VHS to DVD free/cheap software guides?

[Mahime]

1st of all, I have a Canopus ADVC-100 purshased 2 years ago. At that time it limited software I could use.

I have read the guides here and become seriously confused and overwhelmed. There is so much information here and I don’t even know what I need so I don’t know which of the guide to use. Looking at the cost of software recommended in “VHS to DVDR Guide” $$$$$ made me…well…no go. So I need more help please. Let me explain what I want to do and give a little background.

I would like to write DVD’s to play in my (and others) stand alone DVD players. I have a Toshiba SD 2800 DVD player. I believe my computer's DVD writer (NEC 2500A OEM version) makes DVD-R’s & DVD+R .

Two years ago I built my computer to transfer old TV shows from VHS tapes to VCD’s. At that time I only had a CD writer (Lite-On 48X) I transferred a couple VHS tapes over but then had to store the computer for 2 years. (My husband passed and I just couldn’t deal.) I just brought the computer back out and got it working again. I also bought a DVD writer - NEC 2500A OEM version. It was offered with Adaptec’s software but that conflicts (or use to) with InCD and Ahead software so I passed on it.

Programs I have are: Nero 5.5 (latest update) and Media Player Classic to play DVD’s. I downloaded many DVD players from this site but MPC was the only one that worked. I also have SceneAlyzer Live (purchased). I am not sure what other software I will need. Any suggestions (free to cheap) are appreciated.

So when I made my VCD’s I used:
Canopus ADVC-100 and SceneAlyzer to capture
I tried VirutalDub to edit but couldn’t get the software to open the AV files. Don’t remember the error message.
TMPGenc to convert to MPEG-1 (MPEG-2 expired and from what I understand would have only worked for an SVCD?)
And Nero to burn (without menus or chapters because I couldn’t get it to work)

I never figured out how to edit so I did it manually by pausing the program through the commercials. It would be nice to be able to edit the capture. I would also like to add menus and chapters on my DVD‘s using free to cheapest software available. And a big plus would be to be able to keep switch-able (ability to turn it off and on on the TV) closed captioning. (I have read the posts about it on this site. I probably will be asking more questions about this later)

I also understand that it is easiest to edit while the capture is in AV mode but Virtual Dub wouldn’t recognize the file (at least it couldn’t two years ago). That is why I didn’t edit. Any help would be appreciated. If you direct me to a guide, please add reason I need that particular one. It helps me understand what I am doing.

I read the glossary about VCD’s and DVD-ISO and am still unsure. I read the comments about my DVD stand alone player. There wasn’t a section for this but someone did comment DVD-ISO worked for them. Can I only make VCD’s but burn them to DVD’s?

I know this is a lot but I hoped to be as specific as possible. (I did read “How to get questions answered on these forums“) Hope this covers it.

[thecoalman]

Cheap and ease of use. A lot of people use Ulead. http://www.ulead.com/ They have 30 day trials, there's two p[rograms that fit your "cheap" need. Moviefactory and Video Studio....

[Mahime]

Coalman, Thanks for the suggestion. I have been doing lots of reading on this and other sites. I still can't figure some of this stuff out. So to begin...

TMPGEnc Plus vs Ulead Video Studio

Is there any advantage to paying for Video Studio? (That said I am currently downloading the trial version (9 hours on my dial up connction) For both programs it will be $150! Living on disability really does not give me much extra cash and that is a LOT of money for me. I am still trying to do this cheaply.

Since the trial version of TMPGEnc Plus still creates MPEG-1's and my stand alone DVD player won't play SVCD's anyway, do I really need to pay for it? (I am thinking of the encoding function)

And did I only end up buying my DVD writer to so I don't have to change CD's because I still have to burn VCD's? That is a big confusion for me and I may end up posting that question elsewhere once I figure out how to word it.

I do remember getting VirtualDub (free) to work doing some editing in AVI format. I made some sort of error at the time but with all the confusion (now that I am rembering) I never went back and tried editing again. I think I didn't change some setting which made some humongous file. Yikes!

I have been reading the link "What is DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R DL?" & "How to put VCD MPEG1 on a DVD without reconverting the video" and have questions. BTW I don't want to put my VCD's on the DVD. I am fine with them as they are.

I notice that the resolution on DVD is 720X480 as compared to 352X240 for VCD. Does that make the picture bigger or just clearer? And if I make the choice to burn a DVD in Nero Burning Rom does that give me the higher resolution?

And how do I know if my converted MPEG is DVD compliant?

And I hope this gets answered. This is the only forum I don't seem to get a response from. So, Coalman, I am very appreciative that you responded. Thank you,

Still a confused newbie

[thecoalman]

One of the reasons I suggest VS8 is that it will remove a lot of the confusion. I've only used it a few times but found it very easy to use. Having a canopus-100 will help a lot too. From the post's I've read here it's an excellent unit.

VS8 will do everything for you from capture to burn fairly easy. It will run you through the process of getting your video, editing it, adding transitions between scenes then burning it. Using the presets you can make DVD's or VCD's, you have to seperate the two. You won't need anything else.

DVD is a high quality conversion method in the end the quality should be similar to your source. VCD is lower quality video for making video cd's that can be played in most standalone DVD players.

The -R,+R,-RW and +RW are all types of discs. The RW can be written to more than once. I'd suggest getiing one or two +RW's or -RW's so you can experiment. You can just keep writing to them. What type you need depends on your burner, it may be compatible with all of them. It really has nothing to with the video at all, it's just a type of media.

There's a cheaper alternative to VS8, Ulead has a program called Moviefactory which is $50 which will also go from capture to burn. It just has less feature than VS8. You can give that a try too if you want.

I'm not going to comment on the other software as I have no experience with it. There's a lot of freeware apps that will do everthing but they can be complicated. At this point I would suggest you stick with something simple and get a few discs under your belt first.

[Tommyknocker]

Once you got the Canopus up and running, boot DVIO. Select capture video from camera and turn on the VCR. When you have finsihed and stop capturing, take your DV AVI file and

[Mahime]

Thanks Coalman. It is good to know I don't need both programs. Maybe I will look at spending the money. Easy is good. And I like that it does so much. (And thanks for being honest about your experience. That shows such integrity.)

As for VS8, my ISP dropped the download after 6 hours. I lost the whole thing when it only needed 20 more minutes to finish. Grrr. I haven't really looked at those programs that specialize in resuming a dropped download. I have never really needed them until now. I really don't feel like researching one more thing. Brain feels burnt out.

Have you ever used any of the download programs? A recommendation would be appreciated. One that doesn't require my head to think.

I actually have a box of 10 DVD+R someone gave me and 2 DVD-R (Verbatim brand) I have been seriously broke this month or would have bought a couple DVD-RW's. It is hard when $15 of groceries is more important that a disk. This is a very crazy time in my life. Haven't been this broke since college.

Tommyknocker...I wonder if you know your post was cut off.

Actually I have SceneAlyzer for capture but it looks like DIVO might create a file that the free editing programs can read whereas SceneAlyzer doesn't. I did download DIVO when I was reading the guides here. I just haven't looked at it yet. I probably will play with that one also. If nothing else this is a great learning process. Keeping those brain cells exercised.

[maghera]

no disrespect but you should keep your private life out of forms we all have our problems in life but we dont make them public.

[vcdforme]

Since breaking my leg, I've been laid up for a while.
I've taken the down time to experiment with a few programs.
In my opinion, Winproducer 3 is great. Though I have not used
Ulead yet....
Winproducer 3 Will be very compatible with your Canopus.
Very easy to use and learn. Does it all!
I Think Tmpgenc is better at encoding to mpeg, which I sometimes
fall back on when necessary.

Use Winproducer 3 for all your capturing, editing, and
making of mpg's. (Tmpgenc if you're fussy).
Use nero for burning disc.
Good luck.
I think I last saw Win Pro 3 for $99.

[thecoalman]

Have you ever used any of the download programs? A recommendation would be appreciated. One that doesn't require my head to think.

Try the link again sometimes windows will continue the download on it's own. Getting at least one RW is good idea, you can burn multiple test DVD's to it to test your final product.