Copying VHS tapes to DVD

[geoffstandish]

Can anyone tell me a prog or technique to allow me to copy my copy protected VHS tapes to HDD or DVD..
I ahve a large collection and wish to retire my VHS machine. US LAWS dont apply !

[olyteddy]

My Hauppauge PVR USB2 seems to ignore Macrovision.

[geoffstandish]

I've Win TV and DVB _T
Will they be suitable and whats the set up procedure please ?

[FulciLives]

I would suggest going with the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 350 (internal PCI) or the Hauppauge WinTV USB2 (external USB 2.0 device). Both of these are made by Hauppauge for the USA and UK markets. The UK model for the 350 model is "993" and the UK model for the USB2 is "958". Those numbers are different for the USA models.

As long as you are NOT using Windows MCE (also I would avoid Vista for now) then copy protection is not an issue with these two capture cards. They will capture anything.

The only down side ... they tend to not handle "unstable" video all that well. This means that some videotape captures could turn out less than "perfect" in quality unless you are using a Full Frame TBC (TBC is short for Time Base Corrector).

Problem with a Full Frame TBC is that they are expensive. However you will get a better capture if you use one and they do remove all forms of copy protection (at least any form that would be found on a videotape or DVD). So actually using a Full Frame TBC will give you better quality and allow you to use just about any capture/recording device out there. The only "issue" being price.

I don't know what the UK situation is but here in the USA the cheapest Full Frame TBC is about $200 US Dollars. Just to give you an idea on price the two Hauppauge capture cards/devices listed above go for around $150 US Dollars (although can often be bought for a bit less). So that would be $350 US Dollars for the combo (a Full Frame TBC and computer capture card/device).

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Rich86]

and - after spending that money and going to all that trouble - you still have vhs video and audio quality.

[FulciLives]

and - after spending that money and going to all that trouble - you still have vhs video and audio quality.

Well you have to remember that some people have stuff on VHS that simply cannot be bought or found on the DVD format.

It may be old TV shows or old rare movies or family camcorder stuff etc.

So don't make like it ain't worth it LOL

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[geoffstandish]

Mines the USB version, cost about £40, say $75
and yes, the stuff I have is old shows and comedians, stuff that aint available on DVD. I like to watch it on a laptop either when on holiday in the Med ....... (on vacation in Europe at resorts on the Medtteranean Sea) or touring in my camper .
By the way , I am a Yorkshireman, .... we teach the Scots how to keep hold of their brass ( money )....., I'll put up with reduced quality if it means saving $350 (£180)

[bendixG15]

Getting past macrovision has been a popular subject around here and some solutions have been posted. Suggest you do a search on macrovision and decide for yourself.

[jameshgross]

Here is what I do:

VHS --> HOME THEATHER -->MONITOR OUT --> HAUPPAUGE WIN PVR2.0 USB --> Hard disk MPEG2 file.
Edit in WOMBLE author in TDA 1.6.
I have copied over 200 VHS tapes.

[FulciLives]

Here is what I do:

VHS --> HOME THEATHER -->MONITOR OUT --> HAUPPAUGE WIN PVR2.0 USB --> Hard disk MPEG2 file.
Edit in WOMBLE author in TDA 1.6.
I have copied over 200 VHS tapes.

WOMBLE refers to WOMBLE MULTIMEDIA who makes MPEG-VCR which is a popular MPEG editor. TDA refers to TMPGEnc DVD Author which is a popular DVD authoring program just recently out in a new 3.0 version although many prefer the older 1.5 or 1.6 version.

Just wanted to make it more clear.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[geoffstandish]

Sorry guys we've got a lingo problem re home theatre - does this refer to a VHS recarder ?

Instead of using monitor can I use the composite video out (aerial) socket ?

Im doing straight copies so presumably I wont need to go thru other programmes ?

[FulciLives]

The Hauppauge WinTV PVR 350 unit features composite video input, S-Video input and stereo audio input. For the video you will need composite (yellow RCA type jack) or S-Video. For the audio you will need an "adaptor". Usually you can buy a single cord where one end has stereo RCA jacks (white for left and red for right) and the other end has a stereo "mini-plug" which is what the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 350 uses (looks like the plug on a pair of headphones).

The USB2 version has standard RCA audio jacks instead of the stereo "mini-plug" so no special cord or adaptor is needed.

As for programs ... you get a program called WinTV 2000 (sometimes called WinTV2K) and this is what you use to do your recording or capturing. After that I suggest using TMPGEnc DVD Author as this program will allow you to import your recordings ... edit them (simple cut editing only like trimming the start and end or removing whole portions like TV commercials) ... then you can create a DVD menu etc. and finally ... burn to a DVD disc using your computer's DVD burner.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jameshgross]

My Home theather (big screen TV) has a monitor out set of video and audio connections
including s-video, composite, audio(analog and digital).
Therefore what ever I see on the screen can be outputed to another video device.

[geoffstandish]

Sounds OK to me
We've got the hauppage already in th ehouse soI can borrow that and experiment
Thanks for all your help guys
Geoff

[geoffstandish]

Hi Guys,
Got wired up and am getting pic and sound thru onto monitor.Can you talk me thru the capture prcedure . The instructions on Win Tv are either lacking in detatial or proving complicated . As I dont want to edit at the moment I understand I can use WIN DV or any of the other progs to capure. How do I latch onto these programs ?
If its any help I am on Yahoo.co.uk messenger as leedsfreespirit.

[FulciLives]

There is a lot of good information here: http://www.shspvr.com/

That website is dedicated to Hauppauge WinTV PVR capture cards/devices. They also have a forums area.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman