VHS to DVD with new audio source

[rayzolight]

Hello! 1st post here

I'm going to start a new project and I could use a little guidance.

I have some stellar concert footage on VHS. The picture quality is great but the audio is only so-so. I now have a perfect soundboard audio source for the same video footage that I want to overdub.

My questions...

What hardware do I need? Can you recommend something reasonable? (a capture card?)
What software do I need?

I'm anticipating that the VHS tape has stretched out over a few years so I will have to manipulate the timing and sync up the video with the new audio source. For now, a shove in the right direction would be great!

Has anyone here done something like this before?

Thank you in advance!

[filmboss80]

The VHS footage will need to be digitized into your computer via a device like the ADS PYRO Analog to DV Video Converter A/V Link or the Canopus advc-110. Any timeline video editor, like Sony Vegas or Adobe Premiere will enable you to synchronize the new audio to the picture and old audio track. Capture your video as a DV avi file and your new audio as a wav file.

Keep in mind that the soundboard audio source is not exactly "perfect." Board sound is usually a bit dead, and without the reverb of the concert hall and the audience sound, it will not sound exactly the way an audience member hears the concert. If your original VHS footage is from a built-in mic, don't throw out that sound completely. Just fade it deep into the background to sweeten the soundboard audio. (Trust me, I've done this with fantastic results.)

A good timeline video editor can handle several tracks from multiple audio sources, and the sound waveform displays can help with synchronizing.

[rayzolight]

thank you! ..and i appreciate your input in regards to using the original audio source. the VHS is from a tripod mounted cam (hi8) with audio. the sound is actually OK, but the recently released SBD source is perfect. a matrix of the two would be ideal and something i will certainly explore. i'm going to do some research on the tools you mentioned and check back.

any other input or suggestions from members who have executed a similar project is encouraged and appreciated!

thanks filmboss

[rayzolight]

disregard...i think i've answered my own question.

[lacywest]

Or ... you can record the VHS footage with a Table Top DVD Recorder and burn to disk and process the disk in your computer.

And then use virtualdub to extract the audio as a wav file and ... and then I would use Cool Edit Pro 1.2 or Cool Edit Pro 2.1 ... and redo the audio using the Directx Plugins I have installed ... Waves ... and lots of others.

Then re-integrate the audio back into the video ... using Virtualdub.

Lots of fun ... I have done it.

Fright Night 2 was only on VHS ... so I started a project and burnt it onto DVD disk.

Amazon had it on DVD there ... but the reviews said it was poorly done.