[Hidden-tech] question about converting VHS to DVD

[Jeff Hobbs]

The easiest way I've found to accomplish this is via an analog to DV
converter box -- I have a wonderful old Sony DVMC-DA1 that's worked for
years -- and convert the analog VHS signal to DV streams. After you get the
video as a DV stream (and ram and/or processing speed is not the issue here
as much as scads and scads of hard drive space, as digital video creates
horribly large files), then there are several ways to get it onto DVD: iDVD,
Toast 7, DVD Studio Pro, listed in order of difficulty.

I've also found if you want a great local service who will just go ahead and
convert your VHS tapes to DVD for you, these guys are great:

http://analogcabin.net/

(DISCLAIMER: I am these guys)

~jeff at analogcabin.net

On 4/20/06, Rich <rich at on-the-net.com> wrote:
>
>    ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group, you must be counted to post .
>    ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>
>
> This is one I have been studying for some time, here is a summary of
> what I found
>
> *Initial warning *- there are 5 (at least) DVD formats that you will
> find when making dvd's in small
> quantity -- not something I can explain here - the keys ones for this
> are probably
> dvd-r and dvd+r --- make sure you confirm your burning and playing
> machines use the same
> and REALLY use the same -- there are subtleties about how well they are
> interchangeable.
> Meaning nothing is better than testing. AND then there is what format
> does your computer
> play or burn if you want to be able to edit the video.
>
> Also, newer units are doing more formats.
>
> AND there is the matter of editing and making easy to use dvd menus.
>
> *1) Services*: there are services who will do it for you - read what
> they offer carefully - many
> are really photo to slide show DVD not tape to dvd -- also fees and
> quaility vary
> I have not tried any - since I want to edit and clean many of my tapes
>
> *2) * *VCR Player/DVD Recorder:* There are a number of nicely packaged
> vcr players/dvd recorder boxes from all major
> electronics vendors - and most of the reviews I have read (Amazon has
> good reviews) are
> TERRIBLE -- it seems the technology is not quite there for consumer boxes.
>
> I did try a Samsung and returned it - I messed up on the formats,
> between my video boxes
> (player/recorder) and my computer -- newer units do more.  The Samsung
> did a pretty
> good job on dvd-r but made very poor menus in fact sometimes none at all
> and so only
> the first video was available.
>
> There is an RCA unit on sale at Target I am thinking of getting that
> seems to have good reviews,
> not sure if Target has a better return policy then Amazon
>
> 3) *Copy to Computer*: The most flexible is to copy the video to a
> computer - edit and burn - BUT cavets there also.
> Like - you need a new pretty high end computer (2-3 gig cpu) with LOTS
> of  RAM (>1 gig)
> and disk (at least 160 gig) -- and then you still have to find the
> software and get the video
> to the computer - I have seen direct video wiring converters - but the
> vcr needs to be next to
> computer - tivo offers a feature that will stream from your tivo (series
> 2) to your computer over
> your in-house network --- it has never worked for me AND the videos are
> license encoded to
> you have to use the video burning software they offer.
>
> Net-net: today - it takes some fair bit of initial setup research and
> work to get a clean dvd from a home vcr
> tape - the most reliable I use is a Sony Digital Camcorder that I can
> then move to my computer (a very loaded
> Dell) and use either Nero or MyDVD to edit and burn the DVD's -- and I
> always have to leave that desktop
> machine for 2-6 hours doing nothing but processing video to get an
> initial burn - making copies is a snap after that.
>
> Ok - so 3 ideas:
> 1) Plan on finding a service or spending a fair bit of time experimenting
> 2) Wait a while - no idea if months or a year from now from what I can
> see of the industry
>
> AND
> 3) anyone who would like to collaborate with me on improving the process
> I would be very interested in
>     working together -     there might even be a business in it all
>
> lisa cody wrote:
> > How is this accomplished?
> > Is there way to do this cheaply? I'd like to convert all my VHS to DVD.
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
>
> --
> Rich Roth
> CEO On-the-net
>
> Bringing you complex online systems since the net was young
> http://www.tnrglobal.com - http://www.on-the-net.com/rr/
>
> _______________________________________________
> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
>
> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.hidden-tech.net/pipermail/hidden-discuss/attachments/20060420/6eef9b6a/attachment-0005.html