How to Copy a Television Program to a VCR, DVD or CD
Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) may offer convenience, but they have not totally replaced recorders for video cassettes, digital video discs (DVDs) and video compact discs (VCDs). The latter types of recorders allow you to watch your favorite television programs on any television connected to a VCR or DVD player and, for DVDs or CDs, on computers and portable DVD players. Your televison shows can go with you in your car and beyond. VCRs and DVD and CD recorders also provide you with tools for archiving your favorite show or a memorable sporting event.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Video cassette
- DVD or CD
- Computer media player with television viewing capability
- Television tuner and recording software
- Digital television antenna
Instructions
-
Recording from Television
-
1
Go to your device’s setup feature. Set the correct date and time. Run the channel scan feature to find and save channels. If you have a cable box connected to the antenna input of your television, choose antenna or “over-the-air” channels and program the channel through which you view the cable box, either “3” or “4.”
-
2
Insert the video cassette or DVD. Rewind cassettes to the beginning. For DVDs, go to the setup feature and select SP (standard play) to record for two hours, LP (long play) for four-hour recording and EP (extended long play) for six hours. To maximize available recording time and space, erase unwanted content from your rewritable DVD or CD.
-
-
3
Find the schedule recording feature on your recorder. Enter the start time (for best results, use one minute before the actual start time), the length or end time, and the channel that airs the program. For a cable box connected to the television antenna input, select either “3” or “4” and turn the cable box to the desired cable channel. Do not change the cable box channel while you record. Turn off the DVD recorder or VCR before your program begins.
Recording from Computer
-
4
Record television programs from your computer. Install television viewing and recording software or use Windows Media Center. Connect the television tuner to the computer's universal serial bus (USB) port or IEEE 1394 (firewire) port, depending on your tuner's connection. Connect a digital television antenna or cable television wire to the antenna input on the tuner.
-
5
Open the program. Run the channel scanning feature of the program. Connect the cable to the antenna input of your tuner to save cable channels and the antenna to retrieve over-the-air television stations. You will need to scan only once unless you want to update your channel listings.
-
6
Find the feature of your software used for recording programs. Go to the scheduler or program guide. Search the guide for the desired television program and select it. If you do not have a guide, enter as the start time one minute before the program’s actual time, and then enter the length or end time and the desired channel. Choose DVD-quality for burning to a DVD and video compact disc (VCD) to burn the program to a CD.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
For DVDs, use a shorter recording time to achieve a higher video quality.
Press the record button to employ one-touch or direct recording. Use this option especially for saving a program you receive through your digital cable’s on-demand service.
Record with a non-rewritable disc (DVD+R or DVD-R) for a program you want to keep rather than erase.
Using a cable box might prevent you from recording one program and watching another since you are using the only antenna or cable input on your television. Find a late-night airing of your program or another time when you will not use the cable box.
Video CDs have lower video quality than DVDs. The recording software must compress the television program considerably to allow it to fit on a CD, which contains a maximum storage of capacity of 700 megabytes.
Recording times may vary by recorder or disc. Consult your owner's manual or the labelling on the disc package.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit digital data storage media studio isolated image by dinostock from Fotolia.com Mensch und Computer 2 image by Sven Rausch from Fotolia.com
