Streaming video server?

[DaveJ]

Hello all,

Got an interesting idea for a project and I'd like some tips... my parents have about 400 movies on VHS, some of it stuff that we've recorded, most of them prerecorded tapes (lots of Disney stuff). I'd like to find a way to archive the tapes to a more stable medium, but still be able to watch them...

So I've got an idea. Build a cheap PC with mondo disk space (probably 250-300GB) and archive the tapes to disk using something like Divx for massive compression/good quality. First off, what would be a decent figure for disk space per movie (figure 1.5 to 2 hrs. max) I'd figured about 600-700MB.

Next, assuming I can get them archived to disk, what's the best way to output the video/audio? I'm assuming that I could hook up a SBLive with a decent video card for that (one with video out, anyway). Ultimately, however, I'd like to find a way to pipe the video/audio through the house to various locations... are there easy ways to do that?

Lots of questions, I know, but I'm just brainstorming here... 🙂

Dave

 

[DaveJ]

Don't all jump in at once... 🙂

Dave

 

[CvAgent]

me- personally
i would try and find a way to convert these movies to vcds so that you can play in a dvd player

if u find out how to do this
let me know would ya

thanks

cv

 

[DaveJ]

Hmmm... interesting idea... I'd like to avoid CD swapping though, and neither of my DVD players support VCDs on CDR, just CDRW.

Check out VCD Helper for more info...

Dave

 

[WoundedWallet]

Then wait another year or so till the technology is better and/or you have a different system.

Or if you are worried that your movies are deteriorating fast, then copy them to another tape that will last until storage and media are more afordable for this project.

WW