Bought new computer, what else is needed to convert VHS?

[Leigh1]

I have a ton of questions that hopefully some expert can help me with. I am wanting to take some vhs tapes and convert to avi files so I can put them on the web for family & friends to download and watch. I would also like to convert them to VCD eventually. I have the capability to burn DVD’s, but from what I understand, when converting VHS, you will maintain more quality if you just do VCD. Is this true? Also, isn’t it easier to convert to VCD vs. DVD? I have a Sony DVD player that is suppose to play VCD too, so either format is fine with me. How many hours of VHS will fit onto a VCD and still be of decent quality?

About the tapes I am wanting to convert: The quality is not top notch as they are t.v. shows someone dubbed for me. As long as I can convert them and not loose even more quality, I’ll be satisfied.

Here are the specs on my new computer:

Dell 8250: Pentium 4 - 2.40GHz w/ 533MHz system bus
256MB PC1066 RDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
4x DVD+RW/+R Drive w/CD-RW including Roxio's Easy CD Creator
64MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Graphics Card with TV-Out
SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 Digital Sound Card
Windows XP Operating System

I have been told the graphics card I have will not work to capture as it just has tv out. Does the capture card I purchase completely replace it then or is it in addition to that card? I have been looking at some of the tv tuner/ capture cards as a replacement, possibly Avermedia Aver TV Studio. Any other recommendations under $100 would be appreciated. The cost of the computer broke me!

Once I purchase the card, is all I need to capture to AVI a program such as VirtualDub or are there other programs I need? How hard is it to edit out commercials using Virtualdub and when you edit out the commercials is it hard to keep the sound in sync? When I decide to burn them to VCD, will the Easy CD Creator that came on the system work to convert the AVI to VCD?

Also, although my computer is fast, my biggest concern is will my HD be big enough to do these conversions? I have 50 GB of free space. Typically I would only be converting a 1 hour show, but if possible would like to do the whole 6 hour tape at once.

This site is really helpful, but all the info can be overwhelming and cause a person to get One on one help is appreciated!

[MOVIEGEEK]

First,I'm envious of your system
Second,read "What is VCD" & "...DVD"(top left of page)
Third,if you own a digital camcorder with pass-through I would use IEEE1394 PCI card to capture,if not then a Canopus or Happauge PCI card(look in "Capture Cards")or ATI TV Wonder(not great but $60).
Windows Movie Maker 2,TMPGEnc(free in "Tools") and VCDEasy(free in 'Tools")are great tools to get your feet wet and make VCD's.

[vcd4me]

WOW and out the gate she comes running

I'll answer the questions that I can

I have the capability to burn DVD’s, but from what I understand, when converting VHS, you will maintain more quality if you just do VCD. Is this true?

. I don't think it's a matter of maintaining quality but buy making a vcd the prices is cheaper. Remember the quality can't get any better than the original. If the captures are from analog source cam corder or tv I would stick with the vcd . f the camcorder happens to be a dv camera You might want to use dvd and a real good capture device.

Also, isn’t it easier to convert to VCD vs. DVD?

I think vcd is easier, however I don't have a dvd recorder.

How many hours of VHS will fit onto a VCD and still be of decent quality?

around 80 minutes on 80 minute cdr 74 on 74 min cdr

As long as I can convert them and not loose even more quality, I’ll be satisfied

Personally I think you will lose some quality. Have you ever watched a vcd?

Does the capture card I purchase completely replace it then or is it in addition to that card?

It's additional. they do have card like ati that can do both be a video card and capture card

possibly Avermedia Aver TV Studio. Any other recommendations under $100 would be appreciated. The cost of the computer broke me

. Look under capture cards look left there are a bunch there but you should buy an internal or a usb with a built in capture device
Once I purchase the card, is all I need to capture to AVI a program such as VirtualDub or are there other programs I need?[/quote]There are a few others as well or your capture card may have a program with it.

How hard is it to edit out commercials using Virtualdub and when you edit out the commercials is it hard to keep the sound in sync?

You should be able to do both with ease

When I decide to burn them to VCD, will the Easy CD Creator that came on the system work to convert the AVI to VCD?

. I don't know anything about easy cd creator but there are freewarec programs out there that can convert avi to mpeg(TMPGenc)

I have 50 GB of free space. Typically I would only be converting a 1 hour show, but if possible would like to do the whole 6 hour tape at once.

. You should be able to sounds like you have enough hd space.

wheew

I understand you are newbie but you really should do some more reading there is plenty of good info on this site. I posted because I know the site seemed overwhelming to me at first but for the most part everybody is helpfull here.

Hope this helps
Signed
VCD4ME[/quote]

[musher70]

got a dvd burner and want to do VCD?

What'd be the point?

You'll just hate yourself in the end
and then you start converting all over again,
once you get the hang of it...

you need lots more memory,why rdram?
costs more for what reason?

dump that video card, get one with VIVO
and youre gonna need another hard drive
towards a 120g i'd get,$99 best buy for
maxtor 120g this week and last....

As far as that soundcard goes,whatever
roxio isnt gonna help you much, you
need good dvd capturing software,try
demos in tools, like dvd workshop and
such...

[Leigh1]

you need lots more memory,why rdram?
costs more for what reason?

I got the top Dell model and RDRAM is standard on it. Actually it wasn't that much more expensive than the one with SDRAM. In fact there are times with Dell computers that the higher-end computers end up being cheaper with rebates. Obviously I am not a computer expert, but the Dell site gave a description of the different types of memory and it indicated RDRAM was grants the fastest access speeds and is good for tasks involving audio/video. Is that not the case?

you really should do some more reading there is plenty of good info on this site.

Trust me I have, and wow does everyone have some varied opinions. That is what gets confusing. It might have been better if I hadn't read so darn much and just picked something instead of second guessing after reading something new!

Thanks to you all for your help!

[metoo2]

Niiiiiice system!

Don't get the ATI TV Wonder; I believe there are no XP drivers for that card 'tho I have heard there are beta drivers available.

Go with doing vcds for now; you can learn the ins and outs of video capture/conversion/etc. with them, and the cds you'll waste won't break the bank.

You're gonna want more hard drive space, depending upon what type of capture card you get.

Virtualdub is a breeze to edit out commercials as long as you do the Frameserve thing.

[dphirschler]

A couple of comments:

I agree with everyone that it is easy to edit commercials using VDub. However, I think a file should be saved (using direct stream copy) after editing commercials rather than frame-serving from that point. Load that file up and then save the audio so you can edit that in Goldwave or Cooledit. Frameserve after you use all your filters in Vdub.

I also agree with the previous poster that suggested you get another harddrive. If you are lucky you can find one for real cheap. 60 gigs is enough if you can find it. I would also consider getting a second IDE (unless your mobo has one built in) and connect your capture harddrive to it. It will run much faster that way and you will be able to capture high res without dropping frames becuase of your harddrive speed.

Lastly, I agree with the person that suggested you get VCD Easy. It is a great (and powerful) tool, and is very easy to learn.


Darryl

[yg1968]

Given that you seem to have everything else you need but a capture card, I would invest in a good capture card. The Canopus ADVC-100 or ADVC-50 would be good DV capture cards. If you can afford it, a digital camcorder with a passthrough feature is at least as good and perhaps a little better than the Canopus products (Most Sony and Canons digital camcorder have this feature).

You might need an extra hard drive for editing video.

If you want a less expensive and faster solution (no encoding), you can buy an mpeg-2 card. The WinTV PVR-250 or 350 by Hauppauge are good mpeg cards. However, editing mpeg is not as easy as editing DV and the quality is probably not as good as using a DV capture card.

I don't see the point in bothering with VCD if you have a DVD burner. Ulead VS 7.0 and Ulead DMF 2.0 can burn VCD, SVCD and DVD. They have trial versions. Perhaps, you can try all three formats and see which one that you like. But I doubt that you will opt for VCD over DVD.