Best format to copy VHS to DVD-R with Pioneer DVR-210-S

[TawanaNBD]

Hi, I just got this recorder and am a complete newbie, so please forgive my ignorance. I mainly got it to replace my VCR and I would like to copy some treasured videotapes to DVD-R (so that they can be played in other players). I would like to be able to remove the commercials from these tapes for the DVD version, but from my reading of the manual, it seems like the only way to do this is using VR record mode, insert a chapter for each commercial, and then delete that chapter. As I understand, you cannot insert chapters in plain video record mode, so I would not be able to delete the commercials if I use that mode. Am I understanding this correctly? In that case, am I better off using a DVD-RW disk and praying it will play in other players or using a DVD-R disk and suffering through the commercials? Thanks for the help and apologize again if this is a stupid question.

[gshelley61]

Record in DVD-Video format on DVD-RW's (finalized). Edit and re-author the video files (VOB's) on the computer, burn a final DVD-R. Don't bother trying to edit and pick chapter points with the DVD recorder.

Have a look at TMPGEnc DVD Author for this. Easy to use.

[TawanaNBD]

Thank you for answering, unfortunately, I do not have a computer DVD burner. I think I may be out of luck in this area, as this seems to be where this question always ends up. Thanks though.

[gshelley61]

These days, you can get a quad format 8x burner for cheap... probably less than $60 now that all the dual layer models are starting to pop up.

[TawanaNBD]

You know, I just did a test recording from a VHS tape, on a TV without even S-video input, and it honestly does not look noticeably worse than the TV playack. I mean, it's not really worse than the way I've already been viewing these tapes, and if I got a new TV with component input it seems like that might clear it up even more. Shoot, my TV is so old even a new TV WITHOUT component input would prolly clear it up.

I don't know, maybe the PC DVD and software allows you to do all the nifty digital manipulation and would clean it up even more, but these are not archive tapes, they're mainly just show videos that I want to get off tape before it deteriorates (any more). A lot of them were shot in dark venues by drunk cameramen and I'm not sure I'm really going to improve the quality much more.

I still have that commercial vs VR recording dilemma, but I haven't quite given up on solving that with just the standalone recorder. Still thinking there must be a way to fiddle with chapters and get the commercials out, but only a couple of the tapes have commercials on them, of course the concert videos do not. Thanks for your input, I just do not want to invest huge amounts of times and money for these 10 or so tapes. I don't have a camcorder or anything else I would use it for. (Whereas a new TV would just be nice all the way round.)

[TawanaNBD]

duh, it's just dawned on me that a better TV will not help a recording from the VCR. Do you have a brand of a decent DVD burner that goes for $60? I've done a search and the lowest I've found is around $100.

[gshelley61]

Optorite 8x quad format DVD burner retail kit $60
http://vcdhelp.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=2423511


NEC dual layer 8x quad format burner OEM $72
http://vcdhelp.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=2846171&prsrt=1/


LG 8x quad format + RAM burner OEM $68
http://vcdhelp.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?sort_type=price&masterid=2563881&isbn=&pid=


Long list of quad format burners:
http://vcdhelp.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php?page_id=7&sortby=popular-&vendors%5B...&sortby=priceA

[TawanaNBD]

I am so sorry, I was looking at externals, that accounts for the price diff. I have looked in my Dell PC to see about swapping out the CD and the some of the screws are impossible to get to, I just don't see how I can get the CD out, so I was looking at external burners. I' m sorry, I should have specified that, it's late and I'm very tired. I checked out the site for the software you linked above. How does it compare with something like Pinnacle or Neo? Is it a lot better? Several of the external drives I looked at come bundled with these, but I might as well get a good program. I SWEAR I will not bother you again!

[gshelley61]

Since you only have 10 tapes, maybe have them converted professionally... there should be someone in your area that does VHS to DVD conversions for a nominal fee. You can shop online for this type of service, too. Some will not convert copy protected (commercial) tapes, though. I think it can be done for less than $20 per tape, but I'm not certain of that.

[TawanaNBD]

I saw that list of companies in that link you posted, I am keeping that in mind. But after I realized a new TV wouldn't help, I went to ebay and ordered an external DVD burner. Now we will just see if the Nero software that comes with it will do what I want. (Prolly not, the way my luck seems to be going.

[gshelley61]

depends on which version/level of Nero you get... if it is the full suite of Nero 6 programs, they do just about all multimedia functions

[TawanaNBD]

YAY! It says the Nero 6 Suite. Finally something went right! I expect I'll be back here when I get it, though, even though your original instructions (burn, finalize, finish it on PC) sounded pretty simple. Thanks for being my lifeline!

[TawanaNBD]

She's baaackk!! Got the external DVD, turns out it was Nero Express (even though it says "Suite" on the disk. Downloaded that program you recommended and it was intuitive enough that I actually managed to edit a very short clip as a test. However, there is a short but noticeable silence for a brief moment during the frames I cut out. I'm guessing this is normal and unavoidable but since this is my first time out I just wanted to double-check. Going to embark on MPG to DVD next! (PS, did decide to send some of those second-gen videos out to a service, terrible playback quality through the DVD so I knew they wouldn't record, thanks for that suggestion.)