How do I copy VHS tapes to my computer or DVD?

I used an LG VHS/DVD combo player/recorder to copy a home video. I played the newly made DVD to test it to make sure it copied. It was fine.
I attempted to play this DVD on a Magnovox DVD player and it would not play. Any ideas on why it would play on the LG but not the Magnovox?
Thanks.

What equipement do I need to copy VHS tapes to my PC?

I have been able to copy my vhs tapes to dvd's using a magnavox combo unit. However, I am trying to make a back up copy of the dvd. I am in two different states...6 months/6 months. I don't want to have to carry the tapes back and forth any longer and want to open up some storage space. I plan on donating the vhs tapes to the local library.
I am not having any luck with copying the burned dvd's on the magnavox with my computer.
Arghhh!!! Any suggestions?

My video recorder has died. I would like to convert my existing videos to DVD to play on my TV, but I am totally non-technical.you say
'Capture the video to the computer as MPEG-2 using hardware capture devices that convert the VHS to MPEG-2 as they capture.' How/where do I find such a device. What are such devices called? It seems I could buy something called a combo but it seems expensive. I could perhaps buy another video recorder, but am not sure whether then I should buy a DVD writer to go with the PC together with some software or a DVD writer to use with the TV. I have a DVD player with the TV. The TV is in a different room from the PC. Advice requested

Adding something to help... maybe.

A) There is a MAJOR problem with using VHS > DVD-R method. Its that DVD-R and CD-R media dies! (It doesn't matter if its DVD+R or DVD-R, etc). So that after 6~18 months, the discs becomes un-usable. And you still store all these discs that are easily destroyed.

B) Do what I am doing. Which requires a bit of technical time... and a whole computer if you have a lot of tapes. Copy the VHS tapes to a dedicated computer Hard Drive! That way, you can play the video files any where you want.

C) Issues: Video capture software copies in full NTSC quality 720x480, which is overkill to VHS is is basiclly 720x320... and if you recorded your shows in EP mode or theres glitches in the tapes... it'll look even worse.

So... a 6hr VHS tape can eat up 32~90GB of space, depending on your quality settings and the video itself (grainy video = more space). This is not usable for storage. Sooo...

I use AVC (Any Video Converter) free on CNET's download site. to re-encode the videos down... I lower the resolution and the video quality - yes there is a loss.

But a typical 6 hour video is 2GB... rather than 50GB!

Now, if the quality of the video is GOOD / shorter (2hr) / extra important, I'd adjust the quality up... so it goes up to 4GB or so, still enough to fit onto a DVD if needed.

This is a pain. If you are recording a 6hr tape, it will take about 6 hours to also re-encode and compress it. :( I have a dedicated computer, I record batches of tapes, then re-compression them. These are for my own personal use.

I have about 570 tapes in my collection, its going to take a while!

I usually use 480x320 @ 768 quality with AVC (make sure audio sync is on Default and to at least 50) - output is AVI (most compatible).

On an old AMD X2 system... it slow... 1 min to convert takes 1.0~1.3mins of time. On a modern quad core system, that can get down to 30~40 seconds per min of video.

Hardware: I use the $50 Dazzle DVD Recorder (Name doesn't quite make sense - but its USB and works very good hooked up to my VCR - which I hope will last another 2000+ hours. UGH.

With the compression, all these tapes will fit onto a single 2TB HD, which costs about $70~80. I DON'T actually watch these videos - I look at the hand written label or see whats on it for a few seconds - FF to end, reset counter, rewind... then start the copy (This allows me to tell the software included with the Dazzle - How LONG to make the recording! It could be 2hrs, it could be 5h 42m.)

Next, getting rid of tapes... the garbage is not best IMHO.

you can get the device to hook either vcr or video camera to computer at worldstart.com for under fifty dollars - but i did not realize how much space i would need on computer to download even one copied 2 hr program and if i start burning a dvd+rw - can i go back and put more on it or will computer erase or reformat it so i lose what i have already copied on it - i do have a dvd recorder which i was using with vcr - 6 hrs of video takes 6 hrs to copy onto dvd recorder

I believe you can if you know what you are doing, but this is not an area where I have a lot of expertise. My recommendation is that you invest in some video editing software and copy the video to your hard disk and edit it before writing it to DVD.

19-Aug-2011

the other comment i have is you can buy a combo vcr/dvd recorder - they do still make them just google around on the web - but the one thing you also need is a tape rewinder - those are becoming very hard to find but one place in vermont still sells them - called country store - they have a catalog - just look them up

Dear
i have VHS tapes ,, and i dont have DVD ,, how i can convert the VHS tapes to my computer ,, and DVD disc on my computer ,,, please explain for me step by step ,, also i have Dazzle digital Video Creator 80 .. and i have windows 7 ,, dosnt work on it ,,, please tell me wt i can do ,,, thank u and u have great day

One of the services we provide through our business is to convert VHS tapes (home videos only) to DVD. Please contact me if you are interested in our services.

Laura Brosig
President
Chance Records Inc.
laurabrosig@yahoo.com

Still confused after all this.

Do I need just a simple USB to RCA (3plug) connector, since I already have the Golden Videos software? Amazon shows them for $3. Some of them are $40, but have a fourth plug on one end. Which one do I really need with the software, a VHS player and my computer?