Hi all, I am a newbie and are keen as mustard to convert VCR to DVD. I have so much stuff of my kids etc on VCR and wish to transfer to DVD using my computer. I have a pretty good computer, fast and plenty of memory etc. I have a LG dual layer DVD burner. My questions are: 1. What add ons do I need to put on computer? 2. The program - Pinnacle's Studio 9 is it the program to use? 3. Is there any other instructions out there in this bag wide world that can easily tell me from start to finish how to do it, being an old man with only limited knowledge of this sort of stuff? (well DVD burning at least!!) Your help would be much appreciated, Steve-Sydney, Australia
Well the First thing you would need is a Video capture device Like a TV Card or an Analogue Digital Converter....I Suggest something like the "Hauppague WinTV PVR-150/250/350" which uses Hardware Mpeg compression to capture so the Captured Files will be in the Correct Format for DVD also these cards will Ignore the Macrovision Copy protection that is Present on all Store Bought VHS Tapes which saves you from haveing to buy another device to remove the Copy Protection from the VHS tapes..... Then all you would need is a DVD authoring program so you can Put the captured Mpeg-2 files on to DVD with your Menu"s and Chapters ,For this I suggest "MediaChance DVDLab (Pro)" which will Take your Captured Mpeg-2 files and let you add menu"s and Chapters and then it will Burn to DVD.... I personally wouldn"t use Studio 9 unless I had to and had a Pinnacle Capture Card as it is a Way over rated program and it"s Mpeg Encodeing sucks..... You can get one of the Capture devices I mentioned above for anywere from $75 to $200 depending on which Model you get.... Cheers
Thanks for the quick response. I thought everyone was still in bed!! In Oz anyway. The VCR's I want to copy are the transfered from 8mm video camera of my kids ect. So I dont need the stuff thats for already made vcr movies and so on. What would you suggest for this? Are the devices and programs avail here in Australia? Thanks again, Steve-Sydney
You can use the same Capture device no matter what the Video source is...The Card will Capture from TV or VCR or from Hi8 Camcorders or from DVD Players or any Analogue Video source you have.... Yes ,you should be able to Find the "Hauppague WinTV PVR 150/250/350" Cards in Austrailia, You can Probably find one on e-Bay for much cheaper than you would pay at a Retail Store but if you do make sure you get a "Pal" version of the Card and Not NTSC.... Cheers
