A friend just told me yesterday about her husband buying a DVD burner for the tv. She said they can play VHS (also hooked up to the tv)and copy (burn) it onto DVDs.

HeidiHoHum,

I'd be interested in knowing what one they got, how they like it, and how good a job of burning it does.

If you have a decent computer you can easily capture VHS edit and burn to DVD. You can buy a standalone DVD burner and connect your VHS to burn to dvd, editing will be limited especially on the models without a hard disk. In any case commercial VHS are likely protected my macrovision and so you wont be able to copy those but any home movies are fair game. An excellent site that gives step by step guides on how to capture video and burn to DVD is linked below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Video Help

And the Sony RDR-VX500 is available at amazon, linked below.

Here is a link that might be useful: RDR-VX500

Waiting until warranty is up before I install sound card needed to do job on computer.

Would like opinions on the vhs to dvd devices.

I want to convert all my personal, not commercial, vhs tapes.

If you want straight one to one copies (VHS to DVD) with no edits the standalone Sony will do a great job for you. If you want to add titles, background music, transitions, unique menus then you want to do it on your PC.

Cseyer,

thanks-good to know.

The tapes I am fussy about will wait until my computer is set up, but in meantime I do have some stuff that I could do now.

Can you transfer it with the Sony VCR/DVD recorder and then edit it on your computer or would it just be easier to do it on your computer.

I have had a DVD recorder for a few years now and it is very easy to do.I just wanted my old VHS Home Movie tapes on DVD.I do not care about editing or adding music.You can buy a DVD recorder for a very reasonable price now.I recently bought a off brand DVD recorder VHS combo at Walmart for $99.99 and as soom as my wife opens it for Christmas we will see how it does recording her TV programs just like she has used a VCR for.She also has many VHS tapes she has recorded over the years history moments and things she wants to hang onto.But now we will be able to have it on DVD taking up less space then those clunky VHS tapes.

I would also recommend looking at the Panasonic DVD/VHS recorders. I have been very happy with mine for over a year now. It was $300 but there may be better deals available now.