WinTV-PVR-250

[zgrm100]

Guys quick question. I am thinking about getting this card to transfer my camcorder tapes to mpeg-2 and then DVD. Is this a good card for it? I plan to use it late rin my HTPC but thats besides the point.

I was also reading about the canopus advc-100 and catn seem to tell which one is better. Will I have sync problems with the pvr-250? because I didnt really notice in audio port on the back of it. Thanks for the info...

[oneref]

I have been doing the vhs to DVD with all of our family home movies (really not concerned about copyrights) and have used analog devises that capture avi then you have to convert to mpg1/2 ... we're talking hours per vhs. I got the Hauppauge 250 that does a great mpg1/2 very easily after I setup my preferences the way I want them. After that just author and burn in 1/4 the time. After trying both methods (unless you have tons of extra time) the one easiest on my computer and me is a card that does the codec on the capture. I was using the Canopus ADVC-1394 card, and from what I understand, the advc-100 captures to avi just the same, but then I don't own the 100 ... so not authorized to comment. All I know is when I rendered to mpg1 or 2 it took hours and now it happens as I capture, then use mpgvideo wizard to edit. Then Author with TMPGenc Author. This works for me and am happy with the DVDs produced.
Good luck and God bless all,
oneref

[yoda313]

Hello,
I have the wintv pvr250 and I highly recommend it. It DOES have an audio input (it's a small headphone size jack to the far right of the card I think). It is easy to use and excellent for straight vhs to dvd dubbing. Just hook up the vcr, record, then author and burn!.

I've got a pretty slow computer (amd 850mhz) and it takes no time to author a dvd when I record in dvd format (unless you do really fancy menus and motion backgrounds- then it can take forever).

It is a great card for quick capturing when you don't need/want AVI capture ability. MPEG has worked just fine for me. The VCD quality is decent also. A great buy.
Kevin

P.S. It can ONLY record in its own "wintv 2000" recording application. That's the only limitation I can see. It's still good though and has multiple recording modes for dvd (including halfd1).

[Biodroid]

take it. It worth the money, but you can find a desptop recorder for less than $200 bucks , if you plan to make only simpler DVD's grab the desktop burner and edit the final DVD's of the desktop on the PC you don't need to convert the MPEG to streams and then mltiplex back on a mastering program using the destop burner. But you can get the board. you decide...

[yoda313]

Hello,

Biodroid-edit the final DVD's of the desktop on the PC you don't need to convert the MPEG to streams and then mltiplex back on a mastering program using the destop burner

I haven't had that happen with Ulead Dvd Factory or Tmpgenc DVD Author. When it's dvd compliant its really quick to author the dvd. It takes no time at all with simple menus.

Though, I will agree if you just want really basic menus that a settop dvd recorder is easier than using a pc. But, you won't have as much flexiblitiy in designing your dvd layout. And you'll need a macorivision blocker to backup your "bought" hollywood movies.

It's your choice but if you have quick, cheap access to the wintv pvr250 I'd encourage you to get it. It's a nice card.
Kevin

[zgrm100]

biodroid quick question. If I do just get a desktop DVD burner and burn my tapes to DVD will I be able to edit them on the PC? I heard that it is very hard to edit MPEG2....

Also I am talking about converting camcorder tapes that i have. All of them are 8mm... Also a lot of the tapes Ive turned the camera off sometimes, and and then back on while recording. This makes little gaps in the recording if u guys know what I mean. I dont want the PVR-250 to have problems with that, will it?

Also what is the best desktop recorder then, if you guys will tell me that I can edit DVD, after putting them on the hard drive? I might just buy the most expensive one at best buy and then reutrn it in 30 days. Because i only have like 4 tapes... Thanks...

[SHS]

No it not hard at all but you do need rigth tools for job when come to Editing MPEG Video the crame of crop are VideoReDo or Womble MPEG-VCR.
By the way don't mean Settop Recorder as in stand along recoder being desktop usely ref to a PC.

[indolikaa]

MPEG-VCR gets my vote.

[zgrm100]

guys but lets say I use a seperate dvd recorder. Burn to DVD. Then how will I turn those VOBs into mpeg2?

[SHS]

Yes you sure can zgrm100.

[awhitney]

I have some pic samples from the wintv-pvr250 if anyone wants to see them. They're pretty damn good!

[maggietv2000]

I do this all the time with VideoReDo... it just makes the task so simple.

The nice thing is that the support people are so friendly and the forum covers not only how the product works but more important how it works with all the other software and hardware I use.