PC capture card or DVD recorder

[now3d]

hi
I want to confirm a load of home videos onto dvd
Currently i have a PCTV card but the picture jumps around
when Im capturing. I believe i need something with a TBC.
So any suggestions as to whether I should get a decent capture
card with TBC (if so which one) ,or a DVD recorder

any suggestions appreciated

thanks

[handyguy]

I use a panasonic e30 but you can only get a e55. Use LP mode, push play on vcr, record on the panasonic & thats it. Then when done, create a menu, take s about a minute then finalize disk.

Wont copy macro protected stuff. try buydig.com for prices on the panasonics.

[upshot]

Many will argue that a good TBC is essential for stabilizing VHS... Many standalones claim they have TBC built in but I'd want to see a sample recording before I dropped the cash on one...

[fmctm1sw]

This debate often rages. Each has it advantages and disadvantages. I think the standalones are probably more limited with what you can do with them. Cap cards are more versitile but not a simple "push record" solution...

[FulciLives]

Users of the Datavideo TBC-1000 seem to be very happy with it.

The price is around $300 USD

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[SatStorm]

Or you buy a DVD Stanalone recorder, or ....

PCTV, you mean pinacle PCTV?
If so, you need to use the btwincap drivers and you forget the tuner of your card that way....

Then, you can capture avi (virtualvcr, virtualdub won't work with your card easy...), encode to mpeg 2, author and burn, or you can capture realtime to mpeg 2 (mainconcept 1.4.2 's built in capture fuction) *IF* you have a 2000Ghs CPU and learn how to set up your hardware and your software at the same time....

(Actually, I can use MC with a duron 1200 and full capture to 1/2 D1 mpeg2 in realtime, but after a lot of trial and error. Most people don't have the patience neither the time for this...)

[ItsMe]

I now prefer the stand alone solution, quick and easy and the quality is good enough for me. I still use my PC with editing software and VMagic for creating DVD's from my material shot with my DV camera though.

[handyguy]

Panasonic dvd recorders have special filters you can't get on your PC so they make vhs look better than the original. There are a lot of posts here saying that already.