What HW do I need to copy VHS tapes to VCDs (possibly DVD)?

[iluvdeal]

I'm looking to cut down my video tape collection as its taking up way too much space and want to transfer them to VCD format or maybe DVD format if I get a DVD writer. What sort of hardware would I need to capture the video tapes to my computer, convert them to MPEG1 format and create VCDs? Could I use the same HW if I get a dvd writer? What video format would I use then to copy to DVDRs? MPEG2? Am I looking at any drop in quality going from VHS to VCD? Is converting to MPEG2 and copying to DVDr overkill for VHS? I'm willing to overlook that if I can store more minutes of video per disk on each DVDr. Can I fill up a DVDr with MPEG1 video and create a VCD that way? That seems ideal as I could watch it on my dvd player. What sort of processor and disk space would I need for a 2 hour video tape? Thanks for any recommendations!

 

[Cat13]

I am using an MSI GF4400 with video in/out. I have a vcr connected to the card and I capture the video in DVD Workshop. It saves it as an uncompressed avi (very big file). I then do what ever editing I want to the video to clean it up, etc. Then I convert them to mpeg2 with bbmpeg, which takes them from 100+ gig down to about 1-2 gig. Once converted, then I import them back to dvd workshop and make my dvd with menu's and such. IMHO, they come out really nice and give us a better way to view all our old home video's.

Good Luck!

 

[LED]

Lotta questions ...but for straters you'll need a VIVO Vid card !

 

[wickedmf]

I too, have been wondering the same thing. Does anyone have any opinions on the Dazzle line of products that are out there?