VHS to PC\DVD $50 Budge Windows 7

[bpatters69]

Hello All,

I am running Windows 7, 64bit on a fairly new PC. I have about 10 or 15 VHS that I want to convert to either a PC format of DVD. Either one would be fine. I am looking for something in the $50 to $75 range which would include the cable, device and software. I would spend more for a better system but my other option is to take the VHS to a local retailer who will convert the VHS to DVD for $10.95 each. Basically, once I complete the conversion, the system will sit around gathering dust.

So does anyone have a recommendation or should I just take them in and let the retailer do it?

Thanks, Bill

[zoobie]

for only 10-15 tapes and that price, my vote is for the retailer saving untold of hours of learning and frustration not to mention money invested in the hardware

[Noahtuck]

If they are just doing a straight VHS to DVD transfer see how they are doing it.

You could spend the $$ for a standalone dvd recorder and do a straight transfer yourself and still have the dvd recorder when done.

Or a capture card for that matter.

[16mmJunkie]

Hello All,

I am looking for something in the $50 to $75 range

So does anyone have a recommendation or should I just take them in and let the retailer do it?

Thanks, Bill

2nd vote for outsourcing the work

[Noahtuck]

Yeah, i would so much rather spend $110.00-$165.00 to have someone else do a straight transfer from VHS to DVD and just have the dvdr's, when i could buy a standalone dvd recorder for the $$, do it myself and still have the dvd recorder

Because for that price per tape i doubt any business is going to do an actual capture, editing & authoring.
And we won't even go into any kind of restoration or video enhancement/TBC.

[16mmJunkie]

Yeah, i would so much rather spend $110.00-$165.00 to have someone else do a straight transfer from VHS to DVD and just have the dvdr's, when i could buy a standalone dvd recorder for the $$, do it myself and still have the dvd recorder

Because for that price per tape i doubt any business is going to do an actual capture, editing & authoring.
And we won't even go into any kind of restoration or video enhancement/TBC.

WAAAAAAHHHHH!!!! I want it my Way!

[Noahtuck]

Yeah, waste money having someone else do it when you could put the money towards the hardware to do it the same way and end up owning the hardware when you are done....

Yeah, it takes a real brain surgeon to figure that one out....

DERR!!!!!!!!

A (lazy) fool (shallow end of the gene pool) and his money are soon parted.....

Yeah, i am crying because i have a clue and would rather end up with the hardware and do it myself instead of throwing away the money with nothing to show for it except 15 .15 cent dvdr's!

LOL!!

[16mmJunkie]

Yeah, waste money having someone else do it when you could put the money towards the hardware to do it the same way and end up owning the hardware when you are done....

Yeah, it takes a real brain surgeon to figure that one out....

DERR!!!!!!!!

A (lazy) fool (shallow end of the gene pool) and his money are soon parted.....

Yeah, i am crying because i have a clue and would rather end up with the hardware and do it myself instead of throwing away the money with nothing to show for it except 15 .15 cent dvdr's!

LOL!!

Damn you still whining!

[Noahtuck]

Nah, unlike you, i have a clue of common sense.....

[16mmJunkie]

Nah, unlike you, i have a clue of common sense.....

Yeah, you still crying! because if you had "common sense" you would have stop at your first post and left it alone. I mearly made observation when you chose to make a snide comment.

[PuzZLeR]

Another vote for taking it to the transfer house.

There is quite a demanding learning curve for transferring analog tape for basically a technology that is at Heaven's Gate. You will have to learn about which prosumer deck is good, along with its settings, then about a full-frame TBC, a proc amp, etc. Furthermore you will have to read many reviews about which capture devices don't suck.

You will even make mistakes and redo things a few times before you've finally settled on the "correct" way.

Capturing on its own is a minor science too. A tricky beast. And you will need PC resources.

You will need to to shop around for hard-to-find equipment that is getting rarer and rarer and even pricier for older-ware. You will be a regular on eBaY for the next few weeks/months.

And, of course, it will require, errr, some money.

And when you're finished, are you going to need all this stuff? Ok, well you could salvage some costs by flipping it back on eBaY. But it will be a hassle at any rate.

I personally hate VHS (no, I abhor it), but have invested the time to learn and money to buy because 20 years of impossible-to-replace content on 300-500 tapes was too important to dismiss, and was/is worth it to transfer in-house here.

But if I were in your situation, I'd easily spend the $200 and get it over with once and for all. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy much of the process, and the learning experience, which mercifully made it easier. But I wouldn't bother if I had a choice.

From the transfer house, I would ask for a less compressed, or lossless, capture and keep that as Source. Then I would personally do the edits and DvD encoding/authoring myself since such work will be highly subjective and personal.

[NJRoadfan]

But if I were in your situation, I'd easily spend the $200 and get it over with once and for all. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy much of the process, and the learning experience, which mercifully made it easier. But I wouldn't bother if I had a choice.

From the transfer house, I would ask for a less compressed, or lossless, capture and keep that as Source. Then I would personally do the edits and DvD encoding/authoring myself since such work will be highly subjective and personal.

Your average strip mall transfer house is usually just going to use a DVD recorder hooked up to any old VHS machine. If you are going to outsource it, send it to someplace that knows what they are doing... and it will likely be more then $10.95 each.

I defrayed the cost of my equipment by doing some transfers for other folks after I was done.

[classfour]

I run a Hauppauge PVR-150 (about $50 used - newer models available), through a $50 (off ebay) Datavideo TBC-100 card in a $20 external enclosure, using a Panasonic AG-1980 $85 (off ebay) VCR. Even with the bargains, $50 is not realistic. There's still the learning curve.

If you want to gain knowledge, and put up with the frustration: Go the "do it yourself" route. And yes, I started out (actually recording VCDs) using the machine method of backing up my VHS tape collection.

Good luck on your choice.

The current setup is used for rare tapes that you can't get on DVD, or family memories.

[MOVIEGEEK]

If 10-15 is all you will convert and never use the hardware again then have it professionally transferred.

[PuzZLeR]

Your average strip mall transfer house is usually just going to use a DVD recorder hooked up to any old VHS machine. If you are going to outsource it, send it to someplace that knows what they are doing... and it will likely be more then $10.95 each.

This is sad.

My comments were based on the assumption that the transfer house had a good playback deck, a full-frame TBC and more-than-real-time capture hardware and dedicated high-end PC/Mac. Then yes, going there would be worth it IMO for a few tapes - even for a slightly higher price.

But if you are correct, I would simply do it myself then. I wouldn't pay $200 to some Joe who brings his house-ware to work (principle not money here).

Actually, I was wondering at the $10.95 price being this good.

Well, at least bpatters69 should know by know at least what to ask in his/her shopping around.

[16mmJunkie]

Your average strip mall transfer house is usually just going to use a DVD recorder hooked up to any old VHS machine. If you are going to outsource it, send it to someplace that knows what they are doing... and it will likely be more then $10.95 each.

This is sad.


Actually, I was wondering at the $10.95 price being this good.

Well, at least bpatters69 should know by know at least what to ask in his/her shopping around.

Standard charge for full services (not just a transfer) $29.95 for 31 mins to 2hrs VHS, SVHS, VHS-C. Hi-8 to DVD in our local area. So I would say yes this is a good price

[lordsmurf]

Your average strip mall transfer house is usually just going to use a DVD recorder hooked up to any old VHS machine. If you are going to outsource it, send it to someplace that knows what they are doing... and it will likely be more then $10.95 each.

This is sad.
My comments were based on the assumption that the transfer house had a good playback deck, a full-frame TBC and more-than-real-time capture hardware and dedicated high-end PC/Mac. Then yes, going there would be worth it IMO for a few tapes - even for a slightly higher price.
But if you are correct, I would simply do it myself then. I wouldn't pay $200 to some Joe who brings his house-ware to work (principle not money here).
Actually, I was wondering at the $10.95 price being this good.
Well, at least bpatters69 should know by know at least what to ask in his/her shopping around.

Sad, yes.
The truth, also yes.
Lots of hucksters in the video transfer business, and few know what they're doing.
Those of us who work in the video fields know they're hacks -- easily.
I wrote this about a week ago: How to tell that a media "professional" is a clueless twit

Anything less than $30 / 2-hour should raise eyebrows. And even, that's cheap.