vhs to mpeg2

[arcticstudio]

I want to convert vhs-video directly to mpeg2-files that can be directly edited in (for example Womble mpeg2 editor) and then brought into Adobe Encore without having to go through additional transcoding. Someone gave me the tip to buy Canopus ADVC110, but doesn't that just create DV-files? The important thing is that I want MPEG2-files right of the bat, I don't have the time to transcode and convert several times over and over...

The price should not be very high and the quality excellent...

Many thanks in advance

Michael Nilsson

[jagabo]

Generally, real time MPEG 2 encoders (software or hardware) don't give as good quality as a slow software encoding. Your best bet though would be a standalone DVD recorder with a built in line TBC.

You may need an expensive plugin to get lossless MPEG editing in Encore.

[arcticstudio]

Thank you for a lightning fast response! But is there any half decent way to transfer vhs-video directly to editable mpeg2-format, where the quality is good but not perfect? Are there any products similar to Canopus ADVC110 that can perform this task without bankrupting me, even if the quality is not the best possible, but still good...? I would love some examples of such products...

[FulciLives]

Somewhat hard to find these days but the Hauppauge WinTV PVR line ... which includes the 250 model and 350 model (both internal PCI cards) as well as a USB 2.0 model called the WinTV PVR USB2 ... are the way to go.

These do hardware MPEG-1/MPEG-2 encoding. You can select the resolution and exact bitrate(s) you want to use including CBR video bitrate or on-the-fly VBR bitrates. Using some relatively simple tweaks you can adjust to an extent things like sharpness and the level of filtering etc.

The only problem though is that these devices are no longer made by Hauppauge and while you can still find them used (and even new) the prices these days reflect the scarcity of the item(s) which of course means you will pay more than you should or at least back when they were readily available but the price shouldn't be astronomical either.

Again these are the three to look for (in no particular order):

1.) WinTV PVR 250
2.) WinTV PVR 350
3.) WinTV PVR USB2 (do not confuse this with the WinTV USB2)

Two essential websites with information on tweaks and how-to-use etc. are as follows (again in no particular order):

1.) http://www.cask-of-amontillado.com/htpc.html
2.) http://www.shspvr.com/

One word of advice here ... not all Hauppauge products do hardware MPEG-1/MPEG-2 encoding. If you look at their currently available units you will find some that do and some that don't but the 250/350/USB2 units have been "proven" to work and work well. Anything else and you might be asking for trouble! Case in point: I got a Hauppauge WinTV HR 1600 for free. This was made to capture OTA (Over The Air) HDTV using an antennae but it also had hardware MPEG-1/MPEG-2 capture as well but in testing it the quality was not as good as the older 250/350/USB2 models and this is not just my opinion as others thought the same as me.

Having said all this it might just be easier to get a stand alone DVD recorder although it is a shame that very few (these days Pioneer is really the only one) allow for "exact" bitrate settings. Usually you are stuck with 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 hours etc. modes. The Pioneer units allow you to select any time within 5 - 10 minute increments like 90 minutes or 95 minutes or 100 minutes then 110 minutes etc.

If you do go for a stand alone DVD recorder I recommend Pioneer. Granted JVC and Toshiba were once known to get even better quality but those were old models. Pioneer was always very good in image quality then and now. The new crop of JVC and Toshiba units are nothing like the old units you hear so much about.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jagabo]

See the Hauppauge PVR series for hardware MPEG 2 encoders.

Your VHS deck is likely to be the weakest point in the process. To get really good VHS captures you need an S-VHS deck with a line TBC and noise filters. A full frame TBC on top of that will help if your tapes are in poor condition. A proc amp is a good idea too. But you're talking several hundred dollars to get all this equipment.

[arcticstudio]

You have been most helpful, guys! Thanks a lot! I will definitely invest in these products! This was a great site for tips!