Back up VHS tapes on mini DV to take up less space.
Owners of large video libraries on VHS tape look for ways to transfer their collections to various formats. Making digital copies on mini DV tape cuts down on the space a video library occupies and offers the option of transferring media to a computer hard drive later. Mini DV players record analog video and store it in digital files on the tape medium. VCRs record analog video on the analog tape medium. Transferring VHS to mini DV involves re-recording the analog video as a digital file on DV tape.
Instructions
1. Connect the mini DV player's video output to the television input with an S-Video cable. Connect the player's left and right audio outputs to the television with composite audio cable. Alternatively, connect the coaxial output from the DV player to the television with coaxial cable.
2. Connect the VCR's video output to the DV player's input with the other S-Video cable. Connect the VCR's audio outputs to the DV player with the other composite cable. Use a single coaxial cable for audio and video if you don't have an S-Video cable and your DV player offers this option.
3. Press "Play" on your VCR and watch the picture on the television. Reduce the sharpness on your VCR, and adjust the color, contrast, balance, hue and saturation to your liking. Rewind the tape.
4. Press "SP" on the DV player to record for a shorter length at a higher quality. Press "LP" to record for a longer time at a lower quality.
5. Press "Record" on the mini DV player. Press "Play" on the VCR. Press "Pause" on the DV player to start recording if pressing "Record" automatically pauses your player before it starts recording.
6. Write down or remember the numeric end point of the DV tape if you plan to record more than one VHS tape in "LP" mode on the DV player. Rewind the DV tape to a point in the recording and press "Play" to watch it on the television. Press "Stop" and fast-forward to the end point if you like the quality of the recording.
7. Insert another tape in the VCR and continue to record on the same DV tape from the end point you wrote down from the number counter. Adjust the sharpness, color, contrast, balance, hue and saturation individually for each tape.
Tags: analog video, cable Connect, S-Video cable, audio outputs, balance saturation, coaxial cable