VCR-to-DVD recorders

[Botch]

After much thinking, looking and measuring, I've decided the best way to clear off my coffee table of stacks of new DVDs and Blurays is to record my VHS tape collection onto DVD-R's, get rid of the tapes, and move the disks to that bookcase. It'll free up room for future growth, allow me to get rid of my VHS player, can probably sell the new DVD recorder for half-price, and all the tapes for $1-$2 apiece and avoid building another bookcase (which I don't have room for anyway).

Do any of you have any experience with the following recorders?

JVC DR-MV150B, $240.00
Panasonic DMR-EZ48V, $245.00
Toshiba DRDVR620, $160.00
Samsung DVD-VR375A, $179.00

I'm tempted to spring for the JVC, as it appears to be the only recorder that upconverts to 1080p, but that may be overkill. Anyone used any of these before?

 

[Flint]

For the life of me, I cannot understand why a huge piece of crappy performing hardware would be a good choice.

This is what I'd get:
http://www.amazon.com/Pinnacle-Maker-Qu ... 010&sr=8-1

Simple, cheap, higher performing, and many more features.

 

[Towen7]

What is this V-C-R that you speak of?

 

[Botch]

For the life of me, I cannot understand why a huge piece of crappy performing hardware would be a good choice.

This is what I'd get:
http://www.amazon.com/Pinnacle-Maker-Qu ... 010&sr=8-1

Well, I didn't know this thing existed, so I'm glad I asked the question!
Have you used this, Flint? Going thru the comments on Amazon's website, a few people got it to work great and a lot more couldn't get it to work at all. Also, no indication if it'll work on a Mac or not... :?:
I also thought, "Gee, that'd tie up my computer for hours and hours", then I remembered I have a shiny new Macbook en route! :dance:

 

[Flint]

There are solutions for Macs as well.

 

[CMonster]

I used an older Pinnacle product years ago and it was okay. Took a bit of work to get it installed/updated so it'd work but after that it wasn't bad. I copied my bro-in-laws wedding video and at a compression rate that didn't look like total crap it ended up transferring to 4 dvds. They weren't totally full but I had to figure out logical breaks and then I added titles. It was actually kind of fun...

 

[yromj]

I'll throw out the solution you DON'T want to hear (probably):

It seems to me that you are willing to spend ~$300 on a solution to this. (Not counting the money you hope to recoop from the re-sale of the machine.) Why not take that money and buy the movies on DVD (I'm assuming they're movies from the fact that you said you could sell them)?

I know you can't replace ALL of them for that money, but do you really watch all of them? Also, VHS quality is what it is and that's all it well ever be. If you buy the DVDs, you will have better picture and sound. Finally, if you are able to sell the tapes for an average ~$1.50 each, then every 7 tapes should equal one movie (since these movies are on tape, they're assumed to be older and DVD copies of those should be ~$10 each).

:twocents-mytwocents:

John

 

[Maximo]

Because the homemade porno collection that Botch has (starring himself of course) cannot have a true and fair value attached to it.

 

[Botch]

I've thought about that, Yromj, and that's a possible option. Maximo's actually pretty close to correct, many of the tapes ARE of myself, but performing in college jazz bands and rock bands. A big share of them are how-to woodworking videos, which I can still get on DVD but at $20 a pop, even a $300 machine would be cheaper.
Next week I'll see if I can find something like Flint posted, for the Mac. Thanks for the ideas folks!

Oh, and I found a website that would generate your own "porn star" name... mine was "Tiny Tim"! :angry-cussingblack: :angry-cussingblack: :angry-cussingblack:

 

[Maximo]

LMAO!!!!!!

 

[yromj]

Botch,

If the videos are "how-to" and personal, I would definitely look into a means of storing them on a hard drive. That way, when you need them, they're accessible; but they're not taking up a lot of shelf space.

Copying VHS cinematic movies is often difficult (due to copy protection) and doesn't yield good results (due to a/v quality).

John