Advice on VHS Capturing/Equipment

[MisterBig]

I'm new to capturing and have been reading up on the posts here and have learned quite a lot. Thanks to all who have posted.

My question is:

I'd like to convert my large collection of VHS tapes to DVD. Some of them are 2nd generation with ok to good quality. I'm looking into buying equipment and have narrowed it down to:

1. JVC 9911 SVHS VCR & Canopus ADVC100 Converter

2. Canopus ADVC300 Converter with my exisiting Toshiba VCR.

3. Use my existing Sony TRV460 camcorder passthru with my existing VCR or purchase the JVC 9911.

I would like to spend as little as possible (don't we all?) with good final results.

My PC is a 2Ghz P4 with 2 7200rpm drives and 768MB RAM

If anyone can offer their recommendations I would really appreciate it.

Thanks.

MisterBig

[hsugawar]

If you are not interested in creating fancy menus and chapter markers and are seeking a practical way to transfer your large collection of VHS to DVD, I'd recommend going with a VCR+DVDR combo and forget about your PC. It's a magtter of pushing a button to start copying VHS to DVD up to 4 hours or so. No capturing, editing, burning hassles. I am quite happy with mu GoVideo VR4940 which now goes around $300.

hiro

[thecoalman]

3. Use my existing Sony TRV460 camcorder passthru with my existing VCR or purchase the JVC 9911.

I would like to spend as little as possible (don't we all?) with good final results.

I'd sugest you try what you have now, usin a cam pass though produces great quality for capturing and once you have good source material on your HD most of the battle is won..... it is a battle too....

[daamon]

@ MisterBig - Check out lordsmurf's site: www.digitalfaq.com - that may well have something for you, as well as loads of other stuff that you're sure to find useful.

[BrainStorm69]

One more question - what Toshiba VCR do you currently have? They made some pretty good ones with six heads. If you have one of those, you ought to be able to get some pretty good results using your camcorder pass-through.

[MisterBig]

VCR is a Toshiba 6 head M785. I've always been happy with it although I have really given it a workout over the years.

One of my concerns with using my Sony camcoder passthru is the loss of video/audio sync I have read about.

[thecoalman]

One of my concerns with using my Sony camcoder passthru is the loss of video/audio sync I have read about.

Sync issues arise mostly from using capture cards, they do not actually capture the sound but pass it off to the soundcard. Using the Sony should actually eliminate that problem. I haven't seen any posts where anyone was using a cam as pasthrough and was having sync issues. Best thing to do is give it a try since you have nothing to lose, you already have it. If it doesn't work well you can always move onto something else.

[BrainStorm69]

I agree with the coalman. Give it a try. The M-785 ought to do pretty well. Does it have DNR? I have an M-784, and its DNR is particularly effective at chroma (color) noise reduction.

[MisterBig]

Yes the M-785 does have DNR. Should I enable it when capturing?