VHS enthusiats

[BoringSupreez]

I mostly watch horror films in VHS, the poor video quality sometimes enhances the atmosphere.

Same goes for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The low quality of the tape only adds to the low-budget feel of the movie.

[Ziggy]

Every time I go into Good Will there's a ton of VCRs for only a few bucks each. The only thing I'd worry about is how the previous owner(s) treated them. Luckily, you can still buy head cleaners in Radio Shack. I saw them in there not to long ago. Hmm, maybe I should pick up a few while they're still easily available. I don't plan to get rid of my VHS tapes until they're not watchable anymore, and even then it will be hard to throw them away.


Maybe about 5 years back, I was actually using my VCR on my main setup as a poor man's DVR. I bought one blank tape from Wal Mart and just kept recording over it. There were a bunch of shows I wanted to watch during the prime time hours, but I was working nights then. So I just set my VCR to record them. It was pretty funny, now that I think about it, recording widescreen with a VCR which would make it letterboxed, then playing it on my HDTV and using the zoom to make it fit the screen while making the quality even worse than it already was. LOL.

[Hobie-wan]

VHS certainly had its use. You could tape a show, make it portable, then reuse the tape. I've never used one of the DVD recorders to timeshift anything as I stopped watching TV. Did they ever support DVD-RWs?

I've been contemplating offloading all of my tapes and my DVD/VCR combo which is complete with box, instructions, and everything. A lot of the tapes I still have at this point are things taped off the TV, though interesting things, not just super common stuff like Simpsons episodes or something. If anyone of you guys might be interested in some sort of cheapo trade, PM me and I'll see about making a list.

[Ziggy]

That reminds me, I have a few things on VHS tapes that I've been meaning to transfer to digital. I should probably due that before the tapes age.

[CRTGAMER]

I mentioned this before, is there another VHS Thread somewhere?

VHS still has a use over DVD and DV Recorders
When my Mother in Law had to spend a few days in the hospital, she got bored stuck in the bed with nothing to do. Especially after visiting hours all alone. A language barrier watching the Hospital TV and missing her favorite shows. I setup a VHS player in the hospital room and recorded her favorite shows off the foreign language channel with another VCR back at the house. Time shifted a tape in EP six hour mode, cycling the two tapes. On the small hospital TV, it actually looked okay. No fear of the VCR getting ripped off, who would want to steal it.

[BRIK]

I have two VCR's. One that was bought brand new about 10 years ago and another one that is about 20 years old in which I bought for $10 from a garage sale.
Both aren't set up, and the tapes haven't been touched in years.

[flojocabron]

I still have about 2 or 3 boxes of tapes somewhere in my backroom. I really want to use it, but I simply have no time anymore, I recently got a bunch of DVDs and I've been watching those.

I also have a lot of anime on tape too! Its a nostalgia trip when it comes to anime on VHS! I remember, as a kid going to the video store wanting to rent some VHS and wanting to see some of the awesome anime but getting out voted by my brother and dad. Do you also remember the DUB/SUB geekwars?

also now there is no space for a vhs player in my room anymore with all the game consoles taking up its space!

P.S. One way to make your VCR last longer is to get a separate Cassete rewinder! It will save the vcr in the long run!

[BurningDoom]

I'm not an enthusiast. But I don't turn my nose up at them, either. I know a lot of people that actually have a problem with VHS. I don't understand it. I don't see a huge picture quality difference between DVD and VHS (but then I'm still using an old box-style TV). And like 90% of the time, I could care less about the extras on a DVD. So if I find a VHS for like $3 or cheaper that I like, I'll still pick it up. And I'm sure as hell not gonna throw out my entire VHS collection I acquired growing up just because I have a DVD player (like some people do, which I just don't get).

[AppleQueso]

I'm not an enthusiast. But I don't turn my nose up at them, either. I know a lot of people that actually have a problem with VHS. I don't understand it. I don't see a huge picture quality difference between DVD and VHS (but then I'm still using an old box-style TV). And like 90% of the time, I could care less about the extras on a DVD. So if I find a VHS for like $3 or cheaper that I like, I'll still pick it up. And I'm sure as hell not gonna throw out my entire VHS collection I acquired growing up just because I have a DVD player (like some people do, which I just don't get).

With an RF connection, the difference between DVD and VHS is neglible (assuming the VHS tape is in good condition and all that of course). With composite and even component, there's a definite improvement.

Idk why someone would throw out their whole vhs collection right away, but i've known plenty of people who'd slowly replace their VHS copies with DVD.

The problems people have with VHS seem pretty cut and dry I think, I don't know why its hard to understand. They wear out too easily, rewinding sucks, and the video quality is inferior compared to Laserdisc and DVD.

[RCBH928]

I mostly watch horror films in VHS, the poor video quality sometimes enhances the atmosphere.

Same goes for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The low quality of the tape only adds to the low-budget feel of the movie.

This is soooo true, i think it should be a style to create bad picture for a horror film

but u still cant get same effect off bootlegged dvds hahaha
I still think watching a Horror on VHS could give u that extra kick, even if quality
is superb, there is something about analogue. Digital is to advanced to be scary.


I dunno, I feel VHS is being really degraded by the people. We watched VHS for all of our lives, and I never complained or heard any one complain except when DVDs came out(the bootlegged VHS tapes didn't help either). Sure DVD is better, but VHS picture quality wasnt all that bad.

I have a wrestling VHS from '98 and it looks pretty awesome.


As for vhs tape dying...I know they are not build to last, BUT I have a VHS tape that was lost for liek 13 years. When I mean lost I mean i dunno how it ended up in my friend's house, what kind of dust, humidity, closet, or sun has it been through. When I played it in the VHS player. IT WORKED!
the Picture quality SUCKED, but this is how it was when I got it hahahaha

2 questions

1)Can a bad tape ruin a VCR?

2)I am using composite cables for my VCR now, is it a good idea to use an RF cable? just for old time sake!