What got you into DVD/VCD creating?

[ozymango]

This is one of those "obvious" questions that I searched the forums for, just 'cause I'm curious, but couldn't find anything so here's hoping I'm both in the right forum and not asking the same old thing ... and with that caveat ...

What got you involved in DVD creating/production/whatever in the first place? Also VCD if that's your thing, or was your thing.

Why I ask -- I got into VCD creation because I found an old Intel "video conference" PCI card that was in box of old computer stuff to be discarded, and at the time (2000) I thought it might be fun to see if there was anything I could do with it besides videoconference.

I'm a big video fan from way back, had both VHS and Beta decks (still do!), and had grown up making 8mm movies with friends. When video tape for home use and especially the first generation video cameras and "portable" tape decks became available, this was what dreams were made of. Synchronized sound! Play back on your own TV! Woo hoo!!!

Of course we couldn't afford any of this stuff back then but we could borrow it from "richer" friends (or, more accurately, their parents) or even rent it if we combined money ... but I digress.

Anyway, so I get this Intel video card and turns out it can do something called "video capture" and I'm wondering, Would it be possible to record a TV show to my computer? Or maybe even our old home movies, which I'd archived to tape several years before (while working as a telecine operator).

By now I was into computers as much as I was into video, and I started searching the web for anything and everything about the subject, and that led me right to -- www.vcdhelp.com! At least I think that was the URL back then, apologies if I got it wrong.

So I learned how to make VCDs, and that was a revelation ... then DVDs became affordable and that was a revelation ... I'm still learning lots every day but I *love* this stuff!

What I do mostly myself is transfer old home movies and video to DVD, as well as make "slide show" DVDs for friends of slides, movies, photos, stuff from our pasts (I love to travel and love making travelogues of trips). And I've got a few treasured VHS and Beta tapes of various recordings of material not currently available for sale or rental in any commercial format that I've transferred to DVD for archival purposes. If that made sense. 8)

But mostly it's all fun -- I used to edit video tape, and I just get a kick out of videotaping whatever (borrowing a friend's DV camcorder, as those darn things are *still* too expensive for me!), transferring to computer, editing, making titles, inserting background music, and all that stuff.

Anybody else wanna share their own story?

[Bodyslide]

Converting Home Videos to DVD.

[reboot]

Downloaded pirated illegal banned warez moviez!


Oh, and dvd backups, and home movies, and VHS backups.


And for my own curiosity, as a "new" technology for home computing.

Quote from a movie, "Need Input"...

[pchan]

Have a bunch of video8 tapes that I need to extend the shelf life for another 15 years before my Sony Video8 cam turn to dust.

[NamPla]

Backing up old rare VHS movies to DVD - movies that have a remote chance of ever making it to DVD (let alone VHS!), although I notice one or two here & there getting released these days...

[daamon]

I bought a PC off of a friend, and a DV cam came with it for 400 quid (English pounds). I used the cam for holidays etc. and figured it must be possible to get them onto disc somehow.

I stumbled across this place and the rest is history...

[Sabro]

Investment Protection...


Sabro

[vitualis]

Back in my VCD authoring days, I got interested in trying to back up home videos onto VCD.

Later with VCDImager, photo slide shows as well as DVD backups.

Regards.

[AlecWest]

When I first got into VCDs, I wanted a non-VCR method to archive certain programs on TV that generally don't make it to home video ... news specials, significant speeches on CSPAN, history-related programming, and old-time TV shows. And though I didn't start doing it until I began authoring DVDs, I eventually wanted to back up all my old VHS movies ... some recorded off TV, some bought in stores ... to a digital medium. That's pretty much it.

I don't own or buy very many movies. I like to watch movies but there aren't all that many I'd enjoy watching over and over again. This is probably naughty (grin), but, after I back up a VHS tape I own, I donate the tape to my local library.

[sanjayk]

* Backing up old VHS movies
* Converting home made movies to CDs
* Converting & backing up downloaded movies to CDs
* Learning new tips & tricks

[freestyler]

I do this to get chicks.

Really

[guns1inger]

Man, the women really go for a good menu design.