Convert VHS to DVD - Comments Page 1

Thanks for the article. Vey timely as I have been looking the various options for a number weeks now and this summarised these very succinctly.

Cheers

I got an ATI All in Wonder, partly so I could port in video. But it turned out not to capture to MPG (an older model) and the quality was rather basic. Newer models are better but I found a 2 head video card with seperate capture was better.

Now I have 2 solutions - if I want to edit, I got a Pinnacle MovieBox DV. Its a USB device that has inputs and outputs to SVideo, composite, and firewire. I edit with Premier or Pinnacle Studio (easier, came with MovieBox).

For just porting tape to DVD, its easier to use the livingroom. My VCR is now just a tape playback box hooked to the back of my DVR. The Panasonic DVR has both hard drive and DVD recorder. For tape dubbing, you can record direct to DVD or to the hard drive, edit commercials out, then dub to DVD. If this is all you need, you may find it a simpler solution than upgrading your computer.

I do use a DVD Recorders. Couldn't be easier. I bought a Cyberhome (DVR-1200) at Walmart on clerance for $50. Supposed to be DVD+R/RW only but it also records DVD-R.

I simply plugged my VCR into it, selected my input and burned to DVD. You have choices of Super quality (1 hour per DVD) or lesser quality, up to 8 gours on DVD. Remember the DVD will only look as good / bad as your tape/source.

Dave

I've used ADS an Ulead for years and found the product problematic and enemic. A much better choice would be Pinnacle software and thier black box available from tigerdirect.com.

Just a word of caution in assuming that even if DVDs last 50 years if stored correctly, you will be able to find a machine that will read what will then surely be an obsolete format! As formats are replaced with ever-increasing frequency you need to think about moving your archive along to the next thing from time to time. I am currently agonising about what to do with 8mm and 16mm home movies shot more than 50 years ago. I can still view them on the projectors I own but dread the day the bulb goes and I have to try and find a replacement!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Brett, there are companies that specialize in transferring your old home movies to today's digital media. And I'm sure that in 50 or 100 years, entrepreneurs will be around to transfer your old dusty DVDs to those newfangled 50-Terabyte titanium buttons that all the kids are wearing. :-)

I wish to thank all who have left comments as they have helped me to make up my mind about putting all of my recorded movies on DVD. I record from a PBS station so there are no commericals. I also record from other stations. Thanks again.

Thank you, Bob! I have been working on this problem with my friend's dad, and we were a bit stuck. All of these solutions are applicable to our project and practical. True thanks.

Thank you, thank you! I, too, have been agonizing over which route to take. This is the FIRST time I have seen the various options spelled out in one place, and so clearly described! Now I finally have what I need to choose my course of action, and begin saving my cherished cassettes!

I run a small commercial film archive - for any of you who have 8mm or old 16mm film, if you do re-master it to DVD, either hang on to the original film or donate to an organisation which will cherish them and (very important) allow you access to them again when the next electronic format comes along. So far, film is the only medium proven to last over 100 years; all other formats wear out over time, some of them amazingly fast. CDs were supposed to last forever, too...so I will believe the estimated lifespan for DVD-R etc when I see it. There are many commercial facility houses with Telecine machines to transfer 8mm and 16mm film; well worth the money, if you value your material. As for my hundreds of time-coded VHSs - am transferring to a HDD DVD writer. Quick and easy.

Brett,
I too have some old 8mm home movies of my parents wedding. Last year I was working with a video/media group at our state university and he suggested playing the movie on a screen or white wall and taping it with my digital camcorder, thus getting away from the expense of having someone else transfer the movies to a digital format. I haven't tried it yet but am planning on it this summer. Has anyone else ever tried this?