VCR convertion..AGAIN

[hubman]

Hallo all, I know that you all say to search the posts, & i have doen so but.. i cannot seem to find a easy, definitive guide to how to take VCR home videos, convert to a DVD format and then burn. Tried Nero, Studio 8 (sucks) and other but to no avail..HELP PLEASE

[El Torro]

have you checked this site? The tutorial on this site works excellent for me

[DVDFan99]

It sounds like you have Pinnacle Studio 8; if so, I sugguest:
1. Use Pinnacle Studio 8 (or any video capture software) to capture video into AVI file (for ripping a long movie, your computer operating system must be at least Windows 2000)
2. Use an encoding program like TMPGEnc to encode AVI into MPG (must be DVD-formatted MPEG2 for your case)
3. Use an authoring software like Ulead DVD Workshop to author your MPG file(s) to generate image file
4. Use Nero to creat DVD from the image file.

Tips: to minimize frames dropped, you should:

1. Go to www.ChoBenThanh.net to get the instructions of how to disable startups

2. Set your screen saver & background to "none" and close all unneccessary running programs.

3. Go to Control Panel and set the "power options" of "automatically turn off hard disks" to 1 or 2 hours, long enough for ripping.

4. Defragment all your hard drives (don't forget to check hard drive for errors before defragmenting)

5. IMPORTANT: enable "DMA" on all your hard drives

6. Optional: Set your AIW capture card so that it reserves all CPU usage/capacibility for capturing (dedicated for capture).

7. If all above still doesn't work, you need at least 2 hard drives, one (drive C for operating system as well as for AIW installation files, and the other hard drive (drive D:, not partition D for capturing and storing all ripped files. Do NOT connect the hard drive on the same IDE cable that is connected to a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-RW drive (it is true that connecting the hard drive on the same IDE cable with CD-RW drive will reduce the "buffer underrun" error, but if you care more for ripping than for burning, you should change it)

8. If all above still doesn't work, get a third party software capture such as Ulead VideoStudio to capture video

9. If all above still doesn't work, you need a faster hard drive for drive D:, 7200RPM hard drive is recommended.

10. If all above still doesn't work, your computer cannot handle the big file of AVI due to analog source from VCR. Change the capture codec (make change in Ulead VideoStudio if you use Ulead VideoStudio instead of AIW software) to another codec for better compress, DV codec is recommended. Keep in mind that each codec compresses the ripped video in different ways...technically speaking, the more compressed codec you choose, the worse video quality you will obtain.

11. If all above still doesn't work, get an analog-to-digital converter to convert the analog signal from the VCR into digital signal before it reaches your computer. Sony TRV240 or TRV340 camcorder is recommended, but you need a firewire card adapter (most Sony computer already has firewire port, which Sony calls "I.Link")

[Video Fixer]

I am using Pinnacle Studio Deluxe with Studio 8 to capture VHS sourse and burn DVD. I can say all DVDs I have made so far is 90% quality of store DVDs. The kit to make best home DVDs from VHS is:
1- Pinnacle Studio Deluxe (with Studio 8 included): $200
Use Studio 8 to capture AVI files.
2- Mitsubishi VCR model HSU776 with S-Video out: $250
S-Video gives over 400 horizontal lines while Composite-Video gives only 230 lines. Use Monster S-Video cable to connect VCR and Blue Box(from Pinnacle Studio Deluxe Kit)
3- After capturing AVI files, the next step is to use TMPGEnc to create M2V files ( for Video, use 2 pass VBR ) and MP2 ( for Audio, set at 48KHZ and 384Mbps )
4- Now the time to start up Reel DVD to create AC3 file (Dolby Digital) from MP2 file (keep the same 384Mbps)
5- You can use Reel DVD or Spruce Up to author and create DVD file (Audio_TS and Video_TS folders)
6- Use Nero or any others that support your burner to burn DVD (I suggest NERO).
If you all do exactly the same as instruction, I bet you'd be supprise at DVDs you make (both VIDEO and AUDIO quality).
GOOD LUCK FOLKS !

[hubman]

Just to say thanks for the feedback so far, video guy(?) appreciate your response. I have all of those tools (using different VCR, but using S-video for capture to PC) and I have gotten so far as TMPG and conversion to Mpeg-2, but then I get lost. So I will try your suggestion and let you all know. Hats off From
hubman

[DVDFan99]

Hello Video Fixer,

I could do DVD with PCM, but not with AC3. I am very interested in your methods. I have some questions:

1. I am using Ulead DVD Workshop for authoring DVD. When I created "DVD image," the Nero (with the latest version) gave me an error of "blank DVD is not compatible..." But if I used Ulead DVD Workshop and burn DVD from this DVD image file, it was fine. Do you know what wrong it is?

2. Ulead DVD Workshop also let me creat DVD folder that is stored in the hard drive, which you also called "Audio_TS and Video_TS folders" When I use Nero, what function in Nero should I use (in other words, after choosing "Compile a new DVD," what next?) ? And should I drag & drop both folders of "Audio_TS and Video_TS folders" into Nero and just burn it?

Thanks,
DVDFannnnnnnn

[crahak]

I am using Pinnacle Studio Deluxe with Studio 8 to capture VHS sourse and burn DVD. I can say all DVDs I have made so far is 90% quality of store DVDs.

This is technically impossible, as the VHS format, even with the best tapes, VCR's and everything isn't 90% of the DVD format to start with. DVD's are much much much better thab VHS tapes. And keep in mind, even a 5000$ VCR won't create detail that isn't there on the VHS tape to start with. A good comb filter, good heads, cleanliness, and S-video connection sure help, but won't create lines that aren't stored on the tape. Even if the VCR's bandwidth and response in frequency and everything allow it to pass (supposedly) 400 lines of resolution, I doubt you will actually get this much, especially if your tapes are not brand new... Anyways, the bottom line is, you can only get so much out of VHS, and it's not near DVD...

Most problems people seem to have captuing from VHS tapes is sync, than you end up needing a TBC, or some similar solution.

[Video Fixer]

This is for DVDfan99:
Before burning, start up IfoEdit to open VTS_01_0.ifo, click Get VTS sector then save it.
Now with Nero, the best way to have your DVDs more compatible (with both PC and top set players):
Start Nero and choose DVD-ROM
(UDF/ISO)
Check ISO level 2 and check ISO 9660 and uncheck Joliet. After you done these, go to Label (what ever you name it)
Click New, it then open another screen, you would see your DVD title on the first left screen, drag VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders from the right screen to drop them below the DVD title.
Now click File then Write CD...