Columbia ISA
Audio – Video



Copy VHS to DVD
  
To copy a VHS videotape to a DVD, you can use many different methods, however one of the most straightforward approaches is to use equipment you may already have or can get easily. Using a stand-alone DVD recorder along with your existing VHS VCR and TV will work for most people and the process is relatively simple. The following list is what you need to copy a VHS tape to a DVD.
  • a working VHS VCR with audio/video jacks
  • a DVD Recorder with audio/video jacks
  • a blank recordable DVD
  • a Television with audio/video jacks
  • Remote controls for the TV, VCR and DVD recorder
  • RCA cables (6) to connect VCR to DVD recorder and also DVD recorder to TV


What you need: VHS to DVD
  

VCR
DVD Recorder

Television
Remotes and blank DVD


Cables


Setup

You need to connect the VCR OUT to the DVD recorder IN and the DVD recorder OUT to the TV.


RCA CABLES





Cable connection diagram showing the VCR, DVD recorder and TV hookup for copying VHS to DVD







Follow this process to copy VHS to DVD

Copying a home-made VHS videotape to your recordable DVD is a relatively easy procedure. 
This is a general procedure which should work in most situations.
You may have a component which varies from the standard, in which case you
should consult your owner's manual after learning the standard process.

First let's define the environment:

You have a VHS VCR, a DVD recorder and a TV to monitor the copy operation.
You should have a remote control for the TV, the VCR and the DVD recorder.
You need a blank recordable DVD with enough space to contain your VHS tape content.
You also need two sets of RCA audio/video cables (yellow, red, white). 
One set of 3 cables to connect the VCR to the DVD recorder and another set to connect 
the DVD recorder to the TV.
Each set of cables has a yellow video hookup and the red and white audio connections.

Step 1) You need to connect the yellow RCA cable from the VCR video OUT jack to the
DVD recorder video IN jack. These jacks can be labeled differently on various
equipment. The main point is to get a video signal from the VCR output to
the DVD recorder INPUT. (yellow to yellow)

Step 2) You need to connect the red RCA cable from the VCR audio OUT jack (R) to the
DVD recorder audio IN jack (R). (red to red)

Step 3) You need to connect the white RCA cable from the VCR audio OUT jack (L) to the
DVD recorder audio IN jack (L). (white to white)

By making these 3 cable connections you have provided the path for video and audio
to get from the VCR to the DVD recorder.

Step 4) Connect the DVD recorder to the TV. Using the second set of RCA cables,
connect the DVD recorder video OUT jack to the TV video IN jack (yellow to yellow)

Step 5) Connect the DVD recorder audio OUT jack (R) to the TV audio IN jack (R)
(red to red)

Step 6) Connect the DVD recorder audio OUT jack (L) to the TV audio IN jack (L)
(white to white)

By making these 3 cable connections you have provided the path for video and audio
to get from the DVD recorder to the Television.

Step 7) Plug in the VCR, the DVD recorder and the TV and power each device ON.

Step 8) Make sure that the VCR and the DVD recorder have been configured with
an initial or basic setup so that you can perform the required functions of
channel selection and other primary operations.

Step 9) Insert the VHS videotape you are going to copy into the VCR.

Step 10) Using the TV remote control, you must select the TV INPUT mode
which corresponds with the set of INPUT jacks you used to connect the
DVD recorder. If your TV has multiple INPUT jacks, sequence thru by pressing
the button on the TV remote which selects the various INPUTS. You know you
have the correct setting when you see the DVD recorder's output on the TV screen.

Step 11) Insert a blank recordable DVD into the DVD recorder.

Step 12) If you need to format the blank DVD, do so by indicating the format you
want (using the DVD remote control) and waiting for the disc to be formatted.

Step 13) Using the remote control for the DVD recorder, you must select the INPUT
setting which corresponds with the set of INPUT jacks you used to connect the
VCR to the DVD recorder. You know you have the correct setting when you see the VCR's
output on the TV screen. (this may just be a blue screen until you press PLAY on the VCR)

Step 14) Position the VHS tape to the beginning of the point where you want to
start copying. Press REWIND and PLAY until you have the tape positioned. You can
monitor the tape content on the TV screen if you have all the INPUT settings properly
selected.

Step 15) Copy VHS tape to DVD. 

Optional: Select video quality mode using the DVD recorder remote control. SP mode 
should give you 2 hours of video but some people prefer longer recording times at the
sacrifice of some video quality. Six hours is possible with a setting of SLP etc.

Press RECORD on the DVD remote and press PLAY on the VCR remote.
Monitor the copying process on the TV.

Step 16) When finished, press STOP on the DVD remote and press STOP on the VCR remote.
The DVD recorder will write data to the disc. (this may take a short time)

You should now have the video and audio from your VHS tape copied on a DVD.
To check, press PLAY on the DVD recorder. You may see a MENU which includes the segment
you just recorded. If required, select the last recording and PLAY it.

Eject the DVD when finished playing. Note: Playing your DVD on the DVD recorder it was
recorded on most likely does not require finalization, however if the DVD is to be
played on another DVD player, it may have to be finalized.


Hopefully you have had success creating your DVD.

 
 



NOTE: You should be able to copy any VHS, 8mm, or MiniDV tape that you recorded yourself in the first place like your own home videos of the kids. Trying to copy a commercial VHS tape like a Hollywood movie for example often can cause a problem. Commercial recordings usually have copy protection schemes built-in. "The industry" has gone to great lengths to prevent you from copying their creations.

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DVD Intro : Cable connections : Copy VHS to VHS