Capture direct to DVD

[getyogrooveon]

Hi, trying to find an easy way to transfer 200+ old video tapes onto DVD so I can get rid of the huge bookcase they sit on!

Is there any software out there, apart from NeoTV, which will digitse to DVD format and record direct to disk in one go. NeoTV does this, but I can't seem to get it to work reliably with my set up (Athlon 3000+, ATI 9600 AIW, LG DVD Re-writer) and the customer support they offer is nill. The thought of having to rip all to the HD, encode and then burn fills me with dread!

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[tigerman8u]

use ATI MMC to capture to a compliant dvd mpeg 2. Use an authoring program such as Tmpgenc dvd author to make the menu etc. and burh the output.

[setarip_old]

For such volume, you may want to consider purchasing a tabletop DVD recorder (and, if necessary, a "black box" to eliminate Macrovision protection)...

[Karovaldas]

I haven't tried it myself, but Ulead Video Studio has the ability to capture directly to DVD and bypass the hard-drive. As long as you can figure out all of the compatibility issues, you should be fine. The nice thing is that they give you a 30 day try-out period so you don't purchase something that does not work.

I don't see how a table-top DVD recorder would help speed things up or make it that much more convenient. And I am afraid that with 200+ tapes there is no EASY way to do it... :(

[communist]

I don't see how a table-top DVD recorder would help speed things up or make it that much more convenient. And I am afraid that with 200+ tapes there is no EASY way to do it... :(
You insert your tape in the VCR (which is connected to the DVD-Recorder) insert a blank DVDR and hit play on the VCR and record on the DVD-Recorder - can it be any easier / convenient?
With 200+ tapes it wont be 'easy' (as in terms of speed) for either way.

[laserfan]

Hi, trying to find an easy way to transfer 200+ old video tapes onto DVD so I can get rid of the huge bookcase they sit on!...
I'd not heard of NeoTV so looked it up. Your ATI 9600AIW is not listed as a supported capture card...

The best thing to do is to throw away the tapes and the bookcase! Oops, wait, you'll still need a significant portion of that bookcase for the DVDs you want to burn!

Seriously, if the tapes are worth saving i.e. home videos & whatnot, there's no way around the fact that it will be a very big job indeed, and take months to do! Your best bet would be to invest in a (relatively cheap now) DVD recorder...

[ppera2]

.... The thought of having to rip all to the HD, encode and then burn fills me with dread!


With apropr. programm you can capture directly in DVD compatible Mpeg2 format. Then you need only to author DVD (10-20 mins) and burn it (7 miin). Example: Win DVR.

[mg262]

For what it's worth, with anything that you are really attached to, it's probably worth holding on to the tapes (even if you stuff them in a box in a loft or suchlike)... I've seen a lot of conflicting opinion/statements on how long writable consumer DVDs last, but to be honest I'm not convinced that anyone really knows for sure as DVDs haven't been around that long.

[zilog jones]

I agree, plus the fact whatever way you do it (especially if it's any sort of quick way), you will definately lose quality transferring VHS to DVDs, and as technology progresses so quickly these days I'm sure there'll be some much better backup method in the near future. So yeah, keep your tapes if they're in any way important!

[ppera2]

I agree, plus the fact whatever way you do it (especially if it's any sort of quick way), you will definately lose quality transferring VHS to DVDs, and as technology progresses so quickly these days I'm sure there'll be some much better backup method in the near future. So yeah, keep your tapes if they're in any way important!

Better backup method? Hmmm... maybe will appear some better 'quick' methode, but maybe not... And it will cost.

Fact is that we already have practically best methodes available, and people can read about them on this forum and guides.

Capturing lets say one tape per day, then postprocessing during night seems to me as much better idea than waiting some imaginary 'better backup method'.

PS. VHS is already poor quality, any transfer to 720 pix wide DVD is pitty.

[mg262]

I think there's been a definite improvement over the original generation of BT878 capture cards, and what I have read about some upcoming cards suggests that further improvements may be coming up. Also, better filters will definitely be coming out, and the increase in processing power will allow e.g. wider use of motion compensation and other techniques that will improve quality -- for free. (In particular, search for LTSMC and look at the screenshots.) None of that is to say that he shouldn't capture now! It's just about whether to keep the tapes or not... and a lot of that depends on how valuable/irreplaceable they are.

[laserfan]

Funny isn't it how folks will sign-on to a board, post ONE question, then disappear forever (probably can't find their way back here) yet the thread/discussion/debate continue-on...

:rolleyes:

[mg262]

LOL.

With the default settings, he would've got an e-mail informing him of the replies? He may just have found an answer he is happy with (I think @setarip_old suggested the way to go, myself, although I don't know whether recorders are still very expensive) and not have bothered to reply...

Weirder thing about this thread (compared to most) is that it's full of single posts from most participants -- which is not suggest that they aren't still reading!

You know, sometimes when you're new to things and you get three or four conflicting answers to a simple question, it can be a bit overwhelming?

[SelArom]

heh well I remember when I first signed up and was told I had to wait like 5 days before I could even post... that was discouraging... so I think when I finally did post I just forgot about it so I understand what might have happened to this guy...


but ANYWAY, I wanted to contribute to this thread, because I can't believe that a dvd recorder can exist where you just put in a blank dvdr and hit record and can copy vhs tapes, but PCs in their infinite glory do not have this feature!! I've scoured the web and EVERYONE says I have to record to mpg (or god forbid, AVI!) and then author a dvd... is there really no way to just pop it in and record?! thanks in advance!

-SelArom

ps I did subscribe to the thread, and I will return! so please post your insight on this if you have any!

[communist]

There are applications that do that.
Just to name two
http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVDCreator_Profile.jsp
http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVDRecorder.jsp?mode=Features

Also when they mention that you have to capture to MPEG they mean DVD compliant MPEG1/2 that gets used on DVD (inside the VOB files).

[CWR03]

The option of using ATI's MMC is advantageous in that you can adjust the record time to the length of the tape, press Play on the VCR, press Record on the MMC and let it finish on its own. You didn't mention how you'd planned to use the captures, but if you do use the DVD-compliant presets within MMC, you can easily burn these files to a standard video DVD or rip them in DivX/XviD format.