VHS... Here is what I have...

[daTerminehtor]

After successfully backing up, numerous DVD's using CCE 2.5 and DVD2SVCD (alas, no DVD burner as yet), I now want to get some old VHS on to SVCD.

Once on the HD, I don't have a problem, have all the software necessary. Getting it there, though, after reading through the tutorials, may be a problem.

I have the Panasonic DV 201, a lower end model to be sure, yet, has firewire (and works jsut fine). It does not, however, have any inputs. Which means, I cannot use it for a passthrough, nor, can I use it to first record my VHS tapes... correct?

Which means, I am relegated to using my WinTV2000 (PCI) as my source for capturing, correct? A/V out from VCR, to input in the WinTV card, and, capture... is that it?

I understand, that the quality in this method would not be as good as if done via a passthrough, am I right?

Hardware...

WinTV2000 PCI
Asus 8460 Ultra 128mb
Audigy Platinum (2 firewire ports).

Ideas? Please, suggesting getting another DV is not feasible at this time. Only had it for 18 months.

TKS

EDIT.... only open pci slot is just under graphics card, which is, a no-no. So, unless some external can be had, I am SOL on this idea as well.

[jimbola]

I used to screw around trying to capture though a TV card. The captures were OK but I would drop frames and the audio would be out of sync because of it. So I broke down and bought a Canopus ADVC-50. Best thing I think I did. GREAT captures, and no more dropped frames and audio out of sync issues. AND it took up a hell of alot less disk space to do it in.

So I guess what I'm saying is. If you can't afford to get a Canopus card of equivalent then plan on having the same pain in the a$$ issues I had.

Hope this helps.

[Cole]

So I broke down and bought a Canopus ADVC-50. Best thing I think I did. GREAT captures, and no more dropped frames and audio out of sync issues.

Nothing much to add, just wanted to second this. The VHS captures are superb with the ADVC-50. I went down this route as most of what I do is capture VHS to (X)VCD.

But Just to add, if you have a dedicated VCR on your 'puter, you can also use the receiver on the VCR for far better TV capture using Canopus ADVC-50 than a TV PCI card anyday.

[Fred©]

VHS to SVCD is, IMHO, a waste of CD space... all my VHS are VCD now... I capture in ATI AIW 128 Pro using virtualDub, 352x480 format, PicVideo codec, quality 18 and 2 field if more then 240 lines options enabled

... the files then are frameserved by VirtualDub (using smart deinterlace filter) to TMPGEnc...

Then I burn my VCDs... I think they are so good as they can be (like the original VHS, never better)

VHS tapes are 320x240 (or 288, do not remember now) format... put some up and bottom borders (10 pixels are ok) when capturing with VirtualDub...

Give a try...

Fred©

[Cole]

VHS to SVCD is, IMHO, a waste of CD space... all my VHS are VCD now... I capture in ATI AIW 128 Pro using virtualDub, 352x480 format, PicVideo codec, quality 18 and 2 field if more then 240 lines options enabled

... the files then are frameserved by VirtualDub (using smart deinterlace filter) to TMPGEnc...

Then I burn my VCDs... I think they are so good as they can be (like the original VHS, never better)

VHS tapes are 320x240 (or 288, do not remember now) format... put some up and bottom borders (10 pixels are ok) when capturing with VirtualDub...

Give a try...

Fred©

I don't believe that VirtualDub recognises Canopus cards for capturing DV.

A good DV file recorded using a Canopus ADVC-50/100 (that needs no editing aside from start and end points) will serve up excellent results when the DV file is fed straight into TMPGEnc. There is no need for frameserving etc. Record > Encode > Burn > Watch!

[Fred©]

Hy Cole,

The answer I gave considered that datherminator would use the winpc TV2000 as the capture card... no DV input in this way...

Fred©

[daTerminehtor]

Thanks all for the replies.

Yes, given what I have, it looks like my WinTV2000 card is the only option I have.

Question... I should be able to just utilitze the existing RJ6 cable that is input to the card (the tv signal, rather than the radio signal... duh) and plug it into the output of the VCR. Is this correct?

Fred... I think you're right, SVCD would be overkill, and I wouldn't notice the difference in quality. Perhaps, it would even look worse.

[ghoster]

how about renting the movie on dvd if its out. well thats what i would do before i would capture from vcr.

[daTerminehtor]

Thing is, quite a few of these are not available on DVD (Phantasm 2 and 3, for example). Others are some of my kids, that are not available. Sides, I have (now) clos eto 500 DVD's, and, am trying to stick to the idea of only buying the ones that I would watch over and over.

Not working too well.

[bchball]

About your question, i would say the answer would be yes because you would then be able to capture from the tv also, if your aerial or cable connection is plugged into your vcr.
Also to help keep the audio in sync especially for vhs go to Capture/Settings in virtual dub while in capture mode and check box 'lock video stream to audio'.
Try 352x288 for pal and 352x240 for ntsc res. Also the huffyuv codec is good although you get large avi files because it's compression is about 2:1 and possibly try to keep each capture file below 80 minutes.

[daTerminehtor]

About your question, i would say the answer would be yes because you would then be able to capture from the tv also, if your aerial or cable connection is plugged into your vcr.
Also to help keep the audio in sync especially for vhs go to Capture/Settings in virtual dub while in capture mode and check box 'lock video stream to audio'.
Try 352x288 for pal and 352x240 for ntsc res. Also the huffyuv codec is good although you get large avi files because it's compression is about 2:1 and possibly try to keep each capture file below 80 minutes.

WINTV2000 has its own captureability. That is, afterall, what this thread is about. Insofar as capturing tv signal, again, WINTV already has that capability.

So, why use virtual dub at all.