help! Best way to convert from analog to dvd?

[schneidler]

I've been reading tons of stuff online trying to figure out the best way to do this. After seriously like 15+ hours of reading reviews and forums it occurred to me that I should just ask people who already know and act on "the wisdom of crowds" that I glean from them. So here is my situation. I'm a teacher and am doing all of this for our school, not myself.

I need to (1) convert a ton of old vhs homemade tapes to dvd (maybe 150 of them?); (2) convert many old mini-dv and even older formats of camcorder tapes to dvd; (3) eventually probably capture and edit a FEW of these (but only maybe 10% of them - we don't know for sure until we watch them); and last but not least (4) we need something that can produce a dvd quickly when we are taping basketball games at a tournament for a fundraiser. That last one would ideally not involve a computer since the capture and all that junk takes forever, and the dvd for the ball games requires NO editing. It just would ideally be available asap so we could start reproducing and selling it right away.

I've looked at using HDD DVD recorders, based on stuff I've read in forums online. Do they accept camcorder (firewire) input? Can they record/burn simultaneously from what is being recorded on a camcorder?

I've also seen a sony product called directDV that looks promising. It has no function but burning from camcorders and other media.

I was also considering several different dvd/vcr combo players that make copying from vhs to dvd really easy. But the reviews on them are pretty bad. I actually bought 3 different ones from costco & sam's, but am returning them today based on those reviews.

I know I could use the advc device to convert the analog to a digital signal for import/capture to my PC, and I will when we really want to save and edit some video. But most of this I just want to make a few DVD copies of for people to play in any old DVD player to relive old school memories. We're concerned that these old tapes from the 80s might not last much longer.

Any advice anyone has would be great. I've read TONS online and have learned a lot but am still unsure what the best way to go is. Not my area of expertise. ***Note - I do NOT care about recording anything from TV/cable or whatever since we don't have any tv reception of any kind***. (we live in a remote village in alaska) Thanks. -peter

[freebird73717]

Check out Lord Smurf's guides for capturing. They are very well laid out and give you detailed explanations.

I know you've already read a lot but his stuff is really good and worth reading.

I'm sure others will chime in as well with other methods.

[jjeff]

I've seen the Sony burner you're talking about at Costco (I don't think Sams) and a few other places.
I'm also intrigued by it but I've seen very little reviews on it. The few threads I've seen on AVS while not bad do indicate some problems, mostly with false Copy Protection signals(seems to be a big problem with all Sony DVDRs).
The MC5 (or their might be a newer model) does have a firewire input as do most better standalone DVDRs although it's strictly for recording from a camcorder or still camera not something like a STB with firewire output.
The Sony is extremely portable and includes a LCD screen which would would allow you to burn DVDs in the field and I believe it's also 12vdc in case you weren't near a AC power source.

The Sony does have composite inputs but of course no HDD to edit your recordings prior to burning to DVD, you'd have to do the old Pause during unwanted material thing.
I'm pretty sure with the Sony you'll want to limit your recording time to SP or 2hrs/disc unless you're OK with 1/2 D1 resolution.

To do things right you really need 2 things, the Sony for your remote burns and a DVDR with a HDD for your VHS and tape conversions. I guess you could try and get buy with the Sony first(and see if you even like it's operation and it works for you) then if you want to get into editing you could spring for a HDD recorder like the Magnavox 2160a which is currently the best deal, if not the only available new DVDR w/hdd in the US.