VHS Capturing Methods

[EViS]

I've found the following two options to be most popular for capturing a VHS stream from home-made family movies;

a) S-VHS VCR via S-video --> stabilizer/TBC --> DVD recorder --> PC DVD-ROM --> Authoring Software

b) S-VHS VCR via S-video --> stabilizer/TBC --> capture device/capture card --> PC --> DVD burner & Authoring Software

Firstly I don't have too much money to spend on converting my old VHS tapes to DVD.

1.Can a Canopus can go in place of the 'stabilizer/TBC' in both a) and b)?
2. Will there be any difference to the stream quality if it is used in b)?
3. Which option will give me the best quality on a reasonable budget? By budget I mean not spending hundreds and hundreds on hardware equipment to transfer 10 or so important family VHS films to DVD.

[Cole]

I can only answer number 1: In my experience a Canopus needs to have a TBC before it, in the line up, as well. So in (b) the Canopus will be the capture device.

The Canopus can't be used with a DVD Recorder or if it could it wouldn't add any value to the set up as to be not worth it being there. The Canopus (assuming you are referring to the ADVC range) is a capture device itself, converting the analogue signal to digital and the PC records its output.

Hope that is helpful

[EViS]

Thanks for that input cole, so basically the question that remains is whether to use a DVD Recorder or a PC capture card (or any other way of connecting a vcr/tbc to a PC?)?

[Cole]

FWIW, I have compared the capture of an off-air digital signal to both my DVD Recorder (Sony) and a Canopus ADVC-50 capture (then encoded to a similar bit rate MPEG using TMPGEnc Plus) and the difference was negligable. I have no knowledge of MPEG capture cards I must point out.

If it is down budget then I would suggest the DVD Recorder as, once you have converted the tapes you wanted, you will still have a DVD Recorder to use.