is there any way for quick, easy, free, VHS to DVD

[trenz]

Every once in a while I need to transfer a VHS to a DVD. I don't need to do any editing other than cutting/splitting.

I currently have a 6 hour mini-series that I have on 2 VHS tapes. When I capture to my HD it is in real time so that is 6 hours right there. When I went to use NeroVision to encode the first 2 hour segment to DVD format the timer said approx 3hours. This means 5 hours for each 2 hour segment for a total of 15 hours. I would take each 2 hour segment and shrink it to fit a single dvd. These times I listed include letting NeroVision do the shrink.

I was wondering if there is a quick way to do this. I had used TMPGEnc a long time ago to do a split of an mpeg so my mpeg-2 trial period has expired. Nero vision can do the cutting/splitting if I am still going to use that program.

This transfering is so infrequent that I only wish to use freeware.

My questions are:
1) is there any freeware for cutting/splitting mpeg-2 files
(assuming I will no longer use NeroVision)

2) I realize the capture is going to be in real time but is there a quick way to get the resulting mpeg-2 file onto a DVD to play in a stand alone DVD player.

So, in short, as the title says: what is the quickest, easiest, free, way to go VHS to DVD with only minor editing.

Thanks so much for the help
Trenz

[gameplaya15143]

Generally my method is (all free stuff used)..
1. capture (virtualvcr)
2. setup avisynth script for quenc
3. encode with quenc
4. author dvd with dvd styler
5. export dvd iso with dvd styler
6. test on a virtual dvd drive, burn with imgburn
This might not be the fastest way, but it is free. :)

Fastest way would be to either capture in mpeg2 or get a standalone dvd recorder.

[Mounir]

use a dvd recorder(no real advanced edition possible)

[grannyGeek]

You're capturing in mpeg2, right?

some folks have suggested basic mpeg cutting with
Mpg2Cut2 (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=Mpg2Cut2)
Mpeg2Schnitt (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=Mpeg2Schnitt)
Cuttermaran (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=Cuttermaran) which needs NetFramework 2.


If you don't need chapter points or a menu, Quenc (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=QuEnc) can author a chapterless dvd from a dvd-compliant mpeg2 file.

If you do want chapters and menu, DvdAuthorGui (http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=DVDAuthorgui) can author a dvd from from dvd-compliant mpeg2 file OR FROM elementary video and audio streams.
(other guis in the dvdAuthor project get a bit more complex, with more features - GUI for DvdAuthor, and DvdStyler)

I really like DvdAuthorGui for quick and easy no-frills dvds, but you have to create your own menus, there are no templates.

[jumpjack]

Does it exist a "desktop dvd recorder emulator"?
I.e., a program which allows transferring a VHS to a DVD simply by connecting a VHS player to PC and inserting a DVD into the PC?
small processors inside desktop dvd-recorders can do this, and my amd athlon XP 2600+ with 40GB HD and 512 MB cannot???
It can't be possible.

[Blue_MiSfit]

Of course it's theoretically possible. Nobody (to my knowledge) has written such an application yet. Learn some C :)

It's really not that hard to capture into MPEG-2 and PCM and then burn a DVD.

[jumpjack]

Of course it's theoretically possible. Nobody (to my knowledge) has written such an application yet. Learn some C :)

It's really not that hard to capture into MPEG-2 and PCM and then burn a DVD.

I just found that such an application exists: NERO Burning ROM!
It has a "record directly to DVD" feature!
My system, don't know why (AMD Athlon XP 2600+ 512 MB RAM), appears not enough powerful (???), but feature is there. :D (Nero Vision Express 3.1.0.7)