About to capture VHS to DVD

[Nightshiver]

I have 2 or 3 videos that I would like to capture from VHS to DVD. I haves owned these for quite sometime, and would like to transfer them. For starters, I would like to know what a good capturing software is. I don't have a capture card and have no intention of getting one right now. I do have a "breakout box," which is a Dazzle DVD Recorder with a link to it here: http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Dazzle/Dazzle+Vide...e+DVD+Recorder I would love to have any input!

[louthewiz]

I would buy a dvd recoder to avoid headaches and problems,
You can find them cheap at:


www.ubid.com

[thecoalman]

. For starters, I would like to know what a good capturing software is.

Generally the best software to use for capture is provided by the manufacturer.

[ebenton]

I have used a Pinnacle Moviebox USB device with Pinnacle Studio 9 (or is it 10? I can't remember, and I'm not home right now.) software for capturing VHS tapes to my hard drive. The Pinnacle software saves the video on my hard drive as an MPG file. I don't use the Pinnacle software to create the DVD, but this system does a fine job of converting the composite video from my VHS player to an MPG file.
I use Nero to convert and burn the MPG file to a DVD. The Pinnacle software takes too long and sometimes fails. You could use your Pinnacle software or something else if you wanted.
I don't know anything in particular about your specific software/hardware, but I would suspect that it would do an equally fine job.

[tinker]

I have 2 or 3 videos that I would like to capture from VHS to DVD. I haves owned these for quite sometime, and would like to transfer them. For starters, I would like to know what a good capturing software is. I don't have a capture card and have no intention of getting one right now. I do have a "breakout box," which is a Dazzle DVD Recorder with a link to it here: http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Dazzle/Dazzle+Vide...e+DVD+Recorder I would love to have any input!

You already have what you need. Just plug your VCR to your box and box to USB port. It will capture Mpg2 format and convert it to DVD files as it states in specs for that box. Those can be burned to DVD. Just follow instructions.
You should use software which came with the box otherwise you may run into problem as these cards are finicky about software.

[Nightshiver]

Well, how does this look?

Original captured footage: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3V67VIYR
Converted footage: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XNXQ956T

These are just test files by the way.

[ebenton]

It seems that you must login to see those images. The links only display the main megaupload page.

[Nightshiver]

Strange. They arn't images. They are actual movie files. What do you mean log in?

[hech54]

No login required...just a code that they give you anyway.
I can't download it right now though...maybe later.

[ebenton]

I mean that all I can see is the "home page" for megaupload. Wherever your files are located is not accessible to me. This was from home last night. I am at work right now and our corporate security policy denies me access to megaupload, so I can't try it again to give you more details. I'll have to try it later, if I remember.

[p5bdkw]

I concur.
No movies.

[ebenton]

Yeah, what p5bdkw said.

[tinker]

OK. Your movie looks good. There is some distortion on the bottom of the picture, but not too bad.
Some people talk about Video Stabilizer to get rid of it, but it is VCR it will never be as good as DVD.
I do not know why you posted two formats. One play in Real Player, other (.mkv) in Media Player Clasic.

[Nightshiver]

I didn't post 2 formats. The original footage is in .mpg and the converted is .mkv It's MKV because I used AutoMKV to convert my video.

Alternate Link for captured footage: http://massmirror.com/ffb205ef4c92a8c65c67ae1e124bd59d.html
Alternate Link for converted footage: http://massmirror.com/e7988ee2437adfb79a18cd9b09c95521.html

[tinker]

I did not try to be critical, I was just asking.
I hope you realize the DVD need Mpeg2 video 720x480 (NTSC) resolution and 48 kHz audio, either AC3 or LPCM. For North America AC3 is preferable.