External capture devices?

[relux]

I too am looking for a good capture device.

What I am trying to do is convert concert footage from VHS tapes(some are 2nd 3rd gen copies) to DVD. I have a TV Wonder Pro card which I chose not to use for this. I recently bought a Dazzle 150. I do not know if there are better options out there.

Do these dvd recorders record okay quality from VHS?

LG LRY-517
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7099766&type=product&productCategoryId=p...=1109233550827

Or anything listed at:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&id=pcmcat13900050019

Also, how much difference do VCR's make on the capture quality? I bought a brand new Insignia(best buy brand) 4 head hifi vcr..it was only 60 bucks or so. Should i be looking at a higher quality VCR?

I am limited to things at best buy...


Any help is very appreciated

[redwudz]

Unfortunately, the VCR used for playing the tape can make a very big difference. The JVC VCRs with TBC onboard (Time Base Corrector) are some of the best, but not cheap. And working with old tapes that are copies makes it even worse. Or you can use a standalone TBC.

The other part of the equation is the capture device. I use a ADVC-100 that converts the analog video from my VCR and outputs DV video through a Firewire cable to the computer.

But the above setup can easily run you $600US or more.

If you have a lot of tapes, that would be the recommended way to go.

A few tapes......... I would buy a DVD recorder. Get one with a hard drive and you can use it for other purposes besides VHS conversions. Use your present VCR for input. It likely won't work as well as the above setup, but you may be able to filter the video in the DVR enough to make you satisfied. I use a Pioneer DVR, but I'm sure others will have recommendations.

This is just my opinion, looking at it from the economics standpoint, not the quality one.

[relux]

Thanks for the reply. I will look at a different VCR. I happen to work at Best Buy so I am fortunate to get a good discount on things. Unfortunatly though, we dont care either JVC or the Canopus products.

Right now, I have three capture/tuner devices. 1 is going back..

I have a Dazzle 150, ATI TV Wonder Pro, and A Hauppage PVR-150. It seems the dazzle has the best capture abilities so far.

I am not looking so much to ehance per se my videos..although that would be great. I don't know I have the time for that.

Here is my goal:

Capture the 200 VHS tapes and burn them to dvd. Length is usually not an issue. So capturing in "high quality for dvd" mode is usually fine. The tapes are about 30-60 minutes in length. I really am only looking to keep the quality of the VHS tapes.

Any more input would be great..I have done my fiar research but there is really so much information out there.