Transferring multiple VHS tapes at once...

[robin_west]

Hi,

I recently started a project to transfer a big bunch of VHS tapes for friends and family to the computer. So I need to figure out how to transfer multiple VHS tapes at once.

I have 5 separate VCR's and I want to somehow transfer the tapes without buying 5 separate computers.

Does anyone know of a solution for transferring VHS directly to a hard drvie without having to use the computer and simply use the computer for editing the files later on?

Thanks in advance!
Robin

[Cornucopia]

You probably COULD do it with one PC, but you don't want to. It would have to be so beefy to work, it would cost $$$$.

Much better to get 5 PCs, or 5 DVRs/PVRs (less setup finickyness, but an extra step 2 import).

Scott

[hech54]

I'm speechless.

[robin_west]

You probably COULD do it with one PC, but you don't want to. It would have to be so beefy to work, it would cost $$$$.

Much better to get 5 PCs, or 5 DVRs/PVRs (less setup finickyness, but an extra step 2 import).

Scott

Can you explian a bit more in detail what the best way to go at it would be?

Thanks a lot!
Robin

[smartel]

buy or rent 5 dvd-recorders

and for editing tell them to wait a little

or take the 2 better ones (vcr) and make one road to the pc and the other to dvd-revorder

[hech54]

You probably COULD do it with one PC, but you don't want to. It would have to be so beefy to work, it would cost $$$$.

Much better to get 5 PCs, or 5 DVRs/PVRs (less setup finickyness, but an extra step 2 import).

Scott

Can you explian a bit more in detail what the best way to go at it would be?

Thanks a lot!
Robin

A computer with 5 open PCI slots for the 5 capture cards you'll need to purchase would be a good start.

[edDV]

You can use multiple Hauppauge PVR 250/350 cards in one computer. These encode to MPeg2 in hardware.

Software control is the issue. BeyondTV PVR software can be set to record multiple tuners at once but controlled from a program guide. You may find a way to manually control recording.

If you go this route, best to split the record writes to multiple drives. Do not record to the C: drive.

[lordsmurf]

This simply is not going to happen.
Wishful thinking, but it's not logistically possible.

[robin_west]

You can use multiple Hauppauge PVR 250/350 cards in one computer. These encode to MPeg2 in hardware.

Software control is the issue. BeyondTV PVR software can be set to record multiple tuners at once but controlled from a program guide. You may find a way to manually control recording.

If you go this route, best to split the record writes to multiple drives. Do not record to the C: drive.

Thanks, that does sound like an option I could use. What do I need in terms of a computer then. Will any new basic desktop computer do it? And does using multiple cards reduce the quality on the videos in any way?

Also I didn't completely understand waht you meant with "controlled from a program guide".

Love the help I'm getting,
Robin

[edDV]

You can use multiple Hauppauge PVR 250/350 cards in one computer. These encode to MPeg2 in hardware.

Software control is the issue. BeyondTV PVR software can be set to record multiple tuners at once but controlled from a program guide. You may find a way to manually control recording.

If you go this route, best to split the record writes to multiple drives. Do not record to the C: drive.

Thanks, that does sound like an option I could use. What do I need in terms of a computer then. Will any new basic desktop computer do it? And does using multiple cards reduce the quality on the videos in any way?

Also I didn't completely understand waht you meant with "controlled from a program guide".

Love the help I'm getting,
Robin

BeyondTV is a PVR that records TV from multiple tuners. It would need to be adapted for recording from VCRs.

The Hauppauge PVR cards encode to MPeg2 in hardware. They use very little CPU. The system stress is on the disc system not the CPU.

This is a job for a competent computer technician and may need a software script writer.

[edDV]

...

Does anyone know of a solution for transferring VHS directly to a hard drvie without having to use the computer and simply use the computer for editing the files later on?

Thanks in advance!
Robin

Five DVD recorders.