VHS to DVD conversion | Retro Junk

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System 9 years 2 months ago Posts: 74809	This is more of a technical question for those familiar with converting VHS tapes to DVD. Some time in the future I plan on getting a decent capture card and acquiring the many old VHS tapes my brother has so that I can convert them to a digital format. I'm wondering if you guys capture these things at DVD resolution? Or do you use lower resolution such as with SVCD (480 * 480 NTSC)? I'm curious since many of these tapes are degraded quality and probably recorded in EP/SLP mode to begin with. Is it worth capturing the video in higher resolution? Also, if they are captured at SVCD resolution, you could just burn a DVD and fit a lot more on it since it's really just a very large SVCD disc. What do you folks suggest or recommend?

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RaZZu 9 years 2 months ago Posts: 443	don't get any ATI TV tuner card. Due to the macrovision protection ATI uses. I just bought and returned my ATI tuner for that reason. I think that the best TV tuner card is the hauppage! WinTV-PVR 150, it is in stereo with a built in MPEG-2 encoder. no macrovision problems and you can record directly into DVD format. I just got this card and have not had allot of experience with it yet but it looks like it is going to work very well. This site helps lot http://www.videohelp.com/
	And now for something completely different................
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System 9 years 2 months ago Posts: 74809	As someone who is fairly experienced with many different types of media conversions, I would like to recommend that you avoid the computer all together when converting your VHS to DVD. The easiest, fastest and highest quality way to copy your VHS to DVD is using a stand-alone DVD recorder which can be had at Walmart for less than $150.00 now. If you run into problems with the copy-righted VHS, you can get boxes on ebay (For about $50.00) that you connect between the VCR and the DVD Recorder which remove the "macrovision" copyright protection. These are usually called "VIDEO STABILIZERS". To get the most from your VHS tapes, I highly recommend using a "SUPER-VHS" VCR for playback. These offer far higher resolution from standard tapes than a regular VCR. *As for the compression you asked about...blank DVDs are cheap enough now that you don't need to try to crap them to capacity by using the "extended" recording modes. Just as with VHS, using the compression options on recordable DVDs will basicly give you the same results as recording in the "EP" mode on VHS. IT JUST PLAIN LOOKS LIKE CRAP. In fact, compressed DVD looks far worse than a compressed VHS tape. Compressed VHS is a little darker and grainier. Compessed DVD is muddy, pixelated, jittery sludge. DON'T DO IT UNLESS YOU HAVE TO! You fit about 60 minutes of video/audio on a DVD without compression. This will look exactly like the original source. If you want to copy a movie, you'll have no choice but to compress it a little bit, but just make sure to use the lowest compression possible for the best picture. If you use a computer to convert all your VHS, each one will take about 4 times longer than a stand alone recorder, that is...if the computer doesn't crash 7/8 of the way through the tedious process every other time. I hope this helps.

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Mystie 9 years 2 months ago Posts: 1132	That's weird, my ATI doesn't have any macro protection on it. But then again I've had it for like 4-5 years, I think. I'm not a purest, so I have stuff like 18 episodes Are You Afraid of the Dark crammed onto 1 DVD to me it looks fine. To me a 30 minute episode looks the same at 300MB as it does as 3GB.

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Jason43 9 years 2 months ago Posts: 1553 Account Disabled	I have to agree with werenotfugazi on this one. I've been using a JVC SVHS player and a Pioneer DVD recorder for my conversions with great results. I had looked into a capture card, but the recorder seemed like it would be much less of a pain in my ass, plus I can rip shows straight from the satelite with minimum quality loss. Just another option to keep in mind.

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ProphetSword 9 years 1 month ago Posts: 29 Account Disabled	I've been converting VHS to DVD for quite a while now also using a DVD recorder. If possible, get a Lite-On DVD recorder. Not only are they really good, but there are places where you can download a firmware upgrade that will unlock additional recording modes and disable Macrovision (which is super helpful when transferring out-of-print VHS tapes that will likely never be released to DVD anyway).

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Barth 9 years 18 days ago Posts: 253	I record my VHS tapes using a DVD recorder... I found something at Best Buy that gets rid of macrovision...It's called "GoDVD!"...They usually cost $130...But I went when they were on sale for $99...Plus I found an open package so I got mine for $70..And it works great!..No problems at all Here is a link to check out GoDVD..It is available here for $99.95: http://www.studio1productions.com/copymaster.htm

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System 9 years 16 days ago Posts: 74809	I'm hoping to convert old VHS tapes too. Does a S-VHS player really make old [u]regular[/u] VHS tapes look better on playback or is it just that if you record and playback a S-VHS format tape, it will look better? Thanks.

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Jason43 9 years 16 days ago Posts: 1553 Account Disabled	belloq wrote: I'm hoping to convert old VHS tapes too. Does a S-VHS player really make old [u]regular[/u] VHS tapes look better on playback or is it just that if you record and playback a S-VHS format tape, it will look better? Thanks. Better playback is the reason I bought it, but I haven't noticed it being that much better than a standard vcr. It does have a S-video output which should help quality. Recording on high grade vhs tapes in s-video mode is much better than standard recording.

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musicradio77 8 years 11 months ago Posts: 742	I have an Emerson VCR and a Pioneer DVD Recorder. I was trying to find Disney VHS tapes so that I will put TV commercials such as Disney World as well as trailers before the main feature onto a DVD Recorder, when I was recording, it says "This disc is copy protected". I can't do it. Need help?
	Musicradio 77 on Stickam - For all your stuff needs
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Barth 8 years 11 months ago Posts: 253	Check out my post above...You can get the GoDVD at your local Best Buy...Or you can order it online...The GoDVD works great!...I have one and I have not run into any problems whatsoever Here is the link again: http://www.studio1productions.com/copymaster.htm

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BlueRain 8 years 10 months ago Posts: 311	I feel like kicking myself in the bum. DVD recoders were cheap this past Christmas, but I didn't get one. Weren't the like 900 dollars a few years ago? from what I've read the technology is pretty good now.

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sewage 8 years 10 months ago Posts: 835	Holy -- what??? You could move stuff from VHS onto DVD??! Wow ... that's just weird. I bet this has always been available too... I need to be more observant
	Michaelangelo: Wise man say, "forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for a late pizza".
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nickynooch
8 years 9 months ago
Posts: 5
Can you do chapters when using this method?
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pikachulover 8 years 9 months ago Posts: 2932	You can make chapters,but you have to stop the tape to do it. Well that's how it works on my dubber.
	http://pikapal91746.livejournal.com/
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Jason43 8 years 9 months ago Posts: 1553 Account Disabled	nickynooch wrote: Can you do chapters when using this method? Most dvd recorders will add chapters automatically, usually around every five to ten minutes.

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nickynooch
8 years 9 months ago
Posts: 5
Awesome. Is there a DVD Recorder brand you guys use that you recommend?
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plaidman76 8 years 9 months ago Posts: 253	I bought a cheap capture card from Newegg.com...it was like 30 bucks, just so I could play around with it. There are a ton of better ones you can get: http://www.videohelp.com/capturecards.php Anyway, the one I have works pretty good for what I'm doing. I would like to get a better one soon. I hooked a VHS into my computer using SVideo and am capturing on my computer with Virtual Dub: http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/capture/capturing_vdub.html Takes some time to get everything set up right, but when you do its not too hard to work with.
	"You're not dying, you just can't think of anything good to do." - Ferris Bueller
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