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How Do I Dub a VHS Tape to a DVD?

What do you do if you have a box full of VHS tapes but no longer own a VCR because DVD and Blu-Ray players have replaced them? Thanks to modern technology, there's the option of transferring your VHS tapes to DVD. How? You can either hire a company to transfer the tapes for you or you can do it yourself. This is a simple do-it-yourself instructional to transfer your videotapes to DVD by using an old VCR and your PC or laptop. You can also use a DVD recorder, made by a company like Samsung, to play the videotape from the VCR and transfer it to the DVD recorder. But videotapes that are copyright protected cannot be transferred using this method. By investing in a product called The Dazzle by Pinnacle Studios (approximately $89 at Best Buy), the copyright protection is no longer an issue.

Things You'll Need

  • DVD recorder (Dazzle by Pinnacle Studios)
  • VCR
  • RCA cable (yellow, red, white)
  • PC or laptop with a DVD burner
  • Spindle of DVDs
  • VHS tapes
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Instructions

    • 1

      The Dazzle is a DVD recorder that plugs into your PC or laptop with a USB cable. Once you've purchased the Dazzle, you need to download the correct software supplied. Make sure that your video and sound cards are updated on your PC or laptop to ensure the best quality of the DVD.

    • 2
      RCA cables

      Plug the RCA cables attached to the Dazzle into the VCR outputs (video out, audio out), then plug the USB cable also attached to the Dazzle into your PC or laptop. Once this step is completed, click on the icon on your PC or laptop that says "Pinnacle Instant DVD Recorder."

    • 3
      Spindle DVDs

      Once the program is open, click on the "Advanced Mode," which will lead you to the "Recorder Mode." On the category that says "Select Source," go to the drop-down menu and click "Dazzle DVD Recorder." Next, where it says "Select Burner," select the DVD burner on your PC or laptop. In the step that asks you to "Create Chapters," I would advise against it because it just takes up too much memory to do so.

    • 4
      DVD burner

      Place a blank DVD into the burner. Press "Play" on the VCR to play your VHS tape to be transferred, and in the top right corner of your DVD recorder screen, you should see video from the VCR playing. When your are ready to hit "Record" on your PC or laptop to start recording, do so. Unfortunately, all transfers have to be done in real time, so press "Record" and walk away for a while.

    • 5

      Once the recording is finished, press "Stop Recording" on the recorder, and the program will finalize your DVD. Eject the DVD, label it and watch it. It's that simple!

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