How to Record a TV Show on a VHS Tape
Although DVD recorders are the new standard for home video recording, a VCR works just fine to capture those shows you really don't want to miss.
One advantage to analog is that many older VHS recorders do not have the copy-protect technology that prevents users from recording certain programs from cable or satellite TV. For that reason, you might want to have both a VHS and DVD recorder as part of your home entertainment system.
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Things You'll Need
- RCA Cables (or coax for cable TV)
- VCR
- Television
- Antenna (if no cable or satellite TV box)
Instructions
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Record Your Show
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1
Take the cable TV's coax cable (the one running out of the wall plug) and connect it to your TV.
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2
Connect standard RCA cables running from the video and audio outputs on the back of your TV set to the audio/video inputs on your cable or satellite TV box. (These are color-coded to make it easier. Simply match the colors as you go: red to red; yellow to yellow; white to white.)
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3
Run another set of RCA cables from your cable box video/audio outputs to your VCR audio/video inputs. This completes the connection.
Alternatively, you may choose to run the TV/cable audio through your home theater system for full stereo sound; see the video tutorial on how to do this below in the "Resources" section.
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4
Tune your TV set to the "aux" channel, or the channel specified in your user's manual for video recording or cable (this is usually either Channel 3 or 4).
You should now be able to watch TV through your VCR; the video recorder is essentially acting as your tuner. You can change channels with your VCR remote, program in your favorite channels, control the volume, etc.
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5
Insert a blank tape into the VCR and rewind tape to the beginning. (Or cue to the point where you plan to start your new recording.)
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6
Switch the recording speed of the tape to the setting you want (this can be done using the remote on most models). For the highest quality, use the SP setting -- this will record about 2 hours worth of video. The EP setting records 4 hours of tape at a lesser quality. If you're looking to fit as much video as possible on a tape and don't mind sacrificing quality use the EP or extended-play setting, which yields six hours of recording time.
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7
Select the TV or cable channel you wish to record through your VCR remote.
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8
Change the "TV/Video button" selector on your remote to "TV." You should now see the picture as it will be recorded on the tape.
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9
Hit the "record" button to start recording your show. Press "stop" when you are finished recording.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Most VCRs will allow you to record one program while watching another on a different channel. Check your user's manual for detailed instructions on how to do this, as every VCR is different.
If you want to record a program that airs when you will not be home, set your VCR's timer. This automatically turns the machine on at a specific time and records the channel you set it to. For example, with a 120-minute movie, you can set the timer to turn off after two hours.
To record directly from your TV to a VCR (if you don't have cable or satellite TV), simply connect the antenna to the RF input jack on the VCR. Then go into the setup menus on your VCR, choose your input source (antenna), then use your VCR's auto-program feature to set the channels.
You may want to make copies of videotapes you have recorded for friends and family. This will require two VHS machines hooked up together. To learn how to do this, see Reference 2 below.
Make sure your TV is set to the same channel your VCR is running through (the default on most is channel 3); otherwise your program will not record.
Do a test run before recording a program to make sure your audio and video channels are properly connected.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit vhs image by Jovan Nikolic from Fotolia.com
