VHS to DVD

[cs]

I've been going through all of my VHS tapes and plan to get rid of all them and maybe even the VCR.

To do this I need to at a min. convert all of my old VHS home movies to DVD and maybe my old VHS movies. This translates to a stack of VHS tapes and more than likely by the time I pay somebody to do the dirty deed I will have spent way more than the price of the software and hardware to do it myself.

So suggestions for software/hardware and please no "Well if you had a Mac..." because I don't have a Mac and I'm not getting one. I need somethihg that works with my current configuration.

Here is one I've looked at.

Studio MovieBox USB (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/uk/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/Studio+MovieBox+USB+version+9.htm)

They have it at BestBuy for right at $100.

Chad

link to MovieBox at BestBuy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8040586&st=moviebox&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1157068283539)

[Norman Bernstein]

For not much more, you can buy a separate DVD recorder.... and not have to tie up your computer to make the transfers. That way, you end up with something you can use for more thaqn just recording video.

My wife does this all the time, as part of her job... they use Panasonic DVD recorders... I think you can get one for $179 or less.

[capt jake]

For not much more, you can buy a separate DVD recorder.... and not have to tie up your computer to make the transfers. That way, you end up with something you can use for more thaqn just recording video.

My wife does this all the time, as part of her job... they use Panasonic DVD recorders... I think you can get one for $179 or less.

I recently bought one of those with th same intentions. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. ;) I also bought a USB turntable to convert my old LP's into MP3's.

[cs]

I thought about that, but I like the flexibility of having the software. You can manipulate the video and probably do some cool stuff that way. It also will let me go directly from my 8mm camcorder (bought way before it was capable of connecting to TV) to the laptop.

The way I understand it is that the DVD recorders just give you VHS to DVD and I really don't need another DVD player nor a VCR.

But I'm open to suggestions.

Chad

[Norman Bernstein]

I thought about that, but I like the flexibility of having the software. You can manipulate the video and probably do some cool stuff that way.

Once you've converted to DVD, you can still do that... there are tons of video editing programs that permit this.


It also will let me go directly from my 8mm camcorder (bought way before it was capable of connecting to TV) to the laptop.

A digital connection? Your 8mm has a Firewire output? You could add a firewire port to your PC for a lot less than $100.


The way I understand it is that the DVD recorders just give you VHS to DVD and I really don't need another DVD player nor a VCR.

True, but it could be pretty tedious, transferring to DVD via your PC.... and it's probably a CPU bandwidth hog, so you might not be able to be doing anything else on the PC while you're transferring.... it could hiccup and case problems with the DVD.

[Popeye]

'buffer' it thru a dv camcorder , av cable to vcr and firewire to computer and bob's your uncle

might need a'macrovision' scrubber for commercial vhs tapes

[cs]

I don't believe my 8mm has anytype of digital connections. We bought it back in the early 90's probably around 92.

I'm still thinking the hardware/software route. I would like to be able to get it on my computer to play around with prior to burning a CD. From what little I read about the software you have some options for creating chapters on your DVD.

Chad

BTW the USB hub that comes with the software package will allow any type of connection to it, thus my 8mm will connect to it and transfer straight to the computer.

Not to worried about the computer being tied up during this process, we are not computer poor at the house and I can always go to another for play if need be, and besides what are computers, but just a tool to do things for us and this IMHO is a good use for a computer. If you can convince me otherwise I will listen.

[Popeye]

windows movie maker (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx)

pvr ?

[cs]

If you have an analog video camera or a VCR, you will need to have an analog video capture card.

This is what I don't have, but comes with the kit above and connected via usb or firewire.

Chad

[Popeye]

rendering video line by line is going to be .. s l o w

it's why digital was invented

[Iceboy]

Chad, I just bought a PYRO A/V Link http://www.adstech.com/products/API-557-EFS/intro/api557_intro.asp?pid=API-557-EFS
Comes with software (Adobe Premier) No muss No fuss. $149.00
Jim....

[Norman Bernstein]

I'm still thinking the hardware/software route. I would like to be able to get it on my computer to play around with prior to burning a CD. From what little I read about the software you have some options for creating chapters on your DVD.

Chad, I was the guy who was commissioned to create a streaming video capability for the local community TV station (which is managed by my wife). We ended up buying, and eventually discarding, a bunch of different video capture accessories for the PC... because they all had various warts and glitches associated with them. Video capture/conversion isn't a simple task, and after we went through a lengthy period of trying to get these things to work, we simply gave up and bought the first DVR recorder.... which made capture especially easy.

It could be that more contemporary devices, like the one you're considering, are better than they were, just a few years ago.... but maybe not. The advantage of using a genuine DVR is that they're specifically designed to do what it is you're contemplating, namely taking an NTSC video signal and putting it on a recordable DVD.

As far as video editing is concerned: if you've never done any, you might want to fool with some of the free software video editors first. It's an arduous and lengthy task, especially when, after the edits, you need to 'render' the results into a final file. At the community TV studio, they use some very high powered MAC's for the purpose, and they use Final Cut Pro, which is a very popular (and expensive) video editing suite.... and even then, with their really good equipment, rendering a final edited piece requires a fairly long time. If your desire to edit is just curiosity, at the moment, you might end up being simply too annoyed by the slowness of the process.... especially on a PC, as opposed to a Mac.

If editing is still in your wish list, you can take a DVD recorded on a DVR and import it into a software editor... so your purchase of the hardware isn't a gating item.

[George Roberts]

cs ---

PC TV tuners cost about $60/ tuner. Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950 is often $60 and is a HARDWARE USB tuner so you can record while using the computer. Records from VHS to DVD quality at about 3GB/hr.

I find recording to hard drives and saving the drive is cheaper than making DVDs.

[Norman Bernstein]

Chad, I had dinner with my wife just now, and, she being the TV/DVD expert, tells me that you definately should get a DVD recorder, instead of screwing around with a capture device... and all it's headaches. How does $99 sound?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8202526&type=product&id=1165610072633

You can still edit video... you just grab it off the DVD into your computer.

[cs]

Thanks Norm. I will look more closely at those next time I go to best buy. That may be the best thing, that is why I come here, to get good advice.

Chad