Is there an easy way to copy home videos on to DVDs?

[KatyMac]

Can it be done on a computer?

Do I have to watch it happening or can I go away & leave it?

Do I need to buy an expensive bit of kit?

IME, you either need very expensive kit or find a company to do it for you

thats presuming you do mean transferring video to DVD not just home movies from a camera or something - in which case it would be easier, but you would need the right software

Oh dear

Actually I have both, VHS tapes & those little dinky ones from the camera as well

One does not need very expensive kit.

If you have a DVR recorder then you take a Scart cable and connect the scart OUT from the VHS player to the IN on your DVD recorder.

Then take another scart cable and connect the OUT on the DVD recorder to the IN on your TV. This is to allow you to see what is being played/recorded.

You need to select the correct SOURCE on your DVD recorder (you need the manual for this :) ). This tells your DVD recorder to take the input signal from the scart as opposed to the tv tuner.

I suggest that you hook it up as described above, play a video and fiddle with the SOURCE until you can see the video on your TV. At that point, press RECORD and go for a cup of tea.

IF YOU DON'T have a DVD recorder then Maplin or PC World will sell you a gadget for about £40. It looks like a large packet of cigs. Basically it is a box that sits between your VHS player and your PC and converts the analogue signal from your VHS into a digital signal for your PC. The gadget will come with basic software to allow you to record onto the PC.

If you want to edit the finished product then you will obviously need fancier software.

scart plug from the TV and plug that into the scart out from your video player.

OOo - that sounds good PD - will that work with the Dink little V8 tapes if played in through the old cine camera too??? (if I can work out how - I have loads of those lying around too, but was told it can't be done & needs doing professionally - you've got me wondering now

If u have a cable that allows you to play your tapes on the tv then it will work.

How exciting

If I had a video player still, I might buy the bit of kit (& actually having them on the laptop might be better) .....what is it called?

Shame I got rid of it My mum might have one.......

Oh, thanks KatyMac for starting this - it's something I want to do... put my wedding video and film of the children when they were little onto something more likely to be able to be played in 10 yrs time.
Thanks PushyDad for the information. I knew there were companies that cuold do it, but that would work out very expensive for several videos.

KatyMac

If you go to amazon and search for "VHS to DVD transfer" then you'll see the bit of kit that I've been talking about.

Thanks