PC or DVD Recorder

[wado66]

I have been browsing this site for info. And am now completly unsure on which way to go.
Here is my situation. I have Directv with Tivo. VCR/DVD player. And Pioneer surround system for my home theater.
I would like to be able to do DVD recordings from my VCR, Tivo and my older VHS-C camcorder. I would like to be able to chapter my recordings and do some editing. I would like to acomplish this the easiest way with the "best" quality I can. Should I go with a good VCR/DVD recorder? (it has to be a combo, I have no room for 2 components) Or a good capture card and software? If you have any sugestions for my delima, I would appreciate your input on which way to go. And what models would suit me best. I am willing to put out the bucks for quality. I just don't want over pay for bells and whistles I won't use. Thanks again for your input.

[Heavensent]

the eazy way is to get a dvd recorder.
it works, its fast , and you dont have to bother yourself with how it works.
if you are not interested in serious editing, go with the recorder.

a pc lets you do more editing, add some filters, make a menu the way you want it
to look and so on.
but you need to know more about what you are doing and why.

personaly, if the price is right, id go with a dvd recorder with a HD and be done
with it.

right now im using a capture card because the prices of dvd recorders are
still high where i live.

you cant go wrong with a panasonic or a pioneer.

goodluck.

[Captain Satellite]

I would never get a combo.

[wado66]

Just curious Captain Satellite, why would you never go with a combo? Is the quality not there? Or just because both components are in one?

[Captain Satellite]

If one goes, you have just lost your ability to transfer. Also, combo units tend to be lower end. I like the idea of being able to choose each unit. With a combo unit, the VCR is going to be on the low end of the two. I'm a Mitsubishi man and have some mint U80s and U82s I use for transferring, both very high quality decks. I also have a top Panasonic DVD recorder. Some hate 'em, I love 'em. While I'm not completely convinced that I can get a better picture, I am convinced that my Panasonic deck is extremely reliable. I'm sure you can make room for another deck. Do it if you're looking for the best quality. If you're looking for the cheapest way out and are not concerned with quality, the combo may be the way to go for you.

[Scorpion King]

A capture card gives you more options and control over the process where a DVR mostly only lets you select the time to fit on 1 dvd. My ATI card gives me the ability to adjust filters for MPG capture, where my DVR has filters but I dont get to adjust them. I can capture with my DVR onto a RW disk, put it into the computer and copy the files to my HDD, then edit/reauthor as I want. Then erase the RW disk and start the process over again if I want.

My wife likes the DVR because she can easily capture and author her video camera footage when she wants..... Quickly and easily.

I would say the easiest to learn is the DVR route. If you want to edit out commercials/etc then use an RW and do that work on computer. Going the capture card route is going to take more learning/reading/practice etc, but will probably give you better results (IMO).

You will also need a DVD burner, an dvd authorizing program, and burning software. The other way you will also need a capture card.

Good luck.

[trhouse]

I started with the card route. Very painful and slow. My USB capture device had limited software support due to proprietary drivers, sometimes sound and video got out of sync meaning I had to do the capture all over again ( it was not repeatable ), sometimes the software would crash at the most inopportune time.

The recorder route is a lot less painful. I still do some authoring on the computer mostly to make menus look better.

Combos. I have a single Panasonic ES-10, a JVC-M10S that I repaired for a friend who is overseas at the moment and two Panasonic combos, the ES30V and ES35V ( both borrowed from relatives ) and five VCR's.

In theory the combo's can do higher quality transfers because they have an internal path from VCR to DVD recorder without converting to composite or S-video. I do not see much difference doing it that way though.

Personally, I do not have an issue with the reliability or video quality of combo's because between these recorders I have transferred over 800 videos for a big family project with no issues. The downside to combos is that it is harder to connect up external hardware than with two separate units. For example, I have a combo hooked up to a JVC color corrector.

The reason for the five VCR's is that playback is not the same even between the same brand and model of VCR. If I have a problem tape, I switch external VCR's into the combo until I get the best playback. The most common problem I have had is not video but sound. A tape will produce a buzzing on some VCR's but not others.

[pepegot1]

Use a good DVD recorder like the JVC DR M10S or the newer 100. I have used it hundreds of times with no problems. It has filters that actually improve the quality of the VHS recordings to mention a strong point. That resistor problem has never shown up on my machine. The newer models should not have it at all. Lordsmurf can give you the details on that. Check his postings on JVC. I would stay away from combo's, they are not as flexible as the standalone.

[ktnwin]

If you want some simple editing (like cutting out unwanted video sections out of the main clip), then a DVD recorder with hard drive is the way to go. First capture to the hard drive, cut off the parts you don't want, then mark chapter points exactly where you want them, then burn DVD. Just that simple.
A DVD recorder without hard drive usually does not allow you to put chapter points where you want them to be, they usually put chapter points every 5 minutes or so. And you cannot cut off the unwanted sections either.
The PC method requires a lot of "investments", in materials as well as learning curves.