VHS to DVD

[princeriaz]

Hi Peeps,

Can somone tell me what hardware/software I need to lets say rip a film on VHS so I can convert and burn on DVD?

Mainly - I would like to to know what type of card and software involved.

Thanks

Riaz

[DVWannaB]

Hi Peeps,

Can somone tell me what hardware/software I need to lets say rip a film on VHS so I can convert and burn on DVD?

Mainly - I would like to to know what type of card and software involved.

Thanks

Riaz

Wow.... very open ended question. I would recommend that you do some research by reading some of the posts in the capture forum of this site, read some of the tutorials, read some of the capture cards posts and then decide what best fits your needs and price range. You can spend as low as $50 up to $5000 to find solutions.

In a nut shell though, there is a quick way and a long way to achieve this. The quickest way is probably buying a DVD recorder (like the Panasonic E80), connect VCR and 2 hours later you are watching a a VCR to DVD on your set-top player.

The long way and maybe most effective, depending on the condition of your VHS tapes, and also possibly least expensive way is get a PCI capture card (like the Hauppaugge WinTV $50) for your computer. Connect your VCR and capture with Virtualdub (free) & HuffyUV avi codec. These produce very large files (need large hard drive), but are easier to edit. IN Virtualdub, you can use a million and one filters to get rid of noise, sharpen picture, add or take away color, etc etc. Then you will need a MPEG encoder (like TMPGEnc $60) to convert your virtualdub avi filtered files to DVD (MPEG2) files.

Good luck.

[MrSpeed]

The stand alone recorder is the easiest fastest way to go, and it quickly becoming on of the cheapest. There are some bargains if you shop around.

Because I wanted a little more control and wanted to do some editing I use the pass-thru feature of my mini-dv camcorder to capture just about any source as an AVI. I then use either Screenblast ($99) to edit or when I only need basid trims I use moviefactory 3 ($75 or so...)

If I did not already have the camera I would have gone the stand alone route to capture and then rip the DVD to get it onto the computer.

[Stormz]

Initially I went the dvd-recorder route, but after 6 months of hell with a Philips dvd-recorder (dvd-r890), I got my money refunded the 3rd time it went back in for repair. dvd-recorders can be good, and I prefer dvd+, but don`t ever buy a philips, or a re-badged philips.

As for capturing via pc... you have 2 options:

1) get an analogue capture card like a pinnacle, matrox etc etc, but do your homework on which is the best price/performance for you.

2) If you have a dv-cam which has some analogue inputs and a pass-through feature (like some of the JVC range), you can plug your vhs or hi-8 or whatever into that, and `pass-through` to a firewire card on your pc, where some capturing software (like Ulead`s or Sonic`s etc) will capture it. Then you can burn it to dvd using whatever software, ot TMPGenc dvd author. I have a couple of issues with capturing via pass-through which I posted earlier and hopefully will get some feedback.

2a) Of course, if you have a dv-cam, you can just record onto it instead of pass-through, and then capture direct from the dv tape.... but that would take twice as long.

[Dizec]

I'm currently trying to do the same thing, converting vhs to dvd through my pc, but I'm experiencing some problems with capturing color and quite frankly, the quality sucks.

How do I render up the quality?

what to do, what to do??

I'm using Asus Radeon 9600XT as the capture card.

most kind.

Dizec.

[bbllc]

I purchased a Sony RDR-GX7, and have been using that to convert all of my VHS tapes and TIVO recordings to DVD. After burning on the recorder I then use my PC to edit the movies and shows. I use DVD Decryptor, Womble MPEG-VCR and Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2.

Using the following guide has made the process very easy: http://www.dvdguideuk.dsl.pipex.com/dvdguide/editing1/editing1.htm

I know that a lot of the user's on this site prefer to capture directly into the PC, I have found this to be the easiest way for me. I hope that this helps.

[AV Junkie]

If you are excelent following instructions, the various capture, convert, combine and burn programs you must use to get VHS to DVD are for you...but...if not get the Plextor Convetx and just use the InterVideo Win DVD Creator 2 packaged with it and Capture and Burn (complete with Menus, Chapters, etc.) without a stack of notes for each of the above mentioned individual programs.

I'm stupid when it comes to trying to assemble all the necessary components to build a DVD with them. Tried, Twice.

If money is not an object, the Canopus sounds like a winner. I got the Convertx from Tiger Direct.com and if it didn't come through with the goods, The Canopus was the next step.

The Convertx is USB2 with Composite RCA L/R and Video as well as S-Video inputs.

So far, the DVDs created have been every bit as good as the VCR tapes.

The InterVideo Win DVD Creator 2 allows adjustment of Color, Hue, Contrast, Brightness etc. and a feature I like... Dolby Digital output, even for VCR tapes...cool...

Good luck...as for me...I already have it.

[alchemistresearch]

I have been using a Pinnacle MovieBox DV with Studio 9 and it was rubbish - slow with limited support and 'adequate' video.

I have since gone with DrDivX with far superior results. I am just waiting delivery of a Plextor capture device (DivX approved capture device) to complete things.