Using a VCR to record Digital TV 

Hi, not even sure if you are active on this channel anymore. But I wanted to let you know that because of this video, I was able to help a senior record on vhs again. He is very rigid due to many needs and limitations, and the only thing he ever thought he was good at was recording his tv with his vcr. Since the digital TV transition about 14 years ago, he hasn't been able to record. Other workers tried to get him onto DVDs or even cable DVR, but he could never learn them and they weren't his VHS tapes. It was literally all he talked to me about the past three years I've worked with him and I'm a social worker, not a tech person, so it took me this long to stumble upon this you tube. And today, for the first time in 14 years, this man can record VHS tapes again. So, sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart.You helped someone who needed it to be happy again 🙌🙏

It’s cool young people like this dude still appreciate old technology. Thank you, sir.

This kid went all out for this one. CRT t.v., mullet, plad shirt. Straight 90's

you look straight out of the 80's I instantly like you.

there is something comforting about the plunk of the tape and the whirring of the vcr heads

That haircut makes you look like you just have time traveled from the 1980s

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. I grew up in the 80's when VCR was all the rage. Now currently trying to bring some of my dad's electronics back to life.

Wonderful video! So easy to understand. Thank you so much. I am a 42 year old mom trying to figure this out for my autistic 10 year old who loves all things vhs. He usually just points his vhs camcorder towards the tv to record new movies but I was hoping to find a better way.

YOU ARE A LIFESAVER!!!!! I HAD FORGOTTEN HOW TO HOOK THIS UP. I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE UP ON THIS. UNTIL I FOUND YOUR VIDEO!!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

VHS is the greatest

I have been trying to do this for sometime. Watched many youtubes, until I found you. Yours worked. Happy dance!!!!

VHS AND CASSETTE TAPES! WoO! Got a ps3 or xbox 360? Most of us do. Just connect the video cables to a VCR and hit record when you watch netflix or insert a dvd. Crap loads of bands are also releasing Cassette's this year. Cassette's in my 2006 Mustang sound amazing. Haha Us Millennials' and younger generations are keeping it alive.

Keep using your vcr VHS videorecorders and blank VHS tapes to get even with the news media

That was not only really clever-but well and truly entertaining and educational-you rock,buddy!xxx

Thanks for helping yet another senior, to record old episodes of xxx??? to a VHS tape! I have boxes and boxes of used VHS tapes, and this is much cheaper than buying each set or episode!

I love this kid!!!! I get what he is trying to say at the very end, where he says: “It’s very satisfying to use old VCRs.” I can’t explain what he feels, but I can somehow relate to him, because I used to abuse the heck out of music cassette decks, and VCRs, way back in the day, when I used to record stuff from radio and TV. Hell yea it’s satisfying!!!!

Thanks. I'll try this at my mother's house. She's in her 70s and wants to stick to this technology because she already knows how to use it.

Good to see someone young still using and liking physical media and not just streaming.

Yeah the vibe here is immaculate I got an n64/vcr crt setup in the garage and I been wanting to record gameplay to analog and I remember it worked exactly like this so that’s a bet

Great mullet hair, you must be a time traveler as well. I love my old Hitachi VCR, now to grab free tv w an amplified terrestrial antenna

I've actually got my VCR connected to the cable box via an RF cable, and there are no issues with it on my end. I've done this with various VCRs, including a Panasonic, JVC S-VHS, and Sony.

Very good brings back memories. VHS is inferior to modern recording methods. But, it is easy to do with no software involved. What I want to use my old VCR is to record stream by using a HDMI Splitter to HDMI convertor to RCA then to VCR . Many programs are copy protected but what I want is not. Just for fun to see if it will work.

I'm gonna do this with Captain Marvel so I can watch it with the 90s feel to it

If anyone's wondering whether there are VCRs with a digital tuner after watching this video, there are! One such model is the Panasonic DMR-EZ48V. They're not as common as your standard VCRs, but they do exist. Beware though, they'll probably run you a couple hundred dollars on eBay. I suggest looking out for em at your local flea market or thrift store.

Retrowave and The Regular Show. Awesome vid! I use my CRT for retro gaming but my vcr is hooked up to my 4k tv just fine.

I am now very interested to know how this could be one, if at all, on an HD TV with HDMI. If the RCA was converted to HDMI with a converter box, would the effect be the same? Also, does the time shifting feature still work on the VCR? One of the most useful features on some higher-end models was the ability to set recording times while out of the house, or even being able to record different channels in sequence through the built-in tuner.

i just got a hdmi to av adapter unpluged the hdmi cord going into my tv from the cable box, and plugged it into the adapter. Then got av cables and plugged them into the front of my vcr. (also plugged the micro usb cable into the adapter so i can power on) And i recorded a icarly marathon on vhs!

This is awesome! a CRT tv, rabbit ears antenna and a VCR. All you need is some tin foil on the antenna. ACTUALLY, I want to record a show from my digital OTA antenna and DVRs are stupid expensive so this is my alternative but I didn’t think about a VCR not recognizing the broadcast signal anymore. Well done, thanks!!

Company's start making blank VHS tapes again just like when they started vinal records again

I love your videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you are my favourite youtuber!

I love you for this. It worked! I stay away from flat screens for lengthy viewing-like an hour or more- because high blue light emissions cause retinal damage. You would be perfect for a part on 'stranger things' btw.

"Bro, record this episode today, I'll watch this later when I get home from work"

I use my vcr to record stuff off my roku. Quality is very good. Vcr's are still a very handy technology to use.

This is a really good video, very detailed and well delivered. I have an old combined vhs/dvd recorder which I used to convert some old VHS tapes, but it would be fun to be able to record from the TV to VHS again.

Man I remember using blank tapes to record a show or movie my parents wouldn’t let me stay up late to watch and hope that it actually recorded the next day. Then DVR came but went just as quickly when you have streaming services 24/7.

THANK YOU LIL HOMIE.

Hi Harrison Travis...This video is very helpful here in SA where we are now moving towards going digital. I kid you not. Would like to know if you have a dvd player as well as the set up you mentioned connected and how that's possible...

5:43 I know you are not going to need the right audio for the TV, but you can at lease record everything in stereo on tape if you connect the right audio to the VCR. Maybe someday you would want to watch the things that you have recorded in stereo on a different TV that would have a red RCA input.

I made a VHS tutorial a few months ago. UPDATE: I took it down due to confusion.

Great tutorial, man! You're really rockin' that 80's mullet (if I'm using the correct name of that hairstyle). May I ask how you got your hair like that? I'm thinking about doing the exact same sometime!

Can'tsay I learned anything new from this, but I love the way you explain things and your love for physical media, so sub.

I just did something similar to record my favorite 80's horror movies onto vhs in widescreen so that I can enjoy them on vhs format on my modern hd television.

American Analog died on June 12th, 2009, in case you wanted to know

I do the EXACT same thing with a DVD recorder (circa 2007 )which they don't make anymore- had to buy it used on eBay. If you're lucky, you can find one with a built in digital tuner, that WOULD let you program/schedule recordings to different channels. With these methods you can record up to 480p (which is not bad), and then use free windows compatible software (HandBrake is good one) to "rip"/convert the recording to MP4 format to play on an tablet or smart phone, if you are so inclined. BTW, I do have a VCR I bought for $5 at a thrift store, that I want to try this with just for S&G's.

i have a hdmi to rca it shows up on the tv going through the vcr but when i play the video i recorded its black

By the time digital came around TV's and VCR's used SCART. And I remember the days when a TV had an ariel out socket. You'd plug an ariel cable from the TV to the VCR Meaning you still used the TV remote to change channels etc. Iftact I don't think I knew VCR's haha built in tuner until this moment.

I had a small flat screen TV, do I still need that digital box? And would the vcr record off of that?

I've never seen a six head VCR. All the ones I've seen were two or four head. I found a four head one at a flea market and it is the one that I am hoping to get as long as it's the one that has the remote with it and allows for setting of the clock and such.

How does this handle 16:9 content? It just crops it at the sides?

the dtv (digital tv) box wont get the vcr confused, if the dtv box can connect to the vcr through the antenna cable, it should have an analog tv decoder that would show the dtv on either channel 3 or 4.

Wow IT works! You can hook it up even to Other systems like DVD.. Thanks sir

Thank you for your cool VHS video you are a cool guy spread the message about VHS

There is absolutely no difference between recording from digital TV and recording from cable. The one thing that sucks is the VCR can't change the channel. But aside from changing the channel, there is no reason you can't use the VCR.

Thx for making this! I wanted to know about this topic lol

Forget the stupid haircut comments, this was very well - explained, THANKS ( and a needed video, nobody on utube is doing it, and you deserve credit for how well and clearly you explained things. )

I don't have a crt TV. How can I connect my vcr to a flat screen TV ? Maybe I just need an adapter from evilbay. Suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks :-)

Thank you SO much for this video. I have an old (2006) Sony DVD/VCR combo unit, which plays pre-recorded VHS tapes fine, but I could not figure out, why it would not record VHS tapes. Now I understand. Your explanation is very clear ... maybe a bit repetitive, but that is OK, because this topic is a bit complicated, so it is good to re-state the information in a slightly different way. One factual point ... in the USA, the switch from analog to digital was made in 2009, not 2013 ... maybe you are referring to another country? Anyway, excellent explanation ... you should consider becoming a teacher, if you are not already.

I'm going to need to probably do this or similar being that my 24-yr. old Panasonic CRT is no longer working well. For the past several years, we've been using an analog-to-digital (called "digital stream") converter box ever since the signals coming through our antenna changed to digita). We don't have cable but rather use an antenna. Here's the current set up with the Panasonic: Antenna comes in to the digital stream box (antenna in jack). Then, the “antenna out” jack goes over to the VCR (“RF in”) jack. Then, from the VCR (“RF out” jack, it goes over to the Panasonic. Also coming out of the Digital Stream box are the 3 red-white-yellow cables. They go to the audio/video input (lower row) on the VCR. Red and white (audio out) then goes to my stereo receiver. With the above set-up, we've been able to record to our VCR. However (and here's why I'm confused), I have not been able to record into a VCR using a 6-yr. old Vizio (HDTV) that we have in another room. What happens is that when I turn on the VCR the picture simply freezes. Hard to explain but with the VCR on it simply won't access the program. I assume that the reason we CAN still record to VCR with the old Panasonic is because of the digital converter box - assuming it's behaving the same as the "set top box" you describe? Once we replace the CRT and get a new TV (in the next few days)..I'm assuming we'll no longer need the digital converter box (?) OR can that box essentially continue to serve as a set top box? What we'd like to do is to be able to continue to record to VCR in both rooms. The Vizio does NOT have any sort of extra box. It's simply the RF antenna coming in to the VCR and then out to the TV. I'm glad I came across your video. Any further advice please let me know. Thanks!

I want to Record a movie into a VHS,How i Hook uo my VCR into the TV at the same time i Hook up the DVD player?

exactly my situation down to the sh** antenna, great presentation, worked perfectly...thank you very much!

I don't have a VCR, but i have a 43 inch Hisense Roku TV television, i can't record it with analog signals, what can i do to fix this?

Theoretically, can you stream RU-vid to your TV (with a Roku or similar device) and record it onto a tape with this method?

I still love VCRs, glad I found this video, thus i shall save it for future use, you have gained a like and a subcribe 😊

All I did was hook up my cable box to my VCR so it plays through the VCR, then I just record...

Good job but I think you’re confusing “Antenna Out” with “RF Out” the first is a loop through like you explained but if it says RF it’s analog and so it would have worked in the vcr

Where is the first cable coming from, the wall antenna?

From the bottom of my vhs heart, thank you!

I like this very much. Very ingenious. I must try this out. Thank you very much.

Can I record from the TV whilst watching another channel like I used to with my old Panasonic VCR Recorder by setting it to record at a specific time, or can you only record a channel you are watching ?

Do you know how to connect TELECAPTION 4000 CLOSED CAPTION DECODER to a VCR? Thanks!

I still record Digital TV on VHS.

I was thinking you soldered in a digital tuner to the VCR main board or something, I already knew about a converter box. Nevertheless, I’m subscribing because you’ve inspired me to grow my hair like that, a choice I will surely regret after my senior photo next year but oh well

VHS vcr are still here use them and stores start selling VHS tapes again

Hello pal not sure if you are still active on RU-vid but I just picked up a VHS and was looking for cool things to do with them and stumbled across this awesome video

probably not the place to ask but ive got a few VCRs i use for digitizing tapes. one of them i was recording on as an experiment but it stops recording after 20 seconds, every time. what is the issue? tape records fine on my other vcr

Need help!!!!! How can I record with my vhs player from my smart flat screen tv

Great video! I should get you to help me set my VHS :D

What would happen if you record off the air without the digital tune to analog out then connect that VCR to a digital TV... would you get the channels that that 1 channel has the frequency band in analog with others in binary

Thanks man I have one VHS but forgot how to record digital tv lmao 😆

I'm still recording to vhs tape. ❤❤😊😊😊

Trying to understand what equipment to use. I turned on closed captions and the box on top is called a set up box, speta box, set-top box, centa box, then set of books. Oh then deceptive books. Honest to god, what is that box on top of the VCR?

This is a great video. Thanks!

Excellent video, dude. Does this not work via scart to scart on the set top box TO the VCR? As I have seen, some set top boxes, maybe newer ones, don't seem to have all the AV in/out points? Maybe it's me, but wondered if the scarts double for the AV cables?

This was great ! One question- How do I record videos on my laptop/imac on to a VHS tape?

THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT FINALLY WORKED, I KEPT ON HETTING THE INPUTS WRONG

I have a problem with my vcr i have two scart inputs in the back and audio output and input and when I connect all this I have an image but I have no sound what to do?

Yeah like one of those few features that can no longer be used is the tuner thats in the VCR itself

I think Walmart in America still sells antenna cables, also called coaxial cables. Of course I could be wrong.

Is there a way to record television shows onto a VHS tape, without having to have an actual antenna? For example, if I were to purchase "Free Clear TV" a simple coaxial stub screw in, do you think that would be enough of a connection to record a show onto a VHS tape?

AWESOME

If i have a vcr with a Antenna in input and a analogue tv with a Antenna input can I take a coax cable and connect it to the vcr antenna port and then to the tv antenna port an watch cable that way? I've asked this question on another channel an he said yes. But I'm on my way to get a vcr and I need to know

Hi. I want to print out the RU-vid video I want on my CRT TV (LG Platon) and bring it to my computer. It keeps failing I called the service center and they said they didn't know it because it's too old. I looked up RU-vid videos, but I couldn't solve the problem I'd like to ask for advice I managed to play the video playing on my iPad on my CRT TV using the hdmi to rca converter... ‼The problem is to import the video played on ️ TV into the computer…‼️ I connected one side of the rca cable to the TV input terminal and the other side to the video recorder output. I connected one side of the dongchuck cable to the antenna IN on the back of the TV, and the other side to the video recorder's TV connection And I connected another dongchuck cable to the video player's "antenna wire connection" and the other to the antenna outlet on the wall of the house Finally, tune the video recorder to 3 times and put in the blank tape When I pressed the recording button, the phrase "Check the antenna input signal + make sure the channel is well tuned" keeps popping up, but it doesn't record (ㅜ)) If there is any other way, I would appreciate it if you could let me know! It's so hard to move the video from TV to PC…ㅠ.ㅠ………… Please give me your opinion.. Thank you for reading the long comment

The strange thing is no matter how I set it up it wont record the video! It will record audio with a blue screen. Do they scramble broadcast stations or stations with a dash in them now?

this guys amazing

I feel like I'm back in the 90s this is how we recorded our shows

I just loved your video, great ! Thx!

I figured out how to do this recently thanks in part to an antenna installer that I had put an antenna in my attic recently. I had been using crappy indoor antennas for about a year after ending my satellite subsctiption and could not figure out any way to record onto my VCR with them. Well when I decided to upgrade to a nicer outdoor/attic antenna I decided to ask the installer if there was a way I could still record onto my VCR with the antenna and he told me all I needed was a digital converter box. I got one and am able to record again using this set-up. I don't do it a lot but I do like having the option to do so and I missed it. I am worried about the new 3.0 digital OTA TV signal coming in the next few years that once it is in place I once again won't be able to use my VCR to record but I will do it as long as I can.

Thank you for making this easier for me!

Can you use an old model Roku as the digital source instead of an antenna?