Making DVDs: should I try or not, please advise!

[Rayan]

I am new at this, but have fair interest to try analog to DVD conversion. I have about 30-40 or so of Hi 8 and VHS tapes. The Hi 8 are mostly family videos. About 15-20 VHS tapes are precious stage performances(ususally about 2-3 hours long) shot by a professional on beta or DV and then converted to VHS.

-Some I just want to convert as they are(most likely all the stage perforamce videos).
-May be on select few stage videos, I will try simple editing, to see if I can enhance anything.
-Some I may want to cut and paste with transitions and titles(family videos)

I have an Hi 8 but am sure will buy a DV camcorder later and want to be able to transfer them to DVD as well as at that time. A friend is helping to build a new PC now and am trying to decide on the right configuration.

Questions I have are:
-should I even try to convert the 'stage videos' or should I just go back to the pro who shot them and ask him to do it. Issue here is ofcourse cost vs quality I can achieve vs time it takes.
- If I want do it, would investment of $200 be suffiecient for the quality (e.g external boxes like Canopus ADVC100 or PCI card like ADVC1394i) or would I need to consider more expensive products? examples?

I will wait to hear any response before further questions.....
Thanks

[joecav]

If you're going to get a dv camera soon, get one with Analog passthrough capability. I have a Sony TRV-33 and it works great for converthing my vhs tapes. Hook the vcr up to the cam-cam up to the pc-use virtualvcr (free) to transport the DV-AVI to your pc. You'll obviously need firewire ports on your new pc, though...no biggie.

I made a post detailing what I did as a noob (still am) and it worked great for me. I'll find it and link it. I think you'll get just fine results with doing it yourself, plus the gratification knowing you learned a new skill.

Like I said, if you're going to get a DV camcorder soon, it would be a waste to get the Canopus box as the camera does it for you.

EDIT - heres the link
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=189483&highlight=

[daamon]

Hi Rayan,

I'd say that joecav has covered the capturing of the VHS / Hi8 footage - which is good coz I've no idea (I've a DV cam -> firewire -> .avi on PC).

But, from there, this link might be of use:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=190482&highlight=

Hope that helps... Good luck.

[Rayan]

Thanks to both joecav and daamon. I see there is ton of info in the links many of which I do not follow yet at this time.

But one thing I may have mislead you by saying that I was going to buy a DV camera......I was not thinking about it that soon. Right now my priority was to get a new PC so I was focusing on whether I shouold gfet a graphics card that also does conversion such as an ATI all in wonder or get a separate card like Canopus 1394i or an external box etc etc. Going DV camera route changes my priority...Frankly I have not seen many people recommending that approach over the capture card, although I admit my knowledge is limited. For some reason i thought a dedicated solution like capture card/box is better solution. I will look into what you are suggsting further. Also from the data sheet etc the process with capture card/box seems lot simpler than what I see in the links you both have provided. I am now more confused!

I may have more questions later!!!

[joecav]

Well, I for one like using my DV Cam for analog passthrough...kinda helps justify the expense. I was under the wrong impression that you were going to get a new cam soon, my bad.

There are many, many ways to do what you want, having the DV cam is one of them. Getting a "regular" capture card is another and using the canopus box is yet another. So I guess you will find out what route will best suit your needs after reading through the forums and guides.

The cheapest and most versitile way (probably) would be to get a capture card. Look in the tools section for just about anything thats available on the market and what people here think of it.

[daamon]

Hi Rayan,

Pleasure to have been of help...

Unfortunately, my knowledge is limited to only what I've learnt for my needs and so I can't help with capture card vs Canopus vs DV Cam, though I'm sure there's plenty of info on the site and people who can help.

Good luck...