VHS to PC to DVD's

[Probe1152]

I have about 5 VHS tapes that I want to record onto DVD's using my PC. I don't want to go out and buy a DVD recorder to do this. I have HP Pavillion, Pentium(R) D, CPU 3.00GHz, 3.50GB ram with WindowsXP Media Center Edition Version 2002 SP3. My VCR is a Sony SLV-N60. I also have a 12 ft composite cable to connect my VCR to computer. Alot good that did me. Anyway, how do I go about doing this?

[hech54]

Start by getting a capture card for your computer. My preference is one that records/captures in mpeg format....like a Hauppauge PVR-150, 250 or 350.

[lordsmurf]

For only 5 VHS tapes, it may be more economical to pay a service. The best services are also able to restore the quality of your tapes, making the DVD look far better than the VHS ever did.

Converting VHS to DVD is not easy. You can learn to do it yourself, but what you do may not look as good.

Worse yet, it may cost you more money to buy capture cards and whatnot, than simply paying somebody else.

[PuzZLeR]

Start by getting a capture card for your computer. My preference is one that records/captures in mpeg format....like a Hauppauge PVR-150, 250 or 350.

I may prefer something like this too.

Considering the source is indeed VHS, my logic dictates that converting to a much larger DV source (such as with the Canopus ADVC 110) doesn't really give much of an advantage.

Does it?

I wonder what the forum's take on this is.

[vhelp]

@ Probe1152

Some basic reading are in order so that you have an understanding of the various things envolved.

Obtaining a dvd recorder may be your wisest move, considering the learning curve with capture cards as they do have their many issues. You're better off buying the cheapest one you can find, which would prob consist of a non HDD unit: only a -r/+r/ram/rw burner, though enough for your limited number of tapes. Find a pioneer or tushiba, using the suggestion found below.

So, to keep duplicate facts to a minimum, here is a thread that touches on some good dvd recorder and vcr units, as these are critical pieces of hardware to realize in your end goal:

F: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic363371.html#1934622
S: VHS to DVD - Pulling hair with research -- SomeDay(7 ) Jan 30, 2009

* Read fulcilives and gshelley61's tips pretty much lays it out: these are the interesting parts you want to read about..but read from first page to see things rolling.

Also, pay attention to the vcrs mentioned: LS usually chimes in on those points, too..not to mention the external/addtional equipment that may be necessary, also noted, etc.

But fwiw, sometimes its just easier to go with a dvd recorder and be done with it: because most people wanting to vhs->dvd don't really know/aware of the many aspects envolved in this endeavor, and obtaining the level of quality is dependant on ones gifts: ranging from Time to Experience/Knowledge, etc.

-vhelp 5031

[hech54]

I bought a used PVR-350 on Ebay....no remote, no adapter cable and had to download the software/drivers from Hauppauge....and never looked back.
I love this thing....freakin' brilliant. I've had it in two computers so far....and so far bulletproof.

[SallyDog]

Just take Lordsmurph's advice. Please.

[victoriabears]

Yes going through the learning curve for 5 tapes, don\t bother.

[PuzZLeR]

I bought a used PVR-350 on Ebay....no remote, no adapter cable and had to download the software/drivers from Hauppauge....and never looked back.
I love this thing....freakin' brilliant. I've had it in two computers so far....and so far bulletproof.

Can you adjust the MPEG-2 captures to be high bitrate - high quality?

[vhelp]

Can you adjust the MPEG-2 captures to be high bitrate - high quality?

yes, you can adjust the bitrate. The maximum stated is up to 12mb/s, but you can actaully go higher than that: up to 15mb/s via reg hack.

I've "hacked" a few hauppauge cards in my days. The last one was the HVR-1600, but I woudn't bother with that one for analog capturing, imho, although I have hacked it to 30mb/s, heck, even 50mb/s, but once you reach a certain threshold, there's not point: if the hardware mpeg is not up to snup with this--and it wasn't.

But, since we don't know your source type, lets assume it is based off some "digital" medium. Those are clean, and I'm quite sure that these pvr's will do perfect, though VHS is another story, though I haven't visited that area using the hauppauge pvr's menioned. I do know that my flemzy ADS VideoXpress did an excellent job of VHS sources: those were commercial movies. Anyway.

I myself have the PVR-USB2, but never tried it in my win98 system since min req'mt was 98se, and when I did finally update my os, I jumped over to xp home..but still ain't never connected, yet

Mind you, that all the cards (i used) were mainly for my noisy analog cable tv sources. Digital mpeg sources, such as digital cable or satellite tv is a whole different pasture, and with the difference being Noise vs. Digital, where the digital is clean to begin with, with exceptions: mpeg errors and other artifacts, etc., from that source medium. A digital source medium will almost always come out better when digital->capture->encoded by these cards.

-vhelp 5032

[PuzZLeR]

Thanks for the answer.

Ok, at the risk of hijacking this thread (I will revert it back Mods - promise ): Is there a software utility, much like WinDV, that actually works very similarly, but captures to MPEG-2 instead of DV? (Disregard capture hardware for the moment, but it must be firewire compatible.)

Boy would this be sweet for me...

[lordsmurf]

No.

[theewizard]

how much processing power do you have

there is TV tuner / video capture software that will save in mpeg2 format

dang , i haven't done this since the winter Olympics 2006, i can't remember the name of the software i use with my PCMIA tuner card , and i'm now on a different laptop.

for only a few tapes, beg borrow rent a dvd-recorder & vhs combo

or find a 'dvdXpress' hardware device on ebay

my ver of the dvdXpress uses hardware encoding, the vhs video input is converted to mpeg2 stream by the hardware and sent directly to the USB port as a data stream to be saved, NO software conversion

model USBAV 701 Rev2

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22USBAV+701%22&btnG=Search

[hech54]

I don't know. My very first "capture" was only a few years ago....with my PVR-350. Before that I used a DVD Recorder. Sure I had been working with "video" for quite a while before my first capture card and had prior knowledge of how things are supposed to work...IE...workflow...but it really isn't all that difficult.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....I understand....but my captures have turned out absolutely brilliant....and I have probably done "about" 5 full VHS tapes in total(3 full concerts and the rest....bits and pieces of tapes).
I've learned to capture in 12mb/s rate, edit and enhance in VDub, and frameserve out to TMPGEnc Plus with amazing results....all in a relatively short period of time....and very large HDDs.

[PuzZLeR]

No.

... sigh... back to the topic at hand. It was a nice thought though...

[hech54]

come on guys behave

[Baldrick]

come on guys behave

Just another spammer.