Problem with transferring VHS to DVD
calopsyte46
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dan -
dan -
Hello,
some VHS tapes purchased years ago (certainly copy-protected?) cannot be transferred to DVD. It bothers me to have to throw them away or give them up without being able to make a copy—others I have no problem with. Do you have a solution to this problem?
best regards
Calopsyte46
Configuration: Windows 7 / Internet Explorer 9.0
some VHS tapes purchased years ago (certainly copy-protected?) cannot be transferred to DVD. It bothers me to have to throw them away or give them up without being able to make a copy—others I have no problem with. Do you have a solution to this problem?
best regards
Calopsyte46
Configuration: Windows 7 / Internet Explorer 9.0
13 answers
I had bought a TOSHIBA HDMI DV3, one side VHS and the other DVD, to transfer my old VHS tapes.
Best regards
Best regards
If you are using a combo to copy VHS to DVD, the VHS tapes must be in playback mode.
If you can play them all but can only copy part of them to DVD, the issue does not come from the VHS tapes but from the DVDs you are using for burning.
We’re talking about DVDs, right? Not Blu-ray?
Because you mentioned a device that supports an HDMI function, which seems odd for a DVD/VHS combo.
If that’s the case, you cannot go directly from an exclusively analog standard (VHS) to an exclusively digital standard (Blu-ray).
Check your connections and wiring between your Toshiba, your DVD and VHS functions, and your television.
Don’t forget that a VHS and a DVD are not governed by the same standards: a DVD has a limited duration of 2 hours (4 hours for dual-layer) and a limited size that I can’t remember exactly. If you want to copy the entire contents of a 4 or 8-hour VHS (depending on whether it’s in SP or LP mode) to DVD, there will inevitably be issues regarding duration, and likely regarding supported size as well.
This would explain why some of your VHS tapes copy without issue (likely those that are 2 hours or less in duration) and others, which are longer, cannot be copied...
In that case, you will have to do this in two parts on two separate blank DVDs, or buy dual-layer DVDs, where you can burn 2x2 hours on both sides.
But it probably doesn’t come from any kind of protection on VHS; I don’t think that exists (it does exist on commercially released DVDs).
In any case, the best way to burn VHS onto DVD remains the Pinnacle Instant DVD Recorder software equipped with the Dazzle box, which allows you to connect a VCR (or a combo) directly to a computer via a box that converts RCA/Video plugs to USB.
You can even record it as a .vob file (to then convert to .avi or .mpg using audiovisual conversion software for better options and rendering) on your PC's hard drive: there you are no longer limited by duration, nor by size to a lesser extent (even though a hard drive has a limited size, but before you reach 300 or 500 Go of available space, there’s plenty of room...)
I think I’ve covered everything; if after all this you are still not further along, I don’t really know what else I can add...
If you can play them all but can only copy part of them to DVD, the issue does not come from the VHS tapes but from the DVDs you are using for burning.
We’re talking about DVDs, right? Not Blu-ray?
Because you mentioned a device that supports an HDMI function, which seems odd for a DVD/VHS combo.
If that’s the case, you cannot go directly from an exclusively analog standard (VHS) to an exclusively digital standard (Blu-ray).
Check your connections and wiring between your Toshiba, your DVD and VHS functions, and your television.
Don’t forget that a VHS and a DVD are not governed by the same standards: a DVD has a limited duration of 2 hours (4 hours for dual-layer) and a limited size that I can’t remember exactly. If you want to copy the entire contents of a 4 or 8-hour VHS (depending on whether it’s in SP or LP mode) to DVD, there will inevitably be issues regarding duration, and likely regarding supported size as well.
This would explain why some of your VHS tapes copy without issue (likely those that are 2 hours or less in duration) and others, which are longer, cannot be copied...
In that case, you will have to do this in two parts on two separate blank DVDs, or buy dual-layer DVDs, where you can burn 2x2 hours on both sides.
But it probably doesn’t come from any kind of protection on VHS; I don’t think that exists (it does exist on commercially released DVDs).
In any case, the best way to burn VHS onto DVD remains the Pinnacle Instant DVD Recorder software equipped with the Dazzle box, which allows you to connect a VCR (or a combo) directly to a computer via a box that converts RCA/Video plugs to USB.
You can even record it as a .vob file (to then convert to .avi or .mpg using audiovisual conversion software for better options and rendering) on your PC's hard drive: there you are no longer limited by duration, nor by size to a lesser extent (even though a hard drive has a limited size, but before you reach 300 or 500 Go of available space, there’s plenty of room...)
I think I’ve covered everything; if after all this you are still not further along, I don’t really know what else I can add...
Yes, I put my VHS tape in playback mode and insert a DVD+R 4.7GB into my TOSHIBA, then I click on SETUP and duplication, I choose the speed and it works very well except in my opinion for certain Walt Disney VHS tapes and also for the ALLY MCBEAL first season on VHS... I get an ERROR RECORDING PROGRAM NOT AUTHORIZED message.
I am not using Blu-ray and I set it to LP for the duration... so I don't understand if you are telling me that there is no duplication protection??
I just bought EASYCAP capture but haven't tried it yet... I have a friend who uses Pinnacle software and she will come show me how it works. It would be a shame not to be able to recover my stock of VHS tapes.
I also think it might be the TOSHIBA that blocks the duplication?? I understood that you can only make one copy?? But I don't ask for more than that.
Thank you for your help.
Best regards.
I am not using Blu-ray and I set it to LP for the duration... so I don't understand if you are telling me that there is no duplication protection??
I just bought EASYCAP capture but haven't tried it yet... I have a friend who uses Pinnacle software and she will come show me how it works. It would be a shame not to be able to recover my stock of VHS tapes.
I also think it might be the TOSHIBA that blocks the duplication?? I understood that you can only make one copy?? But I don't ask for more than that.
Thank you for your help.
Best regards.
In that case, if your Toshiba device is blocking the copy authorization, that's what I was saying, it's not due to a VHS protection, it's due to a duration (or size) incompatibility between your VHS and your DVD
Your DVD+Rs are limited to 4.7 GB and 2 hours, right?
Your source VHS needs to meet these standards, so it must be of a duration equal to or less than 2 hours, even less if the quality is high on your VHS, the amount of information burned on the DVD will be larger, so the duration will be even shorter to not exceed 4.7 GB in the end
Your Toshiba device must calculate all this and ultimately tell you whether the copy is possible or not, and refuse it if there is a duration and/or size incompatibility
If your VHS to copy exceeds these standards, you either do it twice on 2 separate DVDs or use dual-layer DVDs (I think you should be able to do that on this device; otherwise, that's really stupid, check the device's manual and see what they say), or you transfer it to your computer with dedicated software like the one I mentioned as an example...
But the simplest thing, if you own a Toshiba DVD/VHS combo, is simply to keep your VHS as they are since you have the VCR to watch them. Unless you want to do video editing with it or distribute it to friends who no longer have their good old VCR, it all depends on how you use it, but if it's just to replay your good old family movie on a Sunday afternoon, well, it's up to you, but why stress about wanting to put it on DVD when you have your combo that plays VHS
Well, that's just what I think...
Your DVD+Rs are limited to 4.7 GB and 2 hours, right?
Your source VHS needs to meet these standards, so it must be of a duration equal to or less than 2 hours, even less if the quality is high on your VHS, the amount of information burned on the DVD will be larger, so the duration will be even shorter to not exceed 4.7 GB in the end
Your Toshiba device must calculate all this and ultimately tell you whether the copy is possible or not, and refuse it if there is a duration and/or size incompatibility
If your VHS to copy exceeds these standards, you either do it twice on 2 separate DVDs or use dual-layer DVDs (I think you should be able to do that on this device; otherwise, that's really stupid, check the device's manual and see what they say), or you transfer it to your computer with dedicated software like the one I mentioned as an example...
But the simplest thing, if you own a Toshiba DVD/VHS combo, is simply to keep your VHS as they are since you have the VCR to watch them. Unless you want to do video editing with it or distribute it to friends who no longer have their good old VCR, it all depends on how you use it, but if it's just to replay your good old family movie on a Sunday afternoon, well, it's up to you, but why stress about wanting to put it on DVD when you have your combo that plays VHS
Well, that's just what I think...
WALT DISNEY films are very short and I believe there is a security feature on my TOSHIBA to prevent duplicating the same movie multiple times?? That is not my intention!!
Sincerely
Sincerely
Ah okay, well in that perspective, it's possible
But if that's the case, this device is a scam
If Toshiba comes up with the excuse of fighting against duplication, that's not valid, because with a computer, if someone really wants to duplicate the work, there's no need to copy it twice; you only need to copy it once, put the burned DVD in the computer's drive, extract the content as a video file, and do copy/paste or burn it again behind, and it's done...
And if it's a family film that we own 100% of the rights to and we want to copy it onto several DVDs to share it with our uncles and aunts, cousins, nieces, and Grandpa Mougeot who smokes his pipe in his armchair? How does Toshiba draw the line between what belongs to us privately or not?
As I told you, the best thing is to go through the Dazzle DVD Recorder from Pinnacle...
But if that's the case, this device is a scam
If Toshiba comes up with the excuse of fighting against duplication, that's not valid, because with a computer, if someone really wants to duplicate the work, there's no need to copy it twice; you only need to copy it once, put the burned DVD in the computer's drive, extract the content as a video file, and do copy/paste or burn it again behind, and it's done...
And if it's a family film that we own 100% of the rights to and we want to copy it onto several DVDs to share it with our uncles and aunts, cousins, nieces, and Grandpa Mougeot who smokes his pipe in his armchair? How does Toshiba draw the line between what belongs to us privately or not?
As I told you, the best thing is to go through the Dazzle DVD Recorder from Pinnacle...
Yes, I think it's my Toshiba because for a wedding VHS I made a copy and the second one is IMPOSSIBLE... At the time I mentioned it to the seller who told me he would bypass the security... I'm still waiting for that... maybe someone knows about the problem on this forum?? I can't be the only one?
Thank you very much for your kindness in trying to help me. I will look into the Pinnacle software and computer solution... I hope it's not too complicated! Have a good evening and thanks again.
Thank you very much for your kindness in trying to help me. I will look into the Pinnacle software and computer solution... I hope it's not too complicated! Have a good evening and thanks again.
Well no, it’s not that complicated, but it is paid for.
If you want to buy it, the LDLC stores can order it for you, but it should be around €50 or €60 anyway.
Unless, as you said, a friend of yours already has it, well obviously that solves the problem.
You have the Dazzle box where you connect the RCA and Video Composite cables on one side, and you even have the S-Video plug for optimal HQ quality, and on the other side, it comes out as a USB connection to plug into the USB port of the computer.
Normally, your Toshiba combo should surely have RCA/Composite and S-Video outputs. If it doesn’t (which is quite unlikely), it must have a SCART output. You’ll then need a SCART adapter with an input/output switch where you can connect the RCA/Composite and S-Video plugs, allowing you to connect to the SCART socket at the back. But if your device is recent, this shouldn’t be a problem; it will definitely have RCA/Composite outputs. It's the old VCRs that only had a SCART as a video output.
With all that, you get an installation CD for the software.
Once you’ve installed it, everything is managed with a window that opens on the screen where you command the burning, where you can choose to make cuts in your DVD every X minutes with a menu, or to record your source video as a .vob file on the hard drive.
But in this case, the video in optimal quality will be cut every 17 minutes, I believe, meaning that if your VHS is 20 minutes long, you’ll have a 17-minute file and a second of 3 minutes; that’s the only downside of this software...
If you want it in a single file, you will then need to join the 2 (or 3, or 4... depending on the duration of your VHS) using a video editing software. Even if it's low-end junk, Windows Movie Maker provided in the Windows license pack should still be sufficient to perform this minimal operation. But there’s a good chance it will crash or have issues; I got rid of that junk a long time ago...
However, you will need to convert the .vob file(s) into another format supported by the video editing software, as .vob is almost unusable: with Movie Maker, only .wmv is supported; with other frankly better (but paid) software, no free lunch as they say, unless you download the temporary free trial version, most video formats like .avi or .mpg are supported.
A free audio-visual conversion software like Quick Media Converter allows you to easily perform these operations.
Of course, your computer must have a CD/DVD writer, or it will be difficult, lol.
There you go; as I own this software myself and do a lot of video work mixing digital and analog, the old school and new technologies, I was able to inform you in detail.
If you still need more information about it, feel free to ask ;)
Best regards.
If you want to buy it, the LDLC stores can order it for you, but it should be around €50 or €60 anyway.
Unless, as you said, a friend of yours already has it, well obviously that solves the problem.
You have the Dazzle box where you connect the RCA and Video Composite cables on one side, and you even have the S-Video plug for optimal HQ quality, and on the other side, it comes out as a USB connection to plug into the USB port of the computer.
Normally, your Toshiba combo should surely have RCA/Composite and S-Video outputs. If it doesn’t (which is quite unlikely), it must have a SCART output. You’ll then need a SCART adapter with an input/output switch where you can connect the RCA/Composite and S-Video plugs, allowing you to connect to the SCART socket at the back. But if your device is recent, this shouldn’t be a problem; it will definitely have RCA/Composite outputs. It's the old VCRs that only had a SCART as a video output.
With all that, you get an installation CD for the software.
Once you’ve installed it, everything is managed with a window that opens on the screen where you command the burning, where you can choose to make cuts in your DVD every X minutes with a menu, or to record your source video as a .vob file on the hard drive.
But in this case, the video in optimal quality will be cut every 17 minutes, I believe, meaning that if your VHS is 20 minutes long, you’ll have a 17-minute file and a second of 3 minutes; that’s the only downside of this software...
If you want it in a single file, you will then need to join the 2 (or 3, or 4... depending on the duration of your VHS) using a video editing software. Even if it's low-end junk, Windows Movie Maker provided in the Windows license pack should still be sufficient to perform this minimal operation. But there’s a good chance it will crash or have issues; I got rid of that junk a long time ago...
However, you will need to convert the .vob file(s) into another format supported by the video editing software, as .vob is almost unusable: with Movie Maker, only .wmv is supported; with other frankly better (but paid) software, no free lunch as they say, unless you download the temporary free trial version, most video formats like .avi or .mpg are supported.
A free audio-visual conversion software like Quick Media Converter allows you to easily perform these operations.
Of course, your computer must have a CD/DVD writer, or it will be difficult, lol.
There you go; as I own this software myself and do a lot of video work mixing digital and analog, the old school and new technologies, I was able to inform you in detail.
If you still need more information about it, feel free to ask ;)
Best regards.
I plan to buy it since a friend is coming over to give me a lesson on how to use it…. I have a computer with a CD/DVD burner…. I’m starting in duplication (laughs) and I also have a ton of Super 8 and Mini Video 8 tapes… I’d like to have fun editing – cutting the bad stuff out… maybe I’m dreaming…. If I have a problem and my friend can’t help me, I’ll ask the question on howcamarche.
In the meantime, I’ll keep your answers that will help me, and I thank you. Have a nice Sunday. Do you know if it’s easy to modify my TOSHIBA so that it doesn’t block certain VHS?? I bought it to archive and not to make a business out of it….
Best regards.
In the meantime, I’ll keep your answers that will help me, and I thank you. Have a nice Sunday. Do you know if it’s easy to modify my TOSHIBA so that it doesn’t block certain VHS?? I bought it to archive and not to make a business out of it….
Best regards.
Ah, I don't know this device, so I won't be able to help you, but indeed, there must be a way to unlock this thing.
Try searching on Google by entering the exact name of the device, its serial number, its range, and see if you find a site or a forum that discusses the topic, or maybe even go directly to the Toshiba website for more information. I don't know, but good luck...
Try searching on Google by entering the exact name of the device, its serial number, its range, and see if you find a site or a forum that discusses the topic, or maybe even go directly to the Toshiba website for more information. I don't know, but good luck...