VHS Capture Service UK? Anyone offering

[mdemetri2]

Hi, I have a need to capture from some VHS's that I have and convert to DVD.

I am in the process of getting a Canopus ADVC-100DV convertor but thought as a backstop, would someone be willing to do it for me?

Thanks in advance!

[manono]

You could check with Costco. They do it in the US so they might also do it in the UK. There's one in Leeds:

http://www.warehouses.costco.co.uk/locations/leeds/

And, apparently, they do provide the service:

http://www.costcodvd.co.uk/

But, investigating further, only at certain Costco warehouses (and not the Leeds one):

http://www.costcodvd.co.uk/selected_warehouses.aspx

[mdemetri2]

Thanks manono, but yes as you say they don't offer it in Leeds.

I've now received the ADVC100 converter, it came iwith the power cable and am yet to try it, as I also need a firewire cable and necessary ports...complicated further by the fact I have laptop.....I also need to get my hands on a VCR and figure out what other cables I need to use.

[mdemetri2]

Hi....I haven't had much luck finding someone to convert VHS, so looks like I am going to have to try do this myself.

I managed to source a Canopus ADVC100 due to the possibility there is a 'trick' to bypass macrovision on a couple of VHS's I have - that aren't available on DVD.

Does anyone have any experience of this converter, and therefore offer advice on how best to set this up?

I've only got the device and the power adaptor, from what I gather I need a firewire cable to connect converter to laptop (complication is laptop doesnt have firewire! do converters work?). Depending on the VHS I source I expect I'll use either svideo or component or composite to connect it to the Canopus device.....

Any recommendations on what software to use for capture...assuming it works as expected!?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[pippas]

I'm afraid you are going to have a real problem connecting Firewire to a laptop. Unless it has an Express Card slot?... in which case you should be OK with one of THESE

Forget Firewire to USB adaptors.... They will not work for this task. Transferring DV via a Firewire link needs a continuous data stream capability that the USB protocol simply cannot provide... It's nothing to do with speed, so even USB3 will not work.

Your best option is probably to beg, steal or borrow a desktop - even an old one - and fit a Firewire card if necessary - something like THIS will do the job - You can then use free software like WinDV to 'capture' the DV output from the ADVC100. In fact capture is the wrong word there. The ADVC100 does the capture - the DV output is just a data transfer to the PC with software like WinDV, so there is no quality loss at all.

Remember that DV video needs about 13GB per hour for storage, so make sure you have enough disc space. Once 'captured' (or I should say transferred) it's then easy enough to copy those DV files to your laptop for further editing etc....... It's just using a Laptop for actual DV 'capture' (transfer) that's the pain....

[mdemetri2]

Thanks for the reply pippas. That's pretty much what I was thinking...either get an older laptop with PCMCIA or get a hold of a desktop...I do have a HP MicroServer at home, that I could look to add a PCI firewire card to, so will look into that - just not sure it will be powerful enough to do the capture as it has Onboard AMD HD4200 VGA: 128MB, 1920x1200 @ 60hz .... as for storage not a problem, couple of TB's drives in there right now.

I'll just try it and see what happens I think.

Any recommendations on VHS to use and what output it needs to have / preferred?

[pippas]

You shouldn't have any problem regarding the power of the machine - all the hard work is done by the ADVC100. The Firewire connection is just a data transfer.

I think you may need to check that the storage drive is 'fast' enough - i.e. 7200rpm and not one of the older 5400rpm) .. although I maybe being too cautious there - I'm sure one of the forum members with more technical expertise than me (i.e. most of them! ) will be able to confirm that requirement..

[JVRaines]

FireWire 400 is a maximum 50 MB/sec, which shouldn't be a problem for a reasonable 5400 RPM drive. StarTech makes a bunch of FireWire adapters. I use their ExpressCard adapter with my laptop and it works just fine. Their are TONS of VHS deck recommendations on this website so I won't get into that. As far as output, you definitely want s-video from a reasonably good VCR.