Have a bunch of old VHS tapes that I want to convert to DVD before they turn to dust...but how?

[jakobkraft]

I have a DVD burner on my pc, 2 vcrs, a video card with an S-video output, so something tells me that this is doable, but I don't know where to begin...any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Get an analog video capture card and run the VCR into it...preferrably one with S-Video. Once you have the movies on the computer, burn them.

Brands like Pinnacle make video capture cards and they're periodically on sale after rebate at places like CompUSA.

 

[jakobkraft]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Get an analog video capture card and run the VCR into it...preferrably one with S-Video. Once you have the movies on the computer, burn them.

Brands like Pinnacle make video capture cards and they're periodically on sale after rebate at places like CompUSA.

Forgive how stupid this question may sound, but the capture card doesn't interfere with the AGP card at all, does it? Is it a PCI card?

 

[snidy1]

You don't need a seperate capture card if your video card has video out, I've dome it with movie maker that comes with XP, but there's better programs out there.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: snidy1
You don't need a seperate capture card if your video card has video out, I've dome it with movie maker that comes with XP, but there's better programs out there.

He needs to have video-in though.

 

[Eug]

1) Buy a standalone DVD recorder for under $400.
2) Hook up VCR to DVD recorder.
3) Press play on VCR.
4) Press record on DVD recorder.
5) Come back in 2 hours, when it's finished.

Using your computer works, but it's a LOT more work, and you still need to buy the capture card or video card with video-in, and software.

 

[DaveSimmons]

^ good advice, Gateway even advertised one for $300 a week or two ago, no idea about the quality.

Once you have discs be sure to back them up if this is something irreplaceable like family movies, DVDs can die from one scratch.

Note: if these are pre-recorded movies, they have Macrovision copy-protection. Some (not all) could be backed up if you buy one of those de-mac boxes.

 

[jakobkraft]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: snidy1
You don't need a seperate capture card if your video card has video out, I've dome it with movie maker that comes with XP, but there's better programs out there.

He needs to have video-in though.

I have video-in, and don't mind getting a capture card (since I don't have 400 dollars to spend on a standalone dvd recorder).

What are some of the better programs you mentioned...?

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: jakobkraft

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Get an analog video capture card and run the VCR into it...preferrably one with S-Video. Once you have the movies on the computer, burn them.

Brands like Pinnacle make video capture cards and they're periodically on sale after rebate at places like CompUSA.

Forgive how stupid this question may sound, but the capture card doesn't interfere with the AGP card at all, does it? Is it a PCI card?

It won't interfere at all. It's just a PCI card.

Here's an example of one for around $50.
Pricegrabber

This is NOT an endorsement of this particular card, but, rather, an example of one of the cheaper alternatives.

 

[snidy1]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: snidy1
You don't need a seperate capture card if your video card has video out, I've dome it with movie maker that comes with XP, but there's better programs out there.

He needs to have video-in though.

Oh, that's what I meant

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: snidy1

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: snidy1
You don't need a seperate capture card if your video card has video out, I've dome it with movie maker that comes with XP, but there's better programs out there.

He needs to have video-in though.

Oh, that's what I meant

If he paid all the money for an AIW card, I don't think he'd be here asking us this question.

 

[snidy1]

What are some of the better programs you mentioned...?

I like Pinnacle

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: snidy1

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: snidy1
You don't need a seperate capture card if your video card has video out, I've dome it with movie maker that comes with XP, but there's better programs out there.

He needs to have video-in though.

Oh, that's what I meant

If he paid all the money for an AIW card, I don't think he'd be here asking us this question.

There are cheap VIVO graphics cards that aren't AIW.

 

[gsellis]

But do avoid an USB solution. Pinnacle offers PCI cards or devices that attach via Firewire. They have an USB device that you should ignore. If you are thinking that it may interfere with your AGP, you may be looking at specs for the Liquid Edition Pro which has its own AGP card. You do not need that for what you want to do (at $900 + )

 

[airfoil]

If you're going to be burning a lot of movies, you may consider getting the Plextor .ConvertX or the Pinnacle Moviebox, which are pricey but excellent external USB/Firewire solutions.

To just get the job done, get a cheap TV tuner card which offers both video and audio inputs.

 

[AIWGuru]

If these are lifetime memories then an all in wonder is not appropriate.
Get yourself a nice hardware encoded card. Hauppage PVR series is excellent.

 

[Eug]

Again, forget all that stuff, if your time means anything to you. Just save yourself a ton of headache and get a standalone DVD recorder.

Excellent real-time encoding for one-hour DVDs, and much better than VHS quality video for two-hour DVDs.

 

[jakobkraft]

Originally posted by: AIWGuru
If these are lifetime memories then an all in wonder is not appropriate.
Get yourself a nice hardware encoded card. Hauppage PVR series is excellent.

They kind of are, family home movies that I didn't even know were still around. My family was psyched to hear this and have pleaded with me to convert them to DVD. Visual quality is not important (since they were recorded with a camcorder from 1981) just so long as it looks no worse than the original. But I am on a very tight budget and can't spend too much on it right now. If I can get a capture card for like 50$ and the right program then that would be great...!

 

[AIWGuru]

Originally posted by: Eug
Again, forget all that stuff, if your time means anything to you. Just save yourself a ton of headache and get a standalone DVD recorder.

Excellent real-time encoding for one-hour DVDs, and much better than VHS quality video for two-hour DVDs.

Eug, the guy has a $50 budget and he obviously knows enough about computers. What you're doing is like giving someone advice who talking about picking up a low end videocard for $50 and telling him to buy an xbox because it's easier and it doesn't crash. That's good advice but it's outside of his budget and it's not really what he's asking.

 

[AIWGuru]

This is a little above your budget but it's worth it.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=15-116-604R&depa=0
This one's only $20 more and it's got a true hardware encoder at the forgeiture of D-tv which is meaningless for your project. It's also compatible with windows media centre edition.
http://www.hauppauge.com/html/wintvpvr250mce_datasheet.htm

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: AIWGuru

Originally posted by: Eug
Again, forget all that stuff, if your time means anything to you. Just save yourself a ton of headache and get a standalone DVD recorder.

Excellent real-time encoding for one-hour DVDs, and much better than VHS quality video for two-hour DVDs.

Eug, the guy has a $50 budget and he obviously knows enough about computers. What you're doing is like giving someone advice who talking about picking up a low end videocard for $50 and telling him to buy an xbox because it's easier and it doesn't crash. That's good advice but it's outside of his budget and it's not really what he's asking.

Unless I missed it he didn't say he had a $50 budget. He said he couldn't spend $400. Somebody mentioned you can get one for under $300.

Remember also that $50 usually gets you a card and often terrible and incomplete software, or sometimes no software at all. He did say he's on a tight budget though.

Most computer add-on solutions that really work are in the $150-300 range, not $50, at least in my experience (unless you bootleg the software).

So in summary, if you really want to do this, be prepared to spend at least $150 for anything respectable.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: jakobkraft

I have video-in, and don't mind getting a capture card (since I don't have 400 dollars to spend on a standalone dvd recorder).

What are some of the better programs you mentioned...?

If you have video in (not just out) then your card probably came with recording software -- why not try that first?

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: Eug

Originally posted by: AIWGuru

Originally posted by: Eug
Again, forget all that stuff, if your time means anything to you. Just save yourself a ton of headache and get a standalone DVD recorder.

Excellent real-time encoding for one-hour DVDs, and much better than VHS quality video for two-hour DVDs.

Eug, the guy has a $50 budget and he obviously knows enough about computers. What you're doing is like giving someone advice who talking about picking up a low end videocard for $50 and telling him to buy an xbox because it's easier and it doesn't crash. That's good advice but it's outside of his budget and it's not really what he's asking.

Unless I missed it he didn't say he had a $50 budget. He said he couldn't spend $400. Somebody mentioned you can get one for under $300.

Remember also that $50 usually gets you a card and often terrible and incomplete software, or sometimes no software at all. He did say he's on a tight budget though.

Most computer add-on solutions that really work are in the $150-300 range, not $50, at least in my experience (unless you bootleg the software).

So in summary, if you really want to do this, be prepared to spend at least $150 for anything respectable.

Free software for capturing is better than almost all bundled software.

And, personally, I'd rather take it to a lab and let them convert it with their professional equipment before I spent $300 on a standalone recorder which I'd probably hardly ever use after this.

 

[AIWGuru]

Originally posted by: Eug

Originally posted by: AIWGuru

Originally posted by: Eug
Unless I missed it he didn't say he had a $50 budget. He said he couldn't spend $400. Somebody mentioned you can get one for under $300.

You're right, you did miss it:

"But I am on a very tight budget and can't spend too much on it right now. If I can get a capture card for like 50$ and the right program"

 

[Eug]

You're right, you did miss it:

"But I am on a very tight budget and can't spend too much on it right now. If I can get a capture card for like 50$ and the right program"

Well, I took that to mean that $50 wasn't a hard ceiling for his budget, but you could be right. However, he can tell us what his real ceiling is.

Free software for capturing is better than almost all bundled software.

Like what?

And, personally, I'd rather take it to a lab and let them convert it with their professional equipment before I spent $300 on a standalone recorder which I'd probably hardly ever use after this.

Well, pro-level conversions are nice, but they are $$$$, esp. if you want to do multiple tapes. And low end converters often just use DVD recorders, or else crappy computer-based solutions that are worse in quality than a standalone DVD recorder. (I've seen the results from some of these guys, and they often suck, but they still charge $20 a tape.)

By the way, DVD recorders are great for recording TV shows. (They work on DVD-RW or DVD-RAM or DVD+RW as well, so it's not as if you're wasting write-once discs.) VHS replacement.