Transfer of PAL video to DVD

[DavidL]

When we moved here 4 years ago, we bought our PAL video tapes and PAL 240 volt VCR with us from the UK. I would now like to record the tapes onto DVD.

I would like to do it myself as opposed to shipping them out to a 3rd party so that I can edit some of the crap out. Any suggestions please as to the best method?

Thanks

[punky]

It can be a bit fiddly because of the US-UK bridge there. US-to-US is dead easy.

It should be possible though. I am assuming you can get your UK VCR powered and running correctly. If you go out and get a DVD recorder, make sure it handles NTSC and PAL (most/all should, but double check). If it has coaxial input, then you should be able to hook up the coax out from the VCR to the coax input. Then you set your DVD recorder to the coax input, start recording, and then play your VCR.

I've never tried doing UK-to-US specifically, but I have between solely US and UK models. In theory, the DVD recorder should be able to handle the PAL to NTSC conversion... However, it may create a PAL DVD as its a PAL signal - it depends on the DVD recorder. Its going to be a bit of trial and error. If it produces corrupted pictures, then dive into the settings of the DVD recorder and fiddle with the NTSC/PAL settings - it may not be auto sensing.

Hard disk DVD recorders are good for this (the dubbing part), however they are expensive, and not strictly necessary. Does improve the experience though.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[TANNER]

I have done this with all our old PAl VHS Tapes.Some time ago I purchased an Aiwa Worldwide VHS Player which can play and record in either format.I also bought a Panasonic DVD recorder/player.Worked well.I did this after paying a small fortune to have a couple to tapes converted.
If you want to spend a quiet afternoon with the equipment let me know or I can do some for you if you provide the dvd discs.

[Tina]

I can do some for you if you provide the dvd discs.

Hi Tanner :)

Do you fix UK dvd discs so that they can be played on a US dvd player? Or maybe fix a dvd player so that it will play UK dvd's? I have the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final here waiting to be watched and it's driving me crazy! (Don't know the result yet so please no-one post the score!) My son recorded it from the UK so the disc isn't a shop bought pre-recorded one. Any ideas?
Thanks,

Tina

[TANNER]

You will need the code to unlock your DVD Player.
Try this link
http://www.dvdcodes.net/

[DavidL]

I have done this with all our old PAl VHS Tapes.Some time ago I purchased an Aiwa Worldwide VHS Player which can play and record in either format.I also bought a Panasonic DVD recorder/player.Worked well.I did this after paying a small fortune to have a couple to tapes converted.
If you want to spend a quiet afternoon with the equipment let me know or I can do some for you if you provide the dvd discs.

Thanks for the responces.

Tanner, I have around 18 vhs tapes with around 40 hours of material, some good, some bad & some ugly! Which model Aiwa did you buy as I may try and pick one up. I already have a DVD recorder, but I was thinking about recording the vhs tapes to my pc hard drive and then editing them and then burning them to DVD.

[TANNER]

Thanks for the responces.

Tanner, I have around 18 vhs tapes with around 40 hours of material, some good, some bad & some ugly! Which model Aiwa did you buy as I may try and pick one up. I already have a DVD recorder, but I was thinking about recording the vhs tapes to my pc hard drive and then editing them and then burning them to DVD.

I did this 5 or 6 years ago so I doubt the Aiwa or indeed many other VHS players are still available.The method you propose is probably the uptodate way to approach it.If you have problems the offer stands.Good Luck.

[charliesmum]

We have a Samsung VCR that plays english and us tapes.

We bought it when we came 3 years ago and although we don't use it as much now, it seems a good make.

Try Amazon or Samsung direct.

Zoe