?guide to compare analog video capture w/computer vs. standalone DVD recorder?

[mzemina]

I've been looking in the forum (If it is here I have overlooked it and sorry to waste your time) to find a comparative analysis of the PQ (and any audio sync issues) on digital capture of analog video using either computer based or standalone DVD recorders. Has anyone produced such a write-up? Is one any better than the other? With DVR going hot and heavy with HTPC systems and the prices going down on stand alone DVD recorders I would think this group would have such a comparison. I'm looking to see what direction I should go regarding all my VHS tapes I have of my daughter and with VHS players/recorders starting to fade away, that may allow me to kill two birds with one device.

Mike

[Boulder]

I don't know if there is any guide/comparison anywhere, but the reason why I'll always prefer capturing, then encoding is that you can do wonders when postprocessing the capture. This is especially true with VHS sources.

Besides, the DVD recorders often don't let you choose other parameters than the "minutes-per-disc" whereas manual processing allows you to use more bits for videos that require more and less for those that don't require much to look equally good.