can i play a VCR in my tv and record it onto a mini DV tape?

P

perhaps

Active member
i have two very old VHS tapes that i need to digitize for this project i'm doing in a politics class. i was thinking, is there any way that i can stick the tapes into my friend's VCR (i don't have one) and plug my camera up to the television, and record from the tapes onto my mini-dv tapes? i expect some quality loss, but that's ok.

if i can, how exactly do i set that up? i assume i just plug the appropriate input cables from my dvx to the TV set.. then i hit play on VCR, but how do i setup the camera to record from the inputs, and not from the actual lens?
 
Yes you can, and yes it's that easy. I'm not exactly sure what settings you have to use on the dvx, but I know it's not hard. I record from a vcr to a little crappy miniDV camera, and it's as easy as pressing the "record" button.

Just plug it in, and you'll figure it out.
 
ive tried it before with no success, not sure if you can do it? if you can plz share how.
 
You need to have a tape in and go into VTR (playback) mode. The screen will then display any incoming video signal over the RCA jacks.

Press the two VCR/REC buttons on top of the camera at the same time to begin recording the incoming signal.
 
i plugged my white and yellow cables into the camera.. and the other ends into my TV input. i'm in VCR mode.. and yet there is no incoming video on the camera! it lets me do the VCR/REC buttons at the same time, but it doesn't record anything because there is no signal. and yes, the tv is on and the vcr is playnig.

the camera screen just stays blue. am i missing something??
 
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the other ends are on your TV "input" ?

They need to be on your VCR's output, most likely on the rear of the VCR (and possibly currently in use for running it to your TV)
 
ok, his television has 2 sets of RCA inputs. 2 yellow/whites on the front, and two on the back. i tried plugging the camera into the front two, and all i get is a blue screen on the camera, and it records nothing but blue.

if i plug the camera into the back..same thing! the VCR runs on "input 1". the tv displays the cable television, input 1, or input 2. but for whatever reason, neither of the inputs on the TV send out what's playing on the vcr.

by the way, the VCR is part of the actual television set.
 
Oh -- built in VCR.

It sounds like everything you have are INPUTS for hooking up other things (nintendo, dvd player, another VCR, etc.)

It's possible there is no output on that system.
 
Borrow a 'Real' vcr that has outputs. Oh and it would help to clean the vcr's heads before playing, just for that extra little somethin somethin. Also if you are going through the DVX, i don't think you have to record to miniDV first. If you are using Final Cut Pro, just use the non-controllable device settings and capture the signal being 'Passed-Through' the DVX. That signal will go to your computer via firewire. The DVX will be your A/D convertor.
 
Also lookout for Macrovision copy protection. I tried to dub some Disney VHS tapes with a consumer DV cam and it wouldn't go.
 
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