Capitol Hill Blue Forums Science and Technology Computers & Technology Help in transferring VHS to DVD, Please?

I want to copy many of my old purchased VHS tapes onto DVD. My DVD-R, however (Lite-On model) will not allow it as the tapes are "copyright protected". I bought 'em, I want to be able to transfer them and make copies for dvd player in car. Could someone recommend a program for computer, or video components that will allow me to do this and remove the copyright restrictions and/or Region codes? I get a lot of foreign tapes. No, I don't pirate. Really. My computer is not yet hooked up to the cable, but will be shortly, so would I be able to play the DVD on the DVD-R and transfer directly to the computer DVD? Would I have to "download" the DVD first and then burn it on the DVD+=? Thanks for your help in advance....

cheesehead
mildly confused.....

just wondering - if you have already bought the tape, havent you really bough the rights to watch it. then if you downloaded a new format version from the internets to burn to DVD, you wouldnt actually be pirating, merely changing formats!

According to the U.S. Record Industry, aka, The Recording Industry Association of America, one does not truly "own" the song they've purchased - but merely "renting" it for use for that particular format.

If a "user" wishes to change format, a new "agreement" must be made for use of the song by purchasing a new "rental agreement" for that song on the format of the user's choice.

Ergo, according to the RIAA, just because you are in possession of a format, the license does not automatically transfer to cover other formats.

It's all about the dollar $ign$

Here is a link that may help

link

Some other ways and things to consider....
there are relatively inexpensive combo machines that have VHS and DVD recorder combined. This way is supposed to work and be simple. You can sell the unit after you are finished.


Transferring VHS to DVD will result in a poor quality copy since VHS is poor quality. Over all, you may be better off signing up for netflix... get the stuff on DVD and copy from that

Exactsmundo, Rick. Ardy, you can't make a copy of DVD either unless you have specific software that will bypass the copyright freeze or region codes on it. I don't want to have to pay AGAIN in another format (unless it's letterbox). You still can't copy a copyrighted tape onto DVD even if it's in the same machine combo. Which is why I'll either hsve to attach a VHS machine directly to computer and record that way with software that will allow me to.

Stereoman, didn't you post something about some open sourced software a whle ago?

Thanks for the link, Ardy! I already have a separate DVD-R connected to my cable/tv (not TV or the DVDR provided by the cable company). My pc does have the media center stuff on their, but it still won't allow me to copy or duplicate DVDs on it.

Thanks....
cheesypoof head

Re: copying DVD's, here is a link that lists software and what functions each has
DVD copy software

Uh no, it was not I. Perhaps our friend Jeff in Occupied Texas.

On the subject of duplicating DVD's... I came across this software when I was looking for a way to rip a DVD into a format that I could then store on one of my older mac (which isn't doing much now but acting as a file and print server) and stream to either my xbox 360 or possibly an Apple TV in the near future. It does a good job on that front, the quality isn't quite DVD quality when streaming over to the 360... but it's close enough. It's beta, but it works on multiple platforms and it's free. Should be easy enough to burn the resulting files to a new DVD. But you didn't hear that from me :whistle:

MajorGeeks may have a solution in their multimedia directory. This link will lead to a page sorted by license, and check the license, because they list many different programs.

The List Title Format is:
SoftwareName - [Date{yyyy-mm-dd} | license | filesize | OS | #downloads | VisitorRating {1-5}]

The licenses are divided by categories in the following order:

• Cost {for non-Shareware for pay programs}
• Adware - Avoid Adware; it can wreak havoc on your computer
• Freeware
• shareware {cost shown}

If you are willing to pay for a computer upgrade to do this, have you visited your local computer outlets? There are several hardware/software combinations currently on the market. Transcoding is much easier if you have a graphics card that was designed to do it, and it should come with the essential cabling converters in one small unit that you can plug a VCR into. Look for a sales clerk who is actually a geek though. Most major chains are willing to hire the less than informed.