The Terapin VCD Recorder......Perfect DVD to VCD Copies!

[VCD-Trading]

www.terapintech.com


I just bought one of these. Does anyone else own one?

All I have to do is Plug in a DVD with the SVideo connection and it makes perfect MPeg1 VCDs of the DVD.

Easy as Pie!!

[Faustus]

Looks neat, but for that price couldn't you have bought a DVD-R?

[dbaker6165]

Finally someone else agrees with me that the terapin is the way to go (for now)! Its a easy as a VCR. Its only $200 dollars at Sam's Club (not over thousand like a [standalone] dvd recorder). You dont need a computer to use this baby (like a dvd-r for the computer which are worth $349 but gotta do hours of conversion and 50 other steps to finally burn it to dvd). And the media for the Terapin (which are cd-r's that cost about 15 cents each at Microcenter) is cheaper that dvd-r (which are about $5 dollars each at Microcenter). I do not claim that the quality is Better than a DVD recorder. I will say this.... a Copy never really looks better than the origional. If you really care about the quality of what you are recording then by a dvd-r. If you want to record video that looks as good as a VHS tape - buy the TERAPIN [I know what you are goin to say-why not wait for something better? This is what most people say but how long are you gonna wait - one year or 10 years - its your choice!]

[dbaker6165]

So what do you have to do to record a dvd on a computer?


You have to capture the video which requires a video capture card and a fast computer if you dont want any drop outs (cha ching). Then you have to have conversion software and a huge hard drive for the converted film (cha ching). Of course you need a dvd-recorder (cha ching). Lets see you need dvd-r media (cha ching) and finally plenty of time for conversion (cha ching, why? because time is money). So how much does it cost to record a movie on a computer?

Dont worry about it - BUY a Terrapin (if you r "po") or a [stanalone] DVD recorder (If you are a "rich dude")

[VCD-Trading]

http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/products/product_main.jsp?ProdId=45


For the computer, this looks like the best software to use so far.

I love the Terapin!!! I Traded 2 Enterprise VCD sets for a bran new one. Sams clud does have them for $200.

Its just like a VCR Recorder but instead of putting in VHS, you put in a CD-r.

I buy the Spin X blank CD both sides from Office Depot for $14.99, 50 Pack and they work perfect.

I copy tons of thing of TV all night, just like I use to with the VHS recorder.

I have just started recording everything from VHS to VCD. Im working on the Entire Season of the UPN show Seven Days. I love this thing!!

I have also recorded DVD to VCD, The Sopranos and X-Files and they look almost perfect!!

Now I am having one problem and hopefully you can help or know what im talking about.

Ok..........Here is the deal.

When I record DVD to VCD, I have no problems with the Video at all. Perfect.

When I am recording something from VHS or TV to VCD, I get a VERY LIGHT WHITE LINE AT THE VERY TOP OF THE SCREEN.

When I watch the VCD, the while line doesnt really bother me but when I copy something from TV that has widescreen, the white line is a little annoying.

Now that is the problem Im having but now here is the other part.

I have a RCA 5240p DVD player and the WHITE LINE on the VCDs shows up when I play them on the DVD player.

I have also played them in the computer and the same line is also there too.

Now when I play the VCD disc in my Samsung DVD/VHS combo Player, the WHITE LINE is NOT......ITS NOT on the screen. When I play the VCD in the Terapin VCD recorder, It DOES NOT Have the white line either.

I have the Samsung and Terapin hooked up to a 13 inch TV with VCD recorder. Would the size of the TV affect or HIDE the white lines?????? I do all of this at my transmission shop I own so I dont have a big tv to play them on.


The software here.........

http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/products/product_main.jsp?ProdId=45

Was told by another member in another thread said this would edit the video and add the black widescreen lines at the top and bottom to any VCD show that I recorded so if thats so......IT WOULD SOLVE MY PROBLEM!

Now I have to possibilities to what the problem might be....

One, I use a SVideo to record DVD to VCD and the WHITE LINES are not shown on the Computers, My RCA DVD player or anything!!
COULD THIS BE A POSSIBILITY?? The Samsung V-1000 that I use only has Svideo output from the DVD player ONLY!! There isnt a SVideo output from the VHS part of the player.

Could my Terapin recorder be screwed up? I even used their CDR blank discs Terapin sells and still Get the White line.


So, any help, suggestions, You can email me at VCDTRADING@hotmail.com or AOL instant Message me at :
Enterprise VCDs

[VCD-Trading]

So what do you have to do to record a dvd on a computer?


You have to capture the video which requires a video capture card and a fast computer if you dont want any drop outs (cha ching). Then you have to have conversion software and a huge hard drive for the converted film (cha ching). Of course you need a dvd-recorder (cha ching). Lets see you need dvd-r media (cha ching) and finally plenty of time for conversion (cha ching, why? because time is money). So how much does it cost to record a movie on a computer?

Dont worry about it - BUY a Terrapin (if you r "po") or a [stanalone] DVD recorder (If you are a "rich dude")

COPY everything onto VCD, and then transfer it all to DVD when the Recorders, and Blank DVDs care cheaper in about 6 months!

Screw the computers......Stand alone is the best unless you're dowloading from the net but I dont mess with that Crap!!


ONLY TO EDIT THEM, and I need something to edit and get the white lines out!!!

[dbaker6165]

VCD-TRADING!


That was my point exactly... I'n on your side dude! I was pointing out that its cheaper to buy a Terapin than ato make vcd's on a computer!

[dbaker6165]

I don't use s-video to record vcds with the Terapin. I uses normal rca input/outout a/v cable... so I cant comment on that...

[AntnyMD]

The white line is the extra bits of information sent with a television signal, like the closed-captioning code, and cannot be avoided unless you recommend your congressional representative (if you're American) overturn years of broadcasting laws.

I only get the white line on television programs, and on DVDs that carry closed-caption code (CC is NOT the same as the subtitles most DVDs carry).

I have a Terapin VDR, and I love mine. I am still experimenting with brands of CD-R, although I've found "consumer" type CD-R work better than others, and the S-Video connection works better than the composite connection. I'm glad I bought one!

I just recorded a clip from tonight's Top of the Pops on BBC America onto a Maxell 74min CD-RW for data. The a/v was slightly out of sync on a settop DVD player, but played perfectly in sync in the portable Napa DAV-311 VCD player, and also perfectly in sync in Quicktime 5 for OS 9.

I think experimented with anamorphic widescreen DVDs onto VCD for playback at 16:9 fullscreen (I have a portable DVD player that has the 16:9 aspect). I found the pictures were blockier, although I admit to recording the opening sequence of Boogie Nights, which has almost a constant camera move, and the Jools Holland clip of Moby from the Moby Play This DVD. Whenever the camera was still, the pictures looked acceptable. The minute bright lights were aimed at the camera, blockyness beyond belief!

For those with Terapins and a DVD player who want to make a 16:9 fullscreen VCD (so that it plays back widescreen on your 16:9 monitor [not squished]), this is what I did:

1) In your DVD player's setup, tell it your monitor is a 16:9 WIDE TV
2) In the Terapin setup, tell it your source is S-Video
3) Connect the S-Video out of your DVD player and into your Terapin
4) Play back the DVD and record it onto a CD
5) Play back the VCD onto a 16:9 monitor and make sure the aspect ratio is set to 16:9


Let me know what sort of results you got.

[VCD-Trading]

Man Im so glad I found all of you guys!!

So when Recording from the Tv and VHS, It is normal to get the while line at the top of the screen??

That has to do with the government stuff??? SO you get the white lines too?

Can they be removed or can the black lines be added to the top and bottom to remove the white line???

The Software I added at the top?? Its about $130. Will that let me edit out commercials and take out the White lines???

So the reason I do not get the while lines when i make DVD to VCD copies is because the signal is different?

IM SO NEW AT THIS.....learning every min......and great suggestions??

I never tired converting the Ratio on the DVD, I just copy it. Ive only copied X-Files dvd and Sopranos and the widescreen isnt very big so I never tired coverting it....

The white lines????? You get them on all the TV programs? You get them from all the VHS too???

ANd can I edit them out or add the black lines!!!

Why does sometimes the video gets shoppy and screws up while recording? Sometimes the video startes to flicker??? I think its because the Recorder is getting hot. I let it cool down and it doesnt seem to do it... Do you have that problem too?

Any help suggestions :D :D :D Thanks SO MUCH.!!!!

[VCD-Trading]

For those with Terapins and a DVD player who want to make a 16:9 fullscreen VCD (so that it plays back widescreen on your 16:9 monitor [not squished]), this is what I did:

1) In your DVD player's setup, tell it your monitor is a 16:9 WIDE TV
2) In the Terapin setup, tell it your source is S-Video
3) Connect the S-Video out of your DVD player and into your Terapin
4) Play back the DVD and record it onto a CD
5) Play back the VCD onto a 16:9 monitor and make sure the aspect ratio is set to 16:9


Let me know what sort of results you got.



If I put the Terapin VCD into my DVD player and play it and do this, will it record the copy with widescreen???? WIll that solve my problem???

[AntnyMD]

You can edit out the white line on your computer for free with TMPGEnc, but it will involve re-encoding the video, which totally misses the point of using a Terapin. My suggestion is to just get over the white line business. If your playback monitor is a television, you shouldnt be seeing the white line at all. If you are, something's wrong with your television, not the VCD.

My suggestion on how to make a 16:9 fullscreen VCD will NOT result in an anamorphic VCD -- No such thing exists. If you play back a VCD on a 4:3 TV that was recorded for a 16:9 TV, the video will look squished.

If your playback monitor is a 4:3 TV, DO NOT follow my steps for a 16:9 VCD.

[vcd4me]

Ok I must say that I'm on board with you guys I ordered mine through a dealer online and haven't received it yet so bear with me. I have a couple of questions for you guys 1)VCDTRADING- the spin x cd-rs that your talking about you said they are blank on both sides do you mean I can record on both sides or is there just no writing on one of the sides? 2)ANTNYMD- What will happen if I don't do the setup you suggested?What if I just put in my dvd in my player then hit record on the terapin? Oh yeah I almost forgot I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY TERAPIN!!!! Thanks guys

[AntnyMD]

2)ANTNYMD- What will happen if I don't do the setup you suggested?What if I just put in my dvd in my player then hit record on the terapin?

If you dont do it then you'll make a 4:3 VCD. Please do not be confused by my steps listed above, as they are only a suggestion on how to make a 16:9 VCD of a 16:9 DVD.

When recording from your DVD to the Terapin, make sure your DVD player has Macrovision disabled.

[VCD-Trading]

Hey man!!!!

My GOD, you are going to LOVE the Terapin Recorder!!!

A few things first......

One, holy crap! You bought the recorder from www.terapintech.com.
Dont open it and send it back!!........If you paid $499, dont open the box return it and get your money back.

www.ebay.com has members who are selling bran new ones between $200-250. Bran new machines and those guys have been on ebay for years.

Sams Club also has them for only $200...I WOULD HATE TO SEE YOU SPEND ALL THAT MONEY!, my buddy bought one and took it back when he found the other prices.


OK......THE GOOD AND THE BAD of the TeraPin!! Mostly GOOD!!

Here are some rules that you must follow or your Terapn will **** up the disc you are making or screw up the video you are recording..........i FOUND THIS OUT AND LOST A FEW THINGS ON TV because it didnt record correctly!!!

They will send you their own Terapin Blank CDRs in the box. Those CDs work but are expensive! I found these at office Depot, SPIN-X 80 MIN Blanks and YES THEY ARE BLANK ON BOTH SIDES.......ONLY $14.99 FOR A 50 PACK. SORRY MAN, THOSE ONLY CAN RECORD ON ONE SIDE!!! Ive been looking for double sided but then......YOU cant make Labels and put it on the disc. I CANT FIND ANY DOUBLE SIDED DISCS YET!
These are the best! Nothing on the front of the CDR so you can write or put anything you want on them. I bought them at Office Depot.


Here are the things you MUST WATCH OUT!! First off, I have my DVD VCR Combo hooked into the back of the Player, NOT THE FRONT.....RCA Audio and Video. I also have the SVideo out hooked up from the DVD part of my Samsung DVD/VHS player to the INPUT of the Terapin.
I use the regular RCA cables for the VHS and the Svideo for the DVD.

Here are the tips.......First off, You must go to the MENU screen on the TeraPin and select what format you are using for Input and output. You will see, you can select Composite Back, Composite Front, SVideo. If are going to set up your DVD player, you need to select what Input format you're going to use. When Im coping something from TV or VHS, I use the Composite Back option on the Terapin. When I switch from VHS to DVD, I have to go into the MENU and change the option from Compostite Back to SVideo.

The menu, make everything is set to NTSC unless otherwise.
ANOTHER TIP......MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE PLUGING IN EVERYTHING IN THE BACK OF THE PLAYER (Video, Audio), make sure you select it for the back. I spent an hour figuring that out and thought my Terapin was messed up, I was getting and recording no sound. Make sure the menu set up is right!! Very Important!

Here are the details so you dont **** up a disc!!!

MAKE SURE......WARNING.....MAKE SURE YOU ONLY USE THE TERAPIN FOR 4-5 HOURS AT A TIME.....
It starts to get very hot sometimes and THAT IS WHEN THE VIDEOS CDS YOU ARE MAKING GET MESSED UP.

Example......Im transfering the show "Seven Days" and "Sliders" from VHS to VCD. I can record about 5 or 6 shows before I turn off the Terapin to let it cool down. You can feel the back or top of the system and tell if its getting hot!

The problem I found with this is that the Video startes to "Flicker" or the recording the frames starts to get screwed up and makes the video and audio skip and filcker..........TO AVOID THIS, BUN 3-6 HOURS AT A TIME, AND give the little machine a rest.
NEVER HAD A PROBLEM UNLESS THE MACHINE IS HOT.

Now, when recording something, it says it can only do the 74 but the 80 min SPIN X Discs I use have the 80 mins. THE TERAPIN DOES RECORD OVER 74 and records to the end of the 80mins discs but I FOUND ANOTHER GLITCH, BUT IT WILL BE FINE IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS.

The first night I put in a tape to record and left it overnight. IT recorded all the way to the end and the Terapin Recorder stopped itsself. When I got up and tried to Finalize the Recorder, The DISC COULDNT BE FINALIZED OR USED!! So, make sure you STOP, LET THE MACHINE UPDATE, AND THEN PUSH FINALIZE DISC AND WAIT FOR IT TO MAKE THE VCD.

The DVD to VCD is the best especially if you are going to record DVD BOX sets from TV shows like..........Star Trek, Startgate, X-Files, The Sopraons. Each episode is less then 60 mins so I dont ever have to worry about discs without enough mins unless Im coping a DVD movie to VCD. Just get a good place to stop the DVD movie, Put in another Disc and record the rest of the movie.

All you do is plug your DVD player into the inputs in the front or back of the Terapin, RCA or SVideo. Go to the menu screen and select the Video imput souce.

When you plug the OUTPUT VIDEO and AUDIO RCA plugs from The Terapin to your TV, you will see the DVD screensaver or whatever your DVD player shows before you start a movie.

Put the blank disc into the Terapin. WAIT......YOU MUST WAIT AND BE PATIENT, THE TERAPIN IS A LITTLE SLOWER WITH THE FUNCTIONS ....... The recorder will say reading the disc and then say CD Recordable 00.00. Then you push Video Record. WAIT......THIS IS THE SLOW PART.....IT TAKES IT OWN DAMN TIME......usually a second to two and then it will say Record Standby. When you are ready to start Recording the DVD or whatever video source, all you do is then push Confirm and the player starts to record. Once you push Confirm, it takes 1-3 seconds to start recording so YOU HAVE TO TIME IT PERFECT. I get to the perfect point on the DVD player, PAUSE it, and pust record on the Terapin. A second later, I push Play on the DVD player so by time the Terapin starts recording, it doesnt Miss anything that the DVD player sent. You will see and get a hand of it..........

Ive had mine for 2 weeks and copied From DVD to VCD.......THE X-Files Sasons 1-4, The Sopranos Season 1 and 2, and Farscape.


If you have any questions, you can email me at VCDTRADING@hotmail.com or you can AOL instant message me at
Enterprise VCDs

Ill help you with anything you need and Im looking and trying to figure out things with this all the time. When are you suppose to get yours??

If you spent the $499, I really hope you can get it back and get one from Sams or ebay.

talk to you soon
John

[VCD-Trading]

Hey man.....

I just saw your thing about the Macrosoft protection on the DVD players. Most of them you cant turn offf like mine.....

THE COOL THING IS.......The Terapin doesnt have MACROSOFT PROTECTION and whatever DVD VIDEO source is coming into the TeraPin, It will display the DVD video and record just fine.


Even if there are copy protections on the DVD discs, the DVD players, or anywhere else, The Terapin doesnt care. Whatever DVD player you hook up to it, it will work no problem.

The DVD hooks right up to The Terapin just like a VCR to a TV.

Did you have to do something with your DVD player and turn of Macrosoft protection????

Never heard of that before.

[AntnyMD]

"Macrovision"

Defeating Macrovision is discussed from time-to-time in these forums. Do a search on the word to learn more.

[vcd4me]

Thanks ANTNYMD, But now I've got another question for you . You said disable the mac. on my dvd player I thought terapin did this on its own. I can't disable mac. on my pioneer-434 I 've been looking for a hack though(but with no luck) Now for you Mr.VCD-TRADING, What are you trying to do get your moneys worth in the first week of owning your terapin(LOL)(in the reveiws section it says its the only vcd-recorder with out an annoying fan).No way I didn't pay $499 I did buy it from a dealer on ebay $264.50 no SAM'S club around here there used to be one but we have the other two BJ's and COSTCO.I thought the $264.50 was a good price comes with a whole bunch of goodies 25cdr-s, power dvd player, surge protector free shipping, and a few other things. Also you got me all excited about the spinx I've never heard of two sided discs but I also never heard of that company that makes that blow job machine that hooks up to your dvd player I saw A link for it on this site(don't know if it was a joke or not)Well lets keep this going,I'm excited to find some guys like you I'm going to keep your email if thats's ok.?where you from? What type of movies do you like?Oh I can't wait to get my TERAPIN ! This item has received so many mixed reviews but you guys have made me feel a little more comfortable with my purchase.Has anyone tried to make a music cd out of a cassette tape? don't forget it does music also- Worked at a music store in my early twenties I 've got over a hundred that I want to convert to cd's(oh yeah back then cd players and discs were way to expensive for me late 80's early 90's)

[vcd4me]

Sorry guys you must have been talking while I was still typing. That clearsdup the mac question.

[Azhure]

Hi everyone,

I'm only a newbie to this whole video capture area of computers, and have been surfing around to make sure I understood everything before going out and buying a whole bunch of new hardware & software

Well the cost was freaking me out to do what I wanted - the cost of everything in Australia is like doubled... But after I realised that all I want to do is put my very long large library of VCR's onto disk for the sake of archiving, then all I needed was a VDRecorder.

Well like a good newbie, I searched for the topic here, and lo and behold I found this post - and the recommendation for a Terapin. I've just been to Ebay, and found heaps for around the $200 - $250 US mark, which is much better than the roughly $2000 - $3000 US I would have spent on the ultimate system to burn to VCD properly on pc. (I can hold out now for a while longer on that purchase).

So now for the questions. Can you set up different 'tracks' or chapters on a VCD? The only VCD's I've ever played are all the one track. Not that this is a major issue, but can it be done on these desktop VDR players?

The other question is about the CDR media - any CDR's will do? or do they have to be specific types, speeds etc. I have heard this can affect the final recording?

Regards
Azhure.

[DeafBug]

Just a quick question, I can't find the answer on their website. So here is the question, if I record TV shows or playback a VHS tape that is recorded off from TV, will the closed caption be carried over to the CD like according to the VCD 2.0 specs? You should know by now that I am deaf.

[AntnyMD]

So now for the questions. Can you set up different 'tracks' or chapters on a VCD? The only VCD's I've ever played are all the one track. Not that this is a major issue, but can it be done on these desktop VDR players?

The other question is about the CDR media - any CDR's will do? or do they have to be specific types, speeds etc. I have heard this can affect the final recording?

The Terapin records its discs in VCD version 1.1 mode, so it will only make tracks (i.e., avseq01.dat; avseq02.dat etc etc). Each track will play one after the other, with a 2 second pause between tracks. It will not make entrypoints so that segments play without pauses; entrypoints are supported only in VCD 2.0 and later.

Any CD-R media will do, but if you don't use CD-R/W for "consumer" or "audio" use, you are guaranteed to experience sync issues. Furthermore, the best quality captures are made using the S-Video connection. When I record television programs using the composite connection, it doesn't play back in sync on any machine except on my Mac using Quicktime 5 in OS 9.

[AntnyMD]

Just a quick question, I can't find the answer on their website. So here is the question, if I record TV shows or playback a VHS tape that is recorded off from TV, will the closed caption be carried over to the CD like according to the VCD 2.0 specs? You should know by now that I am deaf.

I noticed last night when I made a copy of The Sixth Sense DVD onto VCD that the little flashing white lines at the top of the image (where the closed-captioning information shows up in the signal) weren't flashing, which would indicate theres just noise there, but no useful information. My guess is VCD doesn't support closed-captioning at all. When I've made VCDs for my deaf friends, I just turned on the subtitle of their choice and let the Terapin hard-code the subtitles onto the image. Admittedly, closed-captioning shows up better than colored subtitles. VCDs and DVDs aren't very deaf-friendly, are they (especially if your deafness affects your vision)?

[j8h9]

Here's a review of the Terapin unit...

http://www.potce.com/Cat1/01/Electronics/HomeVideo/tervcdintro.htm

[baker]

TERAPIN IS A WASTE OF MONEY!!! FOR MANY REASONS. DVD RECORDERS ARE GETTING CHEAPER, DVD-VCD IS QUITE FAST NOWADAYS ANYWAY, WITH A FAST COMPUTER YOU MAY GET AROUND REAL TIME ANYWAY.

Baker

[AntnyMD]

Once settop DVD recorders that record on both DVD plus and minus R, that has an 8 event/365 day timer function, plus can record material in 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios drop below the US$500 price barrier, then and only then will the Terapin be a useless product.

Until then, forking over $199 - $250 for a Terapin to make perfectly formatted and, with the proper media, always in sync copies of DVD and television in real time is a small price to pay and is not a waste of money.

I am the first to concede the picture quality of Terapin discs are not quite what you can get with TMPGEnc when you add in filters, deinterlacing, inverse telecine, blah blah blah, but if you are interested in all the ways to perfect a VCD, you'd be headed the desktop computer route anyway. For those who want purely uncomplicated VCD creation (with the help of Terapin owners, such as myself), a Terapin is really the best/cheapest way to go.

[gsashok]

I won't agree Terapin is perfect. My Datavideo creates very excellent VCDs. I can chllange terapin owners

[thxkid]

Problem, once you have seen the perfect mirror copies you can get on a $699 panasonic DMR E-20 DVD recorder, 2hr mode DVD-R, who wants a terapin then. Terapin you make one copy only and live with the equal or less then equal VHS quality, the Panasonic DMR E-20 DVD recorder I can make 3 generations of copies in the 1 hr mode or 2 generations in the 2hr mode before you can see any degration in the 500 to 540 lines of resolution copies. Plus with the Ram Discs you can edit right on the discs to cut out unwanted scenes or commericals with perfect edited results.
Never do a sub standard VCD or SVCD again when you can get perfect DVD-R's.

[AntnyMD]

Problem, once you have seen the perfect mirror copies you can get on a $699 panasonic DMR E-20 DVD recorder, 2hr mode DVD-R, who wants a terapin then. Terapin you make one copy only and live with the equal or less then equal VHS quality, the Panasonic DMR E-20 DVD recorder I can make 3 generations of copies in the 1 hr mode or 2 generations in the 2hr mode before you can see any degration in the 500 to 540 lines of resolution copies. Plus with the Ram Discs you can edit right on the discs to cut out unwanted scenes or commericals with perfect edited results.
Never do a sub standard VCD or SVCD again when you can get perfect DVD-R's.

Since the topic of this thread is DVD to VCD copies, using this thread to hype DVD to DVD copies (which are clearly better than VCD) is dangerously close to hijacking the topic.

[Banko]

dbaker you don't need that much money if you want to do it on the computer. If you have a DVD player in your computer just rip it, and convert it to DVD-R, VCd, SVCD, and burn.