Best method with available tools

[Cirruz]

Hi there!

First, I would like to say that I've search the forum and couldn't find exactly what I'm looking for. So, here we go:

Final result: edit (cut-out commercials, etc.) and convert to DVD or DivX/Xvid.
Souce quality: medium or good (decent quality, nicelly preserved VHS tapes no more that 10 years old).
Available hardware: Watson 6 head stereo VCR, Panasonic 4 head mono VCR, Panasonic DMR-EH50 DVD recorder, Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150.
Available software: all freeware , TMPGEnc DVD Author, TMPGEnd MPEG Editor, TMPGEnc AC3 Plugin, TMPGEnc Xpress and Nero.

What have I tried:
1. VCR (composite) --> Panny DVD recorder (MPEG) --> TMPGEnc MPEG Editor --> TMPGEnc DVD Author --> Nero. Result: didn't like the Panasonic recording quality.
2. VCR (composite) --> Hauppauge PVR (MPEG) --> TMPGEnc MPEG Editor --> TMPGEnc DVD Author --> Nero. Result: Hauppauge comb-filter (composite signal) messes-up the image and the bright colors are overexposed.

What I what to try:
VCR (composite) --> Panny DVD recorder (S-video, passthought, TBC?) --> Hauppauge PVR (AVI) --> some AVI capture software --> some AVI edit software --> TMPGEnc Xpress --> TMPGEnc DVD Author

My question is: is this the right setup? Do you have any advice to get better results with the same tools?

Also, another question: if I also want DivX/Xvid output, what changes do I need?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Cirruz

[Marvingj]

The first setup looks O.K. but you need a quality SVHS VCR instead of cheap or good vcr. Why because most of the better SVHS VCR has a built in stabilizer. No offense your problem is the Vhs Vcr.

[Cirruz]

The first setup looks O.K. but you need a quality SVHS VCR instead of cheap or good vcr. Why because most of the better SVHS VCR has a built in stabilizer. No offense your problem is the Vhs Vcr.

Marvingj, thanks for your response! Yup, I know, my bottleneck is the VCR player... But they are expensive and I'm not allowed to spend more money with this stuff (if you know what I mean!). With "The first setup looks O.K", do you refer to the one that I've tried or the one that I'll try? Thanks again,

Cirruz