Transferring VHS to DVD questions!

[Lothar1974]

I am not sure what all I will need. My PC is up to spec, P4 3.2 Gig , 4 Gigs of DDR2 Ram, 6800 GT video card, Audigy 2 ZS and a ATI Wonder Elite card with plenty of hard drive space and I have Adobe Premiere Elements. Correct me if I am wrong but I should just be able to connect a VCR to my PC and then rip the viseo to my hard drive and then convert as desired to DVD? Sorry for the lack on knowledge, I Do I need something in paticular to hook the VCR to my PC? ANy help is appreciated. I am pretty computer literate other than this paticular subject. Thanks!!!!!!!!

Jason

[TheFamilyMan]

Provided you have the full cable kit provided with the ATI TV elite card, all you need to do is plug your VCR's video and audio out into the video/audio in dongle in the same manner as you would plug them in a TV. I'm suprised that the user manual didn't cover this. The only "gotcha" is the copy protection that exists on most prerecorded VHS tapes, which I'm sure the TV elite card will detect. Getting around this requires special hardware that defeats it, such as the sima go-video. Good Luck!

[Lothar1974]

Familyman, I have a Canon digital camcorder. If I hook the VCR into the camcorder and the camcoder into my PC I should be able to get around the copy right issue? I lost my user manual for my ATI card and never reprinted it as I didn't think I'd every be doing more with it other than recording TV shows.

[TheFamilyMan]

The digital camcorder should do the trick; anyways I'm sure you'll find out soon enough. If you plan on using Premiere Elements for editing, it's best to capture in an AVI format rather than MPEG2. In that case, there is no need to use the ATI TV card with the camcorder for its firewire can be connected to the computer for a direct digital capture.

[Lothar1974]

Correct, I have tranfered a ton of video from my camcorder before just not a VCR. I thought about using the Camcorder as the pass through but aslo read online that I should be able to use my tuner card. You mentioned that pre-recorded VHS cassettes have copy protection , these won't be movies from the store, they are home videos captured via old camcorder that uses a cassette. Any way, thanks for the info!

Jason

[thecoalman]

You mentioned that pre-recorded VHS cassettes have copy protection , these won't be movies from the store, they are home videos captured via old camcorder that uses a cassette.

He was referring to commercial tapes. Home tapes don't have MV on them....but.... MV is a error and some capture cards and devices are prone to detect normal errors as MV. It's more common on older tapes. I haven't seen too many posts regarding camcorders where this is a problem. As far as circumventing real MV with a camcorder that comes down to which camcorder you have.

The ATI AIW's are one of the worst offenders where this false interpretation occurs. Whether the card you mentioned above is the same I don't know. Anyhow the only way to find out is give it try.

[choirislife923]

If I hook the VCR into the camcorder and the camcoder into my PC I should be able to get around the copy right issue?

it depends...on my JVC GR-D72 miniDV cam, if i use it as a pass through and the source as macrovision or it thinks it does, the cam displays an error similar to "cannot record" and after a few seconds it shuts down.

[Lothar1974]

I have a Canon ZR70 MC which has the Analog to Digital Pass Through. I just talked to a guy at work who has the model previous(camcorder) to mine and he stated he has connected his VCR to the camcorder and then to his PC to transfer home movies on VHS to DVD. SO I should be able to do this! I am doing this for my aunt, she has 5 VHS cassettes, yeah!

So this looks to be possible, any suggestions from here, any tips to get better quality. I have Premiere Elements 2.0 , Nero 6 Ultra Edition, should I use one of these or is there anything better to use? I really appreciate the help and advise. I have just started playing with video editing, I have been mainly using Premiere but would like to see if there is anything better. Thansk again!

Jason

[Lothar1974]

Anyone have any thoughts on my last question? Thanks!!!!!!!!!!


Jason

[harley2ride]

Premiere Elements is a decent all in one editing/authoring software and should be fine unless you want lot's of effects and special features.

[Lothar1974]

One more question, I burned a Dual layer disk using my NEC 3500 A- drive and Premiere last night. It was video from our china trip that was to large to fit a single layer disk. I played the disk and it was pixelated at certain times and then just stopped at one point! It wouldnt allow me to skip the chapter but if I restart the disk and skip that chapter I can watch the rest of the video. Reburned it and the same thing happens it stops in the middle of play(not at the same spot though). HELP!!!

Thanks,,

Jason

[lordsmurf]

Are you using Verbatim DL discs?

[Lothar1974]

Yes I am using Verbatim. I have read that they are one of the better brands to use.

[harley2ride]

Can't remember where it is, but somewhere in the cdfreaks.com forum, there is a guide to buring dual layer dvd's, and layer break info. There are numerous ways to do it, but there are very few ways that work correctly almost every time. I think there might even be a sticky posting about it...