Hello all,
I'm undertaking the task of converting our old VHS tapes to DVD. I have a Happaugge PVR-150 capture card, so I will capture in MPEG. I guess an avi format would've been better, but the card was already purchased at that time. I "think" most of the editing will be simple cut and paste anyway. If the playback hardware does a good enough job. My hope is to fit 4 hours of video on a DVD, but that depends on the quality. Okay, on to the questions...

1) Playback hardware - I've read the information on digitalFAQ.com and found their suggestions for S-VHS VCRs. I've found a JVC HR-S9600U and a HR-S9800U on eBay. I don't know what they'll end up going for, but what are some other models/brands that I could look for? I envision them going for a pretty penny and would like to get something not quite so expensive, but I might buy one anyway. For now however, let's assume I get the JVC HR-S9800U.

2) 8mm tapes - I also have bunches of old 8mm tapes that needs converting. When I started this project, I thought I would just connect a camcorder to the VCR which was connected to the capture card, record a file, do some editing, and burn to DVD. (So much for that much simplicity.) Anyway, could I connect the camcorder to JVC VCR (via AV cables) and still take advantage of the filters? TBC, DNR, Stabilization, and the such?

3) Capture resolution and format - I'm sure some trial and error will be involved here, but to begin with. Since I'm going to DVD in the end, I should capture at that resolution? That is 720 x 480 correct? (I'm in the USA.) Is MPEG-2 the format I want for the DVD as well? This is the area that I get the most confused in. The factors that I think I need to watch out for here are format, resolution, bitrate, and interlaced.

The capture will be performed in Ubuntu Linux (I'm running MythTV on it though I'll turn that off for the capture.) and the editing will be on Ubuntu, OS X, or Windows ME. Preferably OS X.

Thanks for any help that can be provided here,
Matthew