VHS to DVD

[jamescalvin]

I know I know I know, this has probably been back and forth through the forums but I did a search and I couldn't find anything.

Can someone please tell me the best way for me to record my VHS tapes to DVD? I want to be able to do it myself without having to take it into a shop. Someone please help, thanks in advance.

[ormonde]

First you need the necessary hardware such as an internal card where you can connect your VCR to the card via either RCA or S-video cables. There are also external devices that will accomplish similar results. Most of these devices with come bundled with a software interface that will allow you to capture the VHS footage to an mpeg or AVI digital format. Once you have the footage captured to a digital file format, 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.

[reboot]

I want to be able to do it myself without having to take it into a shop.

This depends on your abilities with a computer. If you're comfortable taking the case off, and inserting a PCI card, then by all means, get a good internal capture card.
If that option scares you, then look around for a good USB capture device. They CAN work extremely well, if your computer has USB 2.0 and the power to run it.
Once you find a couple that might interest you, post back with links, and we can give you recommendations.
Ormonde's instructions for getting the captured video onto dvd are excellent.

[GaryD]

This is probably not the case but if you happen to have a digital camcorder that connects to your computer via Firewire you can use it as a pass-thru device by connecting your VCR's output to it. It's also something to think about if you are considering buying a camcorder anyway.

I bought a "card" first, then the camcorder. Threw away the card!!

[mollusc]

Not sure if it's tremendously appropriate to post a link to a different forum with the same kind of focus, but there's a VERY useful and thorough guide to video capturing (and post-capture cleanup) at Ars Technica:

http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/vidcap.ars/1

Once I've gotten video captured and cleaned in AVI format I use TMPGEnc Plus and TMPGEnc DVD Author to do the AVI -> MPEG-2 conversion and the DVD authoring, respectively.

[andy54]

VHS TO DVD

HI, DID YOU GET YOUR VHS TAPES TO DVD YET? I am trying to do the same thing. I bought the TV WONDER PRO by ATI. It works great except that I cannot get anything to copy to dvd. dvd shrink cannot find or recognize the file in order to fit it on a disk. I'm pretty sure I need to change a few settings to get this to work. Maybe you can help. Thanks, Mike.

[setarip]

To andy54

"dvd shrink cannot find or recognize the file in order to fit it on a disk."

DVDShrink can only work with a proper, complete DVD "package" (.IFOs, .BUPs, and .VOBs).

To convert your files (whetehr .AVI or MPEG) to this format, re-read the posting by "ormonde" in this thread...