Old Family movies (VHS) to DVD (help a frustrated newbie before wife kills)

[orion steel]

In the past this site helped me out – ½ hour research and I found a DVD player that I could hack to play movies from Europe (R2) and here (R1). Wife much impressed.
Hope I can get help again (please).

I simply want to burn some VHS tapes onto DVD, but after spending $200 on PC cards & dvd burner and 3.5 weekends, downloading all kinds of software I still have nothing that works – and wife is pissed “we will lose family movies of kids”

I hate people who post without reading site, and I really have tried to learn how to do this.
But by now I am totally confused.

Any suggestions on how to go VHS -> DVD would be appreciated. Links to step-by-step would help.

Should I just buy a stand-alone DVD recorder and forget the PC?

All I want is to “rescue” old VHS tapes, and be able to record new home videos from camcorder to DVD (preferably with chapters, but by now I don’t really care anymore)
HELP PLEASE!


Here is the background (sorry it’s long, but I wanted people to know what I have tried):

Our VCR player have died, and I discover buying a new one is not really possible (can only get DVD-VHS combos). Since old tapes dying anyway, and VHS standard disappearing too, had brilliant idea to record old family VHS movies onto DVD. I also needed new way to record new family movies from Camcorder.

After a bit of research it seemed that using PC would be cheaper and give more flexibility, allow recording from Camcorder via I-link (another concern now VHS dead), and better quality than a standalone DVD recorder (at the cost of more processing time rather than real time), and editing of home movies with DVD chapters/scenes.

Perhaps with a bit more research I would have known enough to not even try and just buy a standalone DVD recorder at Best Buy…

I purchased a NEC DVD burner – a bit pricier but it came with software (Nero Express 6, Nero Vision Express 3 SE– seems like it is cripple ware)
Purchased Firewire PCI card – comp too old to have build in (1.2 MHz Amd, 80 GB HD)
Based on suggestions on-line, thought to use camcorder to digitise video and save on capture card.

I quite easily managed to capture DV files (avi) with Windows movie maker, and with Nero, even live footage. I borrowed friend’s VCR and discovered I could not pass it through Camcorder (when I connect I-link the Sony DCR-TRV110 NTSC detects it and stops feed). Web talks about pass-through mode, but I found no way to enable it (not copy protection - that gives a screen message). Finally I just recorded from VHS in VCR onto Digital camcorder tape (1h) then from camcorder vie ilink to pc (as DV1 avi files). Occasionally I would skip frames, which my research indicated was bad for the sound. When it happened I would stop record, rewind a bit, and start a new files (assuming I could fix this in editing step). Another hour later I had 16 or so files recorded as DV using Nero.

When trying to burn I discover it wont fit, and a bit of google research determine I need mpeg2 (some people also seems to find Nero’s mpeg2 flawed), which is extra for nero. Since I bought a pricier drive to get software included, I feel ripped off!

I read a bunch of stuff by Doom9 – a bit above me, but tried some of the stuff. Downloaded VitualVideo, Nero Mega Plugin Pack, huffy, QuEnc, and megabytes of other stuff for hours through my dail-up – that’s how desperate I am.

I still am getting nothing (nothing seems to recognise the mpeg2 codexes I dowmloaded).
I can’t seem to edit that overlaps in my files
Nero burner recognises none of the files I do have (avi, sample mpeg2)

I am already way over my budget, but if I could find a decent software suite with a decent mpeg2 encoder I would probably buy it anyway – or perhaps I should just try to hand the hardware back for a refund and buy a standalone DVD recorder for the masses.

I miss my old “hit record” VCR. At least I understood it (even new how to set the clock and do timed recordings – now I can’t record anything. Lousy modern technology!

In advance, thanks for advice.

OS

[yoda313]

or perhaps I should just try to hand the hardware back for a refund and buy a standalone DVD recorder for the masses.

If you want it the easiest way than yes thats probably the best route to go. Or sell it on an aution site if you can't return it.

But there shouldn't be any reason you can't simply record to your computer through the software that came with your capture card. Assuming you got all the cables connected properly and the software installed you should be all set to go.

Perhaps giving us a list of the software you are using would help us guide you to where you need to go.

But in the end you may like the simplicity of a settop dvd recorder. Many come in around a $100 USD these days for the cheapo models. Though for backing up your hollywood movies to dvd you'd need a macrovision blocker for those.

[ZippyP.]

Though for backing up your hollywood movies to dvd you'd need a macrovision blocker for those.

Or get a model that can be modified to ignore it, like a Lite-on.

[orion steel]

Hi Yoda, hope you are a Master of the DVD (sorry couldn't resist)

I don't have a capture card - based on web advice I thought I could use my camcorder and firewirecard (i-link). Works ok as long as I record from VCR to camcorder digital tape first (Sony TRV110 does not seem to have pass through mode). A pain (double the work) but once I have old family movies on DVD I plan on recording directly from camcorder digital tapes to DVD, so it's a short term problem.

Don't plan on copying old movies so macrovision is a non-issue.

NEC DVD burner in PC, which I bought because it came with Nero Express 6 and NeroVision 3 SE (i.e. the software I thought I needed)
Windows XP.

Umpteen downloads to try and get mpeg2 files nd burn them to dvd (VirtualDub 1.6.11, QuEnc, nero mega pluin pack (appeared to do nothing)

Anyway, your suggestion is to go for a settop DVD recorder box?
I would like to do chapter jumps and add dates (apparently camcorder dates do not go across ilink).
I heard on-line that the mpeg2 / video quality on the settop dvd recorders sucked for realtime standard video signal.

Are there any simple software to go from Camcorder DV -> PC -> Mpeg on DVD?

OS

[thecoalman]

Web talks about pass-through mode, but I found no way to enable it (not copy protection - that gives a screen message).

Not all cams support pass-thru.

Finally I just recorded from VHS in VCR onto Digital camcorder tape (1h) then from camcorder vie ilink to pc (as DV1 avi files).

Although a slow method if you only have a few hours worth of video this is probably your best bet if you don't want to invest more money. Going directly thru the cam to HDD is preferable because it will save a lot of wear and tear on your cam plus the time factor but in the ned you'll have the same result.

Occasionally I would skip frames, which my research indicated was bad for the sound.

I'd try and fix this first, if you're skipping frames this will only exacerbate problems down the line. Skipped or dropped frames is usually the result of the HDD not keeping up with data that it need to write. the first thing to do is defrag your drive... if that doesn't help turn off anything yo have running in the background such as anti-virus, firewall, and any other background programs... probably a good idea to not be connected to the internet when you do this.

Most likely that will fix your dropped frames problem.

[SingSing]

I simply want to burn some VHS tapes onto DVD, but after spending $200 on PC cards & dvd burner and 3.5 weekends, downloading all kinds of software I still have nothing that works – and wife is pissed “we will lose family movies of kids”

Should I just buy a stand-alone DVD recorder and forget the PC?

YES.

DVD recorder cost $99.00 ( 1/2 what you paid ), and simple enough that your wife can transfer the miniDV, 8mm, and VHS herself.

We love to save your marriage, and your life.

[redwudz]

Let's try this an easy way first, then you can refine it.

I'm assuming you have the DV on the computer hard drive.

I would have used DV Type 2. You can convert it with this: Canopus DV File Converter. If you do some more transfers in the future, use WinDV for the transfer and Type 2 DV.

Download the freeware version of DivxToDVD. Drop enough of your files in there to fill a DVD, figure one hour of video. Let the program encode it, then burn that to a DVD.

That will at least give you something you can show progress with.

***

Now, try a little more complicated method:

Next step, learn to edit. I use VirtualDub Mod along with the Panasonic DV codec added. VDM is fairly easy to learn, especially the editing part. Since you are taking the video from VHS tapes of unknown quality, you might try some filtering or even color correction if needed.

Then you can save your edited and filtered version and plug that into DivxToDVD.

***

So far, all the programs I mentioned are freeware. A little more complicated, but a better method:

Do the editing and filtering as above. Use a standalone MPEG-2 encoder, such as TMPGEnc. After encoding, use a authoring program like TMPGEnc DVD Author to create menus, author and burn to DVD. There are also freeware programs to do these steps, but not as easily.

There's a lot more to learn, but take it slow. If you follow my first suggestions, you should end up with a working DVD in a few hours. Just build on that until you find the right system that works for you. I think you jumped into the deep end a little too early.

If you build on the success's, you won't get so frustrated. And I know that feeling.

[orion steel]

Thanks to all of you for your replies:

thecoalman said: "Going directly thru the cam to HDD is preferable because it will save a lot of wear and tear on your cam plus the time factor but in the ned you'll have the same result."

I do worry about that – I am hoping some upgrade to camera will let me pass-through (emailed Sony). If not, once I transfer home video VHS I will be transferring off Camcorder anyway. I might get a capture card that takes AV (anybody have suggestions?).
Re: skips, I tried turning off “everything”, which helped, but still got the odd skip – usually as new file started. Thinking of defragging and/or switching from FAT to that other file system one that allows bigger files (anyone know how to do this without reformat?). Is a 1.2GHz AMD with 80G HD too whimpy? (the nero capture insists on showing image - hoped to turn off to save CPU for important stuff like not skipping)
What should you do if you have skips, stop file and start a new one where you left off

SingSing supported my though I should just buy a settop DVD recorder. (and said: We love to save your marriage, and your life.) Thanks, it is much appreciated
If I give up on the PC/DVD option and get a DVD recorder, can I make chapters and add dates
(this was the reason for the PC option – although I am doubting it was a valid trade-off by now). Oh, I was talking Canadian $, I have not quite spent double of a recorder yet (~130), but even so, I wish I had asked you which way to go before spending

Redwudz: You rock! A list of step by step directions with suggestion for freeware to use.
This is just what I need. Now I can see how I like PC/DVD recording when (presumably) it works, without spending more $ up front. Once I know if I want to do it PC or Settop I know where to spend more $ (when budget allows).
Then you add details on next steps (and yes, some of the older footage might need a bit of filtering - old cranky analog camcoder - big as a phonebook and weighed as much, probably made in russia back in the betamax days).

Questions:
Given the name DivxToDVD it sounds like it is DivX not mpeg2. My DVD player is old and don’t do DivX. Is this a problems
I realise now DVDs need mpeg2, but it seems to take files as VOBs (or something like that – certainly Nero does not recognise my sample mpeg2). Once I have compressed files(s) as mpeg, how do I get them into the DVD style VOB (or whatever).

Redwudz said: “I think you jumped into the deep end a little too early”
Sure feels that way – didn’t mean to, and no idea how I could have made it easier on my self (except asking SingSing before I bought PC hardware :P but too late for that now)

Thanks to all of you for playing lifeguards and throwing me a lifesaver.

I only have time to play on the weekends, so it may take a while to try this, but I will get back and let you know how it turns out.

Orion

[guns1inger]

DivxtoDVD was just a catchy name. It has since been changed to ConvertXtoDVD, indicating more accurately that it can convert pretty much anything to DVD (and probably appeasing the Divx people at the same time).

[redwudz]

I would take it slow to start with. That why I recommend a successful DVD to put everything in perspective.

DivxToDVD will handle many different formats. That's one reason they renamed it ConvertXToDVD ( And probably because the Divx people threated to sue. )

A MPEG-2 file has to be 'authored' to make it into a DVD. Authoring creates the DVD file structure, the VOBs, IFOs, etc. 'What is' DVD will show you all that. Upper left. <<<<<<

A DVD recorder can make the same 'authored' structure as above by itself.

If you are using the FAT32 hard drive format, yes, change to NTFS. You can convert the partitions to NTFS, but backup important files first. I don't have a link readily available for this but one of the members should be able to help you if you want to do this.

If you plan to work with video, you will need a lot of hard drive space. If you only have one hard drive, pick up a second, larger drive for video. 250GB drives are relatively inexpensive. DV takes about 13GB and hour on your hard drive, along with editing, etc, triple that.

But don't get frustrated.

[PenguinVideo]

Orion Steel,

Two years ago I transferred 14 years of VHS, VHS-C, and Hi8 home movies from tapes to an external LaCie 1 TB drive. I bought a new Sony VCR and a Panasonic DVD Recorder for the task. For the VHS and VHS-C tapes, I plugged the Sony VCR into the analog inputs of the DVD recorder, and for the Hi8 plugged the camera directly into the DVD Recorder using an S-VHS connector and analog audio inputs. I used the highest quality (maximum 1 hour per DVD, 9.3 MBps variable bit-rate recording, Dolby Digital AC-3 audio), then used DVD Decrypter to grab the video files off the DVD's WITHOUT FILE SPLITTING (very important) and onto my PC. I then used MPEG Video Wizard to edit the video files into the individual birthday parties, grandparent visits, etc. that comprise my home movie collection.

The quality was excellent - as good as the poor quality of the tapes, that is, though Hi8 was pretty good for its time. The Panasonic has MPEG noise reduction, which helped, and so did using the highest quality (though it was probably not necessary for VHS and VHS-C). The only trick is you have to split the tapes up into 1 hour segments (takes a bit of planning), and of course unless you used a print-on date/time on your old camcorder or you said the date/time out loud, it's a bitch to try and figure out where you were and how old everyone was! But it's worth it in the end - it took me about 9 months of working on it off and on to get it all done.

[thecoalman]

I don't have a link readily available for this but one of the members should be able to help you if you want to do this.

Actually quite simple... Right click the drive in my computer and select format. Brings up a option for converting to NTFS. As said before backup any important files before you do thi though. As Microsoft states when you do this corrupting the drive although unlikely is possible.

BTW that's for XP, if you're running some other operating syatem I don't know if the procedure is the same.

[guns1inger]

If you only have one partition, then a complete reformat is out of the question unless you are happy to reinstall everything. Have a read of this first, especially the section on Convert.exe, before going down the drastic route. If you do convert, you will definately need to defrag afterwards, as it leaves the drive in a bit of a mess.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/convertfat.mspx

[BobK]

I second the suggestions to use a standalone. I used a capture card for over 2 years to convert about 400 hours of video tape. Then I got a standalone. The quality of the video from the standalone is much better than any of the capture cards I used.

I record everything to RW disks using the standalone. Then I bring the RW disk to the computer and use that to make chapters and menus, and burn a final disk. There are many programs you can use to do all that. I use TMPGEnc DVD Author Pro- the biggest advantage to Pro is that you can cut at the frame level.

[Bjs]

When it come's down to it , the amd 1.2 gigahertz cpu just wont cut mustard when it come's to mpeg2 capture ... it's not fast enough .

Though with the right card , you could capture into compressed avi then encode to dvd later ...

Asus or avermedia pci card would be your best bet for quality , and I have used both .

Asus picture quality isnt the best , but outrun's wintv 2000 and flyvideo 3000 ... helped along by it's own avi compression ... it's more in line with your cpu .

Avermedia dvd ezymaker gold has a superior picture quality , and not far behind the avertv usb2 but both require a faster system spec to get the maximum out of them .

Dont switch from fat32 to ntfs just because other's say so , it can cause more issue's with otherwise working software .

Read the fine print of all game's and software and you may see "designed on/for fat32 ... may / should function under ntfs ... if error , please consult help file" ... or something similar to that affect .

Capture device's :

Camcorder's and pass through ...

Sony removed this after threat's from other companies citing this vhs pass through as an easy way for movie's to be pirated .. so sony removed this from later model's .

Vcr's :

Sorry , they aint dead yet ... we still by vcr only unit's here .

Topset dvd recorder's :

Expensive , double handling ... but it dose mean your pc dosent have to run under capture stress ... and everybody can setup and use them in a matter of minute's .... saving you headache's later .

Dvd burner's :

These come in 4 state's , just like , no bag please , the old brown paper bag , new's paper , and present wrapping paper ...

Plain , nothing else
Plain , screw's and audio cable
Plain , software (cut down) , no screw's or audio cable
Full , the work's and nothing short , everything you need .

Most fall into the third listing , you actually need to ask the retailer first ... though this is the biggest problem facing the industry ... most retailer's only sell product's they have little or no understanding of ...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You'll need to research pci capture card's to find one suitable for your system spec's .

The asus will mostly be the closest and allow for other setting's to be adjusted for best capture result's and performance .

As for all other editing :

Virtualdub framserving to bbmpeg (convert's avi to mpeg2)
The gimp for menu's
Dvdauthorgui (for basic dvd authoring)
Pgcedit (for manipulation of dvd command's and more)
Dvdshrink (should authored dvd need a little taken off)
Besweet (to encode wav from virtualdub to ac3 for dvd)

Vobedit and ifoedit ... should you wish to remove section's of video .
Folder2iso (dvd folder to iso image)
Dvddecrypter (burn iso to dvd)
Imagetool's (burn dvd video_ts content to dvd , simple)

Ghostburn (free dvd burning app ... work's well)

Just look at the guide's I have come up with , and armed with the listed software and guide's , there should be nothing you , and time can not create on a dvd ...

[Gildas]

I second the suggestions to use a standalone. I used a capture card for over 2 years to convert about 400 hours of video tape. Then I got a standalone. The quality of the video from the standalone is much better than any of the capture cards I used.

I record everything to RW disks using the standalone. Then I bring the RW disk to the computer and use that to make chapters and menus, and burn a final disk. There are many programs you can use to do all that. I use TMPGEnc DVD Author Pro- the biggest advantage to Pro is that you can cut at the frame level.

Another vote here for the combination Standalone DVD Recorder, RW disc, RW disc in PC, DVD Decrypter to extract the whole video to PC, TMPGEnc DVD Author Pro with AC-3 Codec to create final DVD with menus and chapters.

My standalone DVD recorder is a cheap iLo DVDR04 that I bought at Wal-Mart. I wouldn't recommend it as a player (the picture quality is not terrific) but as a recorder it does exactly what I want it to do. I even found a link on this web site to install a hacked firmware on it and now it is region-free and Macrovision-free too.

After messing for several months with a video capture card in my PC and being frustrated with dropped frames, I have been very happy with my standalone DVD recorder.

It may not be the best way to do it but to me it surely is the simplest way.

[Peachhaze]

I second the suggestions to use a standalone. I used a capture card for over 2 years to convert about 400 hours of video tape. Then I got a standalone. The quality of the video from the standalone is much better than any of the capture cards I used.

Bob, which standalone do you use? Just trying to get a feel for which recorders have good quality.

[BobK]

[quote="Peachhaze"]

Bob, which standalone do you use? Just trying to get a feel for which recorders have good quality.

I have a Pioneer 420 and a Pioneer 220. Before settling on those I tried ilo, Liteon and Panasonic and a JVC. I liked both the JVC and Pioneer, but went with Pioneer mainly because of price and availability. You probably won't find a 220 or 420, but a friend just bought a Pioneer 521 from Walmart it's very similar.

[smearbrick1]

This probably isn't the best way to do what you want, but may well be the easiest that I've found.

Borrow or buy another VCR (preferably SVHS). Use an analog capture card (I use an ATI TV Wonder Pro) to capture your video from the VCR (borrowed or otherwise). I bypass all of the capturing to AVI/converting to MPEG2 and just capture to MPEG2. Some people will disagree with my decision here, but to each his (or her) own.

Finally, use TMPGENC DVD Author to create your DVD. You may want to re-encode your audio to something other than the MMC (ATI multimedia center) format of MP2 (I have to because my Pioneer DVD player freaks out with MP2 audio). I use Vegas DVD Architect to convert to AC3. Sorry, got off track... Create your DVD structure (video_ts, audio_ts). If the filesize is too large for single layer, run it through a transcoder (like DVDShrink).

Burn it!

[orion steel]

PenguinVideo: “it took me about 9 months of working on it off and on to get it all done.”
Yikes – but at the rate I am going so far it will take me an infinite amount of time
(but I hope to have progress this weekend with all the help all of you offered)

Thanks to theCoalman and Guns1inger for your advice on NTFS. I do use XP, and I long ago learned to format my drive in a 1/3 and 2/3 partition so I can reinstall Windows from scratch when needed <lol>.
BJs concern with FAT vs NTFS regarding other programs is well taken – but I have not yet had a problem (I thought my two partitions were NTFS, but discovered they were NTSF and FAT <?>)

Large thank and to BJs for his excellent list and evaluation of hard and software.
Think he is right my 1.2GHz cpu is a bit weak….been wanting an upgrade for years, but could never justify it. Perhaps one benefit of (possibly in error) having gone down the PC/DVD path rather than settop is that now I _have_ to upgrade PC.

BJs said: “Camcorder's and pass through ... sony removed this from later model's”
If this is a removal of earlier capability, does anyone know if there is hack / “upgrade”
I heard much of AV / pass though is crippled in PAL land due to some tax or another, but here in NTSC land where I live that should not apply (I hope).

PenguinVideo / Gilda’s / BobKs thoughts on VHS->settop DVD recorder -> PC for editing -> burn PC->DVD is intriguing.

On one level it seems like overkill needing both settop DVD recorder _and_ PC DVD burner.
However:
1) I already blew the monies on a PC DVD so I have it and could learn to edit on PC (I hope),
2) Using the camcorder as digitizer is a pain since I have to record unto Digital camcorder tape first (the lack of pass-through)
3) Seems a settop DVD recorder is approximately same price as a decent capture card that does mpeg2 (and given my wimpy 1.2 GHz cpu it sounds like I need hardware mpeg2 or a new PC anyway)

Hence it may be the solution I need...

Perhaps once I have demonstrated success with Redwudz “process” on current hardware and freeware I can convince the wife we should get settop DVD recorder…so she can record stuff too (perhaps new PC for me too). 8)

Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences.

<edit>
Missed smearbricks comment: "I bypass all of the capturing to AVI/converting to MPEG2 and just capture to MPEG2. Some people will disagree with my decision here, but to each his (or her) own."

This is kinda how I tought it would work originally - I plug VCR into Camcorder into PC ilink. Start NeroVisual SE 3.5 (bundled with more expensive DVD burner I bought) and make chapters, burn to DVD. Tada!
Boy was I wrong about the complexities in doing it
<end edit>

Orion Steel

[thecoalman]

On one level it seems like overkill needing both settop DVD recorder _and_ PC DVD burner.

Not really... You do need some sort of device to convert it to digital whether it be a capture card,camcorder, external converter, recorder etc... Just for example the ADVC conveter I use for analog capture costs a lot more than a recorder is going to run you... Once converted DVD recorders are very limited in where you can go from there hence the need to be able to burn from your computer.

You could just use the recorder and be done with it but you're really limiting your menus and editing by doing that.

[The_Doman]

Camcorder's and pass through ...

Sony removed this after threat's from other companies citing this vhs pass through as an easy way for movie's to be pirated .. so sony removed this from later model's .

What's you source about this??
I know nothing about that??

And who want's to pirate movie form VHS these days??

[orion steel]

Wow, quick responce coalman.
I think I agree with your evaluation - hypothetically since I have yet to burn my first DVD sucesfully

Guess i am getting a settop DVD recorder as soon as $ allow.
Any suggestions for models

[The_Doman]

Guess i am getting a settop DVD recorder as soon as $ allow.
Any suggestions for models

For recording VHS stuff make sure the DVD reocorder has some form of stabilizing/TBC built in.

[BobK]

And who want's to pirate movie form VHS these days??

Anybody that wants to transfer one of the thousands of movies on VHS that hasn't been released on DVD yet- which not necessarily "pirating" if you own the VHS.

[BobK]

On one level it seems like overkill needing both settop DVD recorder _and_ PC DVD burner.

Probably is over kill if you're never going to use them for anything else. If you don't ever plan to use a settop to record things (like you probably do now with a VCR) then it's probably not worthwhile to buy one just to record a few hours of home video.

I no longer use a VCR (although I still still 2 stuck in a closet)- the DVD recorder replaced it for recording shows from TV, etc. I also use the burner in the computer for many other things besides video. Since I'm going to have both a set-top and a PC burner anyway, it's much easier to use them both for video- more convienent and better video quality recording with the standalone. More flexibility for better menus and easier editing with the PC.

[SingSing]

And who want's to pirate movie form VHS these days??

Anybody that wants to transfer one of the thousands of movies on VHS that hasn't been released on DVD yet- which not necessarily "pirating" if you own the VHS.

Here, Here. All of us have VHS movies that we don't want buy it again on DVD.

[orion steel]

BobK said:

If you don't ever plan to use a settop to record things (like you probably do now with a VCR) then it's probably not worthwhile to buy one just to record a few hours of home video.
....Since I'm going to have both a set-top and a PC burner anyway, it's much easier to use them both for video- more convienent and better video quality recording with the standalone. More flexibility for better menus and easier editing with the PC.

More than a few hours of home vids I fear - I'm in penguin's boat with 10+ years of "irreplacable memories" (I'm afraid to count the tapes ~100 hrs I guess - I threaten people i am going to make them watch them. But the grandparents in the "old contry" loved it)

I like the convenience / menu flexibility combo described with the settop & PC/DVD combo.

OS

<edited to get the quote working>

[cesna]

This is really good to read that I'm no alone in my frustrations. I have 400+ hours of family footage that I have waited to be sure of what I doing brfore I did it. Finally I bought a Go.Video dual VHS/DVD desktop recorder. PUSH the button and transfer VHS to DVD. EZ is the only way to describe it. I do capture clips off the VHS tape to make gifts for those who let me pack around the cameras for the last 25 years. But no it is fun rather than a quandry.