How to

[trackrat]

I have a computer and a video recorder, so what do I need to get to put my old VHS tapes onto DVD.

[-pops-]

Easiest is a TV card with an RCA input, or you can use the RF - aerial if necessary.

You then need DVD writing software. I suggest WinDVD creator this one as it's easy to use and quick in its processing.

[trackrat]

I brought a Dazzle DVC 90 and it was total crap it is being RMA`d for a refund.

Has anyone actually got VHS tapes onto there hard drive and if so what have they used to do it?.

[-pops-]

I have put thousands (yes, thousands) of VHS and 8mm tapes on to DVD.

I initially used a NorthQ A to D converter but it was complicated and unreliable- frequently going out of sync.

I now have a Hauppauge WIN-TV PVR USB2 like this

I am very happy with this box as it is easy to use, has never let me down and has the bonus of being a TV receiver as well so I can record TV programs direct to the hard drive. There is a PCI version see here but I wanted the versatility of being able to move between machines.

The Hauppauge comes with Ulead Movie Factory (which I don't like) which will get you into the ways of movie editing.

(I had a Dazzle "Hollywood" converter some time ago - total rubbish. Perhaps I should have warned you about my disappointments. Pinnacle editing software comes in the same category - bloated, infinitely slow, unreliable and prone to crashing.)

[trackrat]

Thanks for that pops I will look into it next week when I have more time.

[dadyassa]

The best, less time consuming and cheapest way is to buy a stand alone dvd recorder and connect your vcr to it, it will copy in real time and put all videos in a menu at the beginning of the disc. You can add more to the disc until it is full, but you will need to finalise the disc to view on other players.

[trackrat]

Dadyassa I have a combined VHS/DVD recorder that allows me to copy tapes to DVD, but I want them on my computer to play with them and learn something about Video editing.

I know I can use the DVD`s to get them on the hard drive but I want to get them on the computer without using my VHS/DVD recorder.

[-pops-]

The system I described above was first installed when DVD recorders were selling at about £700 or so. The system as above was about £100 (I don't know the current prices).

I now have a standalone DVD recorder which I can hitch up to a VCR if I want but, for full versatility and editing ability, I still use my original WinTV and computer. Even recording TV programmes, that I want to keep, I do on the WinTV and edit carefully (even to a single frame) to remove adverts, put in scene transition effects at ad break points, fade out awful voice-overs that come on during the rolling of the credits and so on. The editing capabilities on the DVD recorder are limited, to say the least, and certainly not capable of doing what I want. I use the DVD recorder for "throw away" recordings i.e. programmes I want to watch once only but are on at an inconvenient time - like concurrent with a programme on another channel which so often is the case. These go on a DVDRW.