I CHALLENGE someone for a capture solution .....

[sungator]

I have edited underwater video for years, dating back to a primitive "play" VCR to "record" VCR. I gradually upgraded to a Pinnacle DV500 capture card, ADOBE Premiere 6.5, DVD LAB Pro, and a Plextor DVD recorder. My challenge to whoever is "geeky" enough to help, and without a lot of changes by me, is to tell me how I can capture directly from PDV500 card to DVD without the P6.5 and DLP steps, i.e. "Real Time Recording to DVD". I don't want to lose the old process, I just want to be able to transfer previous VHS productions straight to DVD. Thanks in advance.

Sonny

P.S. I'm still running Win2KPro on a vintage (2000) Alienware PC.

[jagabo]

DVD Recorder -- many have a firewire input for doing exactly this.

Some PC software claims to be able to do this too. I'm pretty sure Pinnacle Studio and Ulead VideoStudio both support this.

[jman98]

Why do you not just connect the VCR directly to a DVD recorder? I don't understand why you need to go to the capture card first and then to DVD.

[sungator]

jman98 Posted: Mar 12, 2008 09:04

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Why do you not just connect the VCR directly to a DVD recorder? I don't understand why you need to go to the capture card first and then to DVD.

The DVD recorder is actually a Plextor External DVD Burner. I'm not sure that I can go "directly" to it.

jagabo Posted: Mar 12, 2008 08:55

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DVD Recorder -- many have a firewire input for doing exactly this.

Some PC software claims to be able to do this too. I'm pretty sure Pinnacle Studio and Ulead VideoStudio both support this

All availabe input ( camcorder, VCR ) is ANALOG

[Supreme2k]

What about simply saying "please"?

The people on this board help out of (basically) kindness. There's no way to force some help, whether it be demands, insults, or a "challenge".

Challenge? Indeed.

[sungator]

Sorry, I didn't intend to be rude. It's just that I am at my wits end and need some help. Please accept my apology.

I thought "challenge" might inspire someone to help me because I love a challenge.

Again.... my sincerest apology.

Sonny

[PuzZLeR]

Well, I'm not going to offer a "challenge", just the opposite - an easy, and recommended, solution...

I too used to do the, not two, but THREE VCR hookup thing with two monitors/TVs to do my editing. Been there.

Later on I have also done the capture cards, the Dazzle thing, etc, all were horrid. This stuff is too intensive for a PC, probably still today even with multicores, etc. - especially when you ground your PC to only this real-time task.

All I'm gonna say is that in 2003 I discovered something called a DVR and I jumped on it. I even felt angels singing to me as I was first taking it home for good reason - I haven't been happier since with capturing television, transferring camera content, and digitizing VHS tapes. Best investment ever - and they're more affordable today.

No hassles, no headaches - it's a standalone unit that has worked hard for me for years without fail or without whining. All I'm doing is "feeding the machine" and it works alone unattended and it also keeps my PCs open for other stuff that I want to do with them.

If you're a picky person like me, you can migrate the video to use on your PC for editing, effects, better authoring or even video compressing, but don't burden it with capturing. But this will eliminate all your other steps you used previously if you want to.

Forget cards. Get a DVR. You won't regret it.

[sungator]

Forget cards. Get a DVR. You won't regret it.

I appreciate the advice and will take it in future consideration. But for now, I have to "dance with the one who brung me".

[jagabo]

jagabo Posted: Mar 12, 2008 08:55

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DVD Recorder -- many have a firewire input for doing exactly this.

Some PC software claims to be able to do this too. I'm pretty sure Pinnacle Studio and Ulead VideoStudio both support this

All availabe input ( camcorder, VCR ) is ANALOG

Then use the analog inputs on a DVD recorder. A DVD recorder is the cheapest and simplest solution. One example:

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-D-R400-Tunerless-Upconverting-Certified/dp/B000MY38JE/

On the PC you already have the Pinnacle DV500 so you can just use the software I mentioned (verify the ability -- I haven't used either one in quite a while).

[usually_quiet]

I know of no software that records captures directly to a DVD burner (what you have) and then authors it for you, similar to what a set-top DVD recorder does.

You can get a new set-top DVD recorder for between $100 and $300 (US), depending on features and make, which is probably no more than you would pay for software that could do what you want, if such a thing existed. (That is probably why it doesn't exist.) Refurbished DVD recorders sell for even less.

[Edit] I see a few people beat me to the punch. Oh well.

[jman98]

I know of no software that records captures directly to a DVD burner (what you have) and then authors it for you, similar to what a set-top DVD recorder does.

I don't think the original poster gets this. And it seems that the only solution he wants is to do what the rest of us know he can't do - record directly to a DVD burner on a PC.

[jagabo]

I know of no software that records captures directly to a DVD burner (what you have) and then authors it for you, similar to what a set-top DVD recorder does.

I don't think the original poster gets this. And it seems that the only solution he wants is to do what the rest of us know he can't do - record directly to a DVD burner on a PC.

He can do this with Pinnacle and Ulead products. Probably not very well though.

[sungator]

I don't think the original poster gets this. And it seems that the only solution he wants is to do what the rest of us know he can't do - record directly to a DVD burner on a PC.

Now that someone has finally come out and said that it can't be done ( gracefully ), I DO get it.

[jagabo]

I don't think the original poster gets this. And it seems that the only solution he wants is to do what the rest of us know he can't do - record directly to a DVD burner on a PC.

Now that someone has finally come out and said that it can't be done ( gracefully ), I DO get it. :x

Except they are wrong.

[DB83]

Ulead Movie Factory has a 'record straight to disk' option

Actually, it does not quite do this and stores the capture on to your hard drive, creates menus etc before burning the disk.

But it's as close as you will get.

[usually_quiet]

He can do this with Pinnacle and Ulead products. Probably not very well though

Which Ulead or Pinnacle products and which versions do you recommend for him? Remember he has an old PC.

He probably doesn't have the processor power or memory needed to run current versions of their video suites, and would need to find older versions on Ebay or some clearinghouse for old software. On the plus side, old software is often pretty cheap.

However, one fact that has not been mentioned is that some DVD recorders have great video filters, far better than most capture cards. That is one reason why I purchased a DVD recorder instead of a capture card.

[dun4cheap]

Ulead, and Pinnacle also offer a record to DVD direct feature. I have seen the pinnacle software for as little as $10. I think its called Pinnacle Instant DVD Recorder or something. At this point though I think some of the suggestions for just using a dvr with a dvd recorder built in is a good answer. These not only will conver analog to digital on the fly they usually can record straight from firewire if you desire.

You can find quite a few at geeks.com for cheap.

Here is one that also has a built in VHS player so you can also record from vhs to dvd without any hardware for $79

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=LVC-9016G-R&cpc=SCH

This way you don't have to worry about the need of a TBS device, or audio video sync.

If your on a budget then go with the Instant DVD Recorder software

or ever cyberlink power producer will do this

http://www.softwareoutlet.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=4410&Cat...oduct_Count=66

[sungator]

Thanks to all for your responses and help.

Sonny

[PuzZLeR]

Even though it may be double the price, I strongly recommend getting a stand-alone recorder with a hard drive. Yes, most of us hardcores are going to want to transfer the content to our PCs for the higher level stuff as opposed to the simplistic features of a DVR, but a few cuts and trims on a hard drive, even before you export, is very handy and you'll be glad you can do this.