Want to convert VHS to DVD-R... what hardware is necessary?

[Canes305]

Just purchased my Sony DVD writer a few weeks back, have the My Sonic DVD software installed and wondered what needs to be purchased to connect my VHS to my PC so I can start the process.

Obviously quality is key here. Don't want to cut corners. Looking to preserve some vintage family videos and the goal is to get the best quality possible.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[FOO]

You need a capture device of some kind.
I use the ATI . It works.
Look in capture cards on the left

Find Lord Smurf s site. Lotsa info there ... but it's all incorrect ..

JUST JOKING

[indolikaa]

ATI All-In-Wonder or Canopus DV.

Disregard all those ATI Antichrists who say the AIWs can't produce quality video. They're all full of shit. I have an ATI AIW and a DV capture system, and they both work just fine, thank you very much!

I don't work with the Canopus but I receive about one disc per week from a fellow Canopus user. He gets an AIW-produced disc from me in return. We're both satisified with the final results.

I use an ATI AIW 9000 Pro and a Sony Digital8 camcorder passthru.

[Rkermit]

If you already have a decent video card, then I would suggest not buying an ATI all in wonder. (Video Card). If you were planning on eventually buying a new Video Camera, I'd suggest buying it now with a FireWire connection so you can connect it to your PC. The quality should be very good and you shouldn't drop any frames. The Video and Audio should be also In Sync.

And the last and for many, the best choice they've ever made, if you already have a good video card, not planning on ever buying a new video camera, save your Tylenol 3's and buy a CANOPUS ADVC-100 (Analog to Digial Converter.) Just to in the Capture Card comments section on the left and there are 152 Positive comments on this device. It's not a "card" but a device. You can' t go wrong! It's litterally and technically PERFECT!

Have a nice capturing time!

[Canes305]

My HandiCam is pretty much roached so I was going to get one of those VHS tape converters that holds the Video 8 tape and run everything from my JVC Super VHS 4-Head VCR.

Thanks for the the pointers. I will start doing my homework today.

[handyguy]

Yep, all you need to know is right there on that Left Column.

[dxj40c]

If you are copying an encrypted or macrovisioned vhs you will need an inline 'decrypter' for ATI AIW. I found one at BEST BUY for around $60. It's a SIMA Video Copy Master, removes the encryption from DVD and VHS signal.

[oneway23]

On the same topic, i got this item for the holidays called an AverMedia Digital Video Maker....On the box, it states the ability to turn those "precious VHS tapes into DVDs." I believe it is a capture card, and I have a DVD Burner, yet I have no clue what else this requires...what sort of wires do I need to connect my VCR to my PC...BTW, I have an ATI Radeon 7000 series video card. Any help greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Joe

[harjo02]

If its a capture card, it will have a DV input, coax connector, composite, and/or S-video jacks. I'm not sure if its considered a best practice but I run cable TV coac into a VCR then out of the VCR to my capture card. That way I can watch/capture cable TV or play a VHS into the capture card. At the very least, you'll need coax or composite or S-video (depending on what your VCR will support) from VCR to capture card.

My Pinnacle PCTV capture card has external audio so I've got to use an audio jumper cable from my capture card to my mic input.

That's about it. Just look at the back of you VCR and your capture card and logically plug things in.