophisticated DVR like
> > > the Pioneer? Clearly the Pioneer has many other advantages, e.g.,
> > > recording from airwaves, bigger HD, double layer DVD outputs; but I'm
> > > worried that it won't intelligently grab the VHS signals.
> > > I've read several replies to previous question and most say "don't
> > > buy a combo." Is that still the consensus of the community?
> > > Thanks, Irwin
> >
> > It would depend on many things, but mainly on whether your VHS tapes
> > are home movies etc or commercial tapes. A machine with a built in vhs
> > will almost certainly block you copying a commercial tape. I also
> > cannot say I am impressed with the panasonic vhs deck in their
> > machines, mine was noisy and the picture wasn't good and I returned it
> > to the store. Oh yeah, from what i could work out the copying was
> > direct, with no editing available. My recorder was the smaller
> > Panasonic, without the hard disc.
> >
> > --
> > Paul (Need a lift she said much obliged)
> > -------------------------------------------------------
> > Stop and Look
> > http://www.geocities.com/dreamst8me/
>
> Paul,
> I should have been clearer about my needs and wants. All of the VHS
> tapes are home movies that I want to covert then edit down to "XXXs
> first 15 year" or "Our family vacations," etc. . . With lots of the
> tapes, I would like to store them in MP4 format, then edit and convert
> them to DVD (someday). But more immediately, I'd just like to get it
> all into random access form so that I can pick and chose scenes for a 1
> 1/2 hour DVD of my daughter's first 15 years. I thought having the VHS
> deck in the same box as the hard drive [Panasonic DMR-EH75VS
> Progressive Scan DVD Recorder with Built-In 80GB Hard Disk, built in
> vhs player VCR, SD Card Slot, DV Input, and HDMI Output with EZ Sync™
> Control-Records to DVD-RAM/-R/-RW/+R/+RW Discs ] with format options
> would make things easy. But then I read great reviews about the
> Pioneer DVR640HS DVD Recorder ( with a 160GB Hard Drive) and thought
> that it has a bigger HD, might have more advanced codec features, and
> would be a good substitute for my SONY VHS off-the-air TV recorder. I
> could hook the SONY VCR up to the Pioneer, . . .
> So the question is: go with the newer, more advanced DVD recorder, or
> the less-new but obviously functional combo? Irwin

ah, can't help you there then :O) I would assume it would be pretty
direct transfer from vhs to hard disc but if the quality of the VHS
section of the machine is lacking then I would be tempted to look
elsewhere. Is there any way you can get to look at the quality of the
machines? I have never been a fan of panasonic VHS anyway but that
machine had probably the worst VHS picture I have ever seen. I did
transfer something from tape to DVD for my son and it had an obvious
sort of bobbing effect, a slight movement up and down, not to mention
the grainy quality of the picture.

--
Paul (Need a lift she said much obliged)
-------------------------------------------------------
Stop and Look
http://www.geocities.com/dreamst8me/

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