R.i.p. Vhs

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Best thing for videos is to capture them into a computer save copys on more than one drive in case of crash. You can then burn on DVD or what ever the next format will be.

I would probably need a couple of hard drives to do all of that. I had been thinking about that for some time, just haven't actually had the time to do it.

[bobws]

I LOVE VHS!!!!

I've been trying to copyover some items to DVD and WHAT A PAIN!!!!!!!!!
the disc will freeze up after you put 4 hrs. on it and then say the disc is blank? but it only has 2hrs availible space, HUH? this happened twice in a row for me as i was making a copy for my nephew.

how about recording 2 shows ina row on different networks ? with VHS you would hear the machine pause 2 seconds as it switched channels and then start recording again. with DVD the machine has to pause about a minute and a half to remember the 1 file then start the second and you miss the first 1.5 mins of the second show!

I though these were suppose to be better equipment than VHS. i still have 2 VCRs hooked up so i can record shows opposite others that i want to watch. i haven't gone Tivo yet too expensive, and until Blu-Ray makes a cheap DVD recorder it can't say it won the HD market.

we don't just want players! and season sets on DVD aren't cheap!

[ctc]

>the disc will freeze up after you put 4 hrs. on it and then say the disc is blank?

Huh? I got a cheapie converter and it doesn't have any problems like this. Is there a "speed" setting on yours? You might have it set for 4 hours.

Don C.

[jds1911a1]

I must have over 1000 vhs tapes, proper ones not copies on blanks, so i should say that as far as i am concerned vhs will never die because i will be watching these forever.

better store them in a climate controlled room VHS breaks down and dgrades even sitting on a shelf never mind actually playing it in the machine.

I have been "backing up" all the stuff I have that isn't on dvd (and probably won't be) whether VHS or laserdisc format to dvd's

[jds1911a1]

I LOVE VHS!!!!

I've been trying to copyover some items to DVD and WHAT A PAIN!!!!!!!!!
the disc will freeze up after you put 4 hrs. on it and then say the disc is blank? but it only has 2hrs availible space, HUH? this happened twice in a row for me as i was making a copy for my nephew.

how about recording 2 shows ina row on different networks ? with VHS you would hear the machine pause 2 seconds as it switched channels and then start recording again. with DVD the machine has to pause about a minute and a half to remember the 1 file then start the second and you miss the first 1.5 mins of the second show!

I though these were suppose to be better equipment than VHS. i still have 2 VCRs hooked up so i can record shows opposite others that i want to watch. i haven't gone Tivo yet too expensive, and until Blu-Ray makes a cheap DVD recorder it can't say it won the HD market.

we don't just want players! and season sets on DVD aren't cheap!

you may need to look for Double density dvd blanks also the brands make a difference too. for longer stuff I make 2 copies on single density discs (one in 2 hr mode on mutiple discs for as Pristine a transfer as possible) and one in 4 hour mode (this covers most titles except for the extended DAS BOOT)

While multuiple discs is annoying I am a laserdisc guy so changing discs in mod film in nothing new to me

[mitchedwards]

I'll miss the passing of the technology. I remember what a big deal it was when we bought our first VCR.

[jds1911a1]

I'm still trying to figure out my Betamax!

Anybody remember the record size Laser Disks? They didn't last long at all.

they were probably around much longer than you think. They were around from 1978-2001 and were THE Blu ray of the analog era. They had the cleanest transfers and least breakdown. of course they are huge and the average film takes 2 or 3 sides. Also they were ALOT more expensive than tapes. The death toll for LD cam when VHS producers wised up and started puting Letterbox tapes out. I bet in the end the life span of DVD will be less

[mego73]

I LOVE VHS!!!!

I've been trying to copyover some items to DVD and WHAT A PAIN!!!!!!!!!
the disc will freeze up after you put 4 hrs. on it and then say the disc is blank? but it only has 2hrs availible space, HUH? this happened twice in a row for me as i was making a copy for my nephew.

how about recording 2 shows ina row on different networks ? with VHS you would hear the machine pause 2 seconds as it switched channels and then start recording again. with DVD the machine has to pause about a minute and a half to remember the 1 file then start the second and you miss the first 1.5 mins of the second show!

I though these were suppose to be better equipment than VHS. i still have 2 VCRs hooked up so i can record shows opposite others that i want to watch. i haven't gone Tivo yet too expensive, and until Blu-Ray makes a cheap DVD recorder it can't say it won the HD market.

we don't just want players! and season sets on DVD aren't cheap!

I have no problem making 4 hour+ DVD's. I typically only do that to make long playing DVD's from when I work or to fall asleep with (I think of them as the same as making a mix CD). You might want to see if your recorder is to blame.

I only use the 4 hour speed for these since I usually want to have things in 2 hour speed.

2-3 years ago I got a Magnavox DVD recorder and have had next to no problems recorded hundreds of DVD's.

The only problem I do have with my Magnavox recorder is that they don't seem to be able to make chapter marks on DVD-R or +R that can be read on other players.

The chapter marks made on +/- RW's can be read on other players.

[apes3978]

better store them in a climate controlled room VHS breaks down and degrades even sitting on a shelf never mind actually playing it in the machine.

VHS holds up a lot better than it's given credit for... I've just dug out a few tapes that had been sitting out in a garage for 20 years and they played as well as they always did... They were out there in the extreme 100+ heat and the -0 winter weather and still held up.

[Mikey]

I had a Magnavox DVD recorder

Piece of junk !!!

After about a year it wouldn't read or play burned DVD's

It would record them, but not play them

It also wouldn't play bought double-sided DVD's

It always read--- " NO DISC"

What a piece of crap

[ctc]

>VHS holds up a lot better than it's given credit for...

It REALLY depends on the brand. I've got some high quality ones I recorded over 20 years ago that are still pretty good. I've also had some cheapie tapes that started fuzzing up just over a year after I made them. Same for tapes that were played. A LOT of mine were watched over and over and over.... and with some cheapie tapes you could see deterioration as soon as five plays.

I went through a LOT of tapes. (Before moving I had 1600. After converting a bunch to DVD I have about 1200 left to do.)

>Best thing for videos is to capture them into a computer save copys on more than one drive in case of crash. You can then burn on DVD or what ever the next format will be.

That's what I was thinking.... until someone creates liquid crystal data 'myds; which require special industrial imprinters....

I get a lot of mileage out of my tapes/disks/whatnot, so it's important for me to be able to store them. They get a lot of play too, so I need a durable medium. (My original taped copy of "Rock and Rule" was played HUNDREDS of times. And when it started going I couldn't get a new one 'cos the only version available was the edited MGM one.)

Don C.

[jds1911a1]

VHS holds up a lot better than it's given credit for... I've just dug out a few tapes that had been sitting out in a garage for 20 years and they played as well as they always did... They were out there in the extreme 100+ heat and the -0 winter weather and still held up.

well you're luckier than I am back when vhs was it. my AC broke in the summer and my room temp hit 102 and my CAPT harllock tape got those great little melts on the top and bottom edge of the tape still played but the top and bottom looked awful.

And while they may play fine it's hard to tell how much a source has lost clarity unless you compare it to a pristine original. Film doesn't fare much better over the long haul unless properly stored. Low humidty and even tempratures are always better for both mediums.

[apes3978]

And while they may play fine it's hard to tell how much a source has lost clarity unless you compare it to a pristine original. Film doesn't fare much better over the long haul unless properly stored. Low humidty and even tempratures are always better for both mediums.

Oh, I know what you're saying is true, no doubt about that... Optimal conditions are best for any media (records, VHS, DVDs, etc.)... I was just surprised that for all the bashing VHS gets, it can (and does) hold up, even under less than great storage... I'm not even sure if the others I had in the same storage play that well, but the few I did played decently...