Video Tape --> DVD

[jama20]

I need to convert some important video tapes to DVD. I am interested to see if anyone can advise the best method for quality .

I have two options:

1. Plug video recorder into DVD recorder and copy the tape to disc.
2. Capture whats on tape with capture card to computer, then burn to DVD.

Thank you

[ormonde]

"2. Capture whats on tape with capture card to computer, then burn to DVD."

First capture the footage to a digital file format such as AVI or mpeg, then follow this procedure:

1. Convert the AVI (DivX or Xvid)/mpeg file(s) to a DVD compliant mpeg-2 file(s) using "TMPGEnc" or "TMPGEnc Plus". Use the DVD template (NTSC or PAL) form the "Project Wizard" to help you accomplish the task. If you have an mpeg file that is already DVD-compliant, then skip directly to step 2.

2. Then use "TMPGEnc DVD Author" (different than "TMPGEnc") to author the newly created mpeg-2 into a DVD-related file structure (.IFO, .BUP, .VOB). As an alternative, you can use "DVDLab" to author as well.

3. If the combined filesize of the project exceeds 4.37 Gig, use "DVD Shrink" or similar transcoding program to compress.

4. Use "Nero" or similar burning program to burn onto a DVD (r, rw) disk.

[rsquirell]

You can also run your VCR tapes thru a digital camera (that has analog input ports) thru the 1394 port directly into the PC. Or....use any number of external devices (DVC 150 comes to mind) to accomplish the same thing thru a USB2 port.

[jama20]

Thank you very much.

So I can improve my understanding whilst I am learning could you please describe the effective difference and why one method is superior to the other.

Regards, James

[rsquirell]

Any of the methods work....but there are good cards and cheap cards, good external devices and cheap external devices. The difference is in the clarity of what you capture. Good cards and devices will run close to $200....beware of anything selling for under $100. I saw a sony digital camera with analog inputs going for around $400. The beauty of a camera is you can get your home videos on the PC in DV clarity (higher resolution than analog vcr tapes) as well as convert your analog VHS library....killing two birds with on stone, albeit at twice the price.

[megamachine]

I use one of these external devices (about 200USD in early 2003) that converts from VHS to MPEG-2 on the fly, and I have no complaints. I usually capture at 4mbps with 224kbs audio for NTSC and a variety of settings for PAL. Most of the time, I save the MPEGs on data DVD, since I use them on PC anyway, but if I need a DVD that will playback in a stand alone player, I make one using the method described above. However, some folks don't like MPEG-2 capture, and prefer AVI (out of the question for me with a laptop, since it eats gobs of gigabytes). The hardware recorders are getting popular these days, too, so you might want to try out a few ways to see which suits you best, before taking the plunge, especially if you are planning to do a lot transfers.