I heard that it is possible to bypass your pc, and transfer directly from vhs to dvd. If so, this flys in the face of just about every discussion on the subject, which assumes you must use a computer as an intermediary appliance when converting vhs to dvd. I have a ton of vhs tapes to transfer, and a direct method sounds time efficient. Any thoughts on the matter?
Actually most full length movies say 90 minutes on vhs actually contain more info than a typical dvd-r can contain, so some compression is going to have to take place, and the only place that i think that can happen is on a computer, also i think youd have to compress the vhs in an MPEG-2 stream for it to work on standalone dvd players. not too sure about the last part though.
I have been working on starwars the trilogy. Originally VHS is about 27 gigs. Then I have to use a normal encoder like CCE or Tmpeg. Still after encoding, the file itself is about 5 to 7 gigs. I use my DVD software to write a dvd on my HDD. Then I grab the Video_TS file. Then I still need to use a compressor software like DVD2one( i use DVDshrink) to get it below 4.3 gigs. Finally, i am able to write to a DVD. (beware of video noise) the more you compress your file you will still lose some of the encoding. PC magazine says you start to really notice a difference if you compress more then 30 to 38% of original encoding.
Is the issue, then, the storage capacity of the medium? Can I chose a zero compression strategy, and just use a lot of dvds to get the job done? Could I then bypassed the pc, or does it come down to needing a pc as a director and manager of the transfer? Can I actually make direct transfers, or do I (or you) NEED a pc! _X_X_X_X_X_[small]Randy[/small]
I am sorry. I assumed you were using a PC. Yes, it could be very well be your stand alone DVD writer (No PC). I would have never considered using a DVD writer. If it is a stand alone dvd writer, they my have limiting software. (actually, I just cant imagine it) Im like the other guy. We have to use a PC, to get the video down to one or two DVDs. I would not recommend using a lot of dvd because of the expense. However, if you transfer a raw VHS file to a dvd from a PC, you would still have to encode it again to mpeg2 to work a a stand alone dvd player....let me know what you find out. I have spent over a two months everynight to understand what i do, so far.
Though I haven't heard that you could burn directly to a DVD from a VCR, I can't really see how it's possible. Unless, While transfering the data it's being converted in some way. What you're asking is to go directly from "analog" to "digital" and there has to be some sort of encoding to be done. I could be wrong, just trying to go from what I've read. I too want to transfer VHS tapes (home movies of the vacations and holidays) to DVD. Since I don't have the inputs on my video card, it was necessary for me to buy a Digital Video Creator. I have been able to transfer one of the vacations onto my HD. But, alas being strapped for time I haven't been able to mess with it. So, I think you're going to have to get a DVC in order to accomplish what you want.
i think they are talking about high end dvd recorders for home theaters many can record tv on the fly to disk but cost up in the 800 dollar range and the disks dont then play on other dvd players for sure tommays
jbaoeckman... you mentioned that a full VHS tape conatins about 27 gigs, and that a dvd can store only about 4 or 5....hense the need for compression. If there is noticeable quality loss above around 40 percent, then how do the pre-recorded dvds that I rent at Blockbuster yield such wonderful viewing results? Are they a different breed of dvd that holds more data? The pieces of this puzzle don't seem to make sense. What am I missing?
You are right. I need to compress the VHS because it is a AVI.file. (kind of like raw footage). The dvd is already a compress version of AVI. Some DVDs can hold 9 gig (others are 4.7 gig), but a special write done by factory. (how I understand it.) Also one DVD can only hold 4.3 gig of video and audio (MPEG2). DVD is already compressed. it may be possible to (depending on what you have stand alone DVD writer) is able to write the 9 gig dvd the same. When I talked about the added compress from avi, to dvd on hdd, and compression again, this may be only a PC issue. However, since I do not have that to compare with you I am at a loss to answer the most correct way. Im am sorry there is no good way to answer you, unless you were using a PC.
factory DVD is pressed in a mold not burned way back when there was no dvd-r or cd-r there is no way that you will get dvd quality out of a vhs tape even if new it never had that quality and it was not noticed because it only had to look good on a standard tv set. you are going to lose quality due to age and the capture card i would dought that you can get VCD quality which if you have see a factory made disk is quite good i have backed up many tapes the way you are talking about and my VCD looks almost as good as the tape but not even close to a new dvd. also when i play back my disks they look best on my standard player hooked up to a tv when i play them on a hdtv setup it brings out all the faults because the tv can show so much more detail tommays i think that you should capture a 10 minute section and test until you get the end result you are happy with i think you find you are captureing a lot of dead air (that is quality that is not in the sorce material)and then encode it at VCD and SVCD and then DVD and see if it really loks any better,ALSO are you using a VCR with s-video out they were s-vhs at the time but are rare at stores now JVC still sells one but it would be the single bigest inprovement you can make if youn not using s-video is almost 100% better than standard
s-vhs? Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly does the s stand for? When I initiated this thread, I was (and still am), very ignorant about the technical issues we are discussing. All I know is, the guys at circuit city and best buy are even dumber than me. I thank you guys for shedding some light on all this.
"S" stands for Super. S-video has a that round plug-in on TV/monitors. You also have them on camcorders and DVD players. It provides a higher quality of video, nothing to do with audio. The last I checked, there are 3 types of video hook-ups. The best being composite. That's three jacks for colors Red, Blue, and Green. The next is the S-video, and last is the standard RC jack(one video cord).
