VHS Tapes to DVD

Minion:
What I have is a 13 minute clip of home videos and I don't want to waste an entire DVD on it. That's why I'm trying to use a CDR.
Frank

 

Minion:
I notice you don't mention Nero software. I've seen this highly recommended by others. But in looking at their sales material, they say "Neither the MPEG-2/SVCD encoder nor the MPEG-2/DVD encoder are integrated in NeroVision Express". What does that mean? Can I still burn and view my VHS movies if it doesn't have this encoder? Or is that to prevent piracy? Nero 6.0 is out but 5.5, which probably does everything I need to do, is selling for only $9.99 on line. Comments?
Frank-in-CA

 

I don"t mention it because the encoder in Nero Sucks really Bad, It is probably the worst Quality encoder ever created...Nero is good For Burning Files to CD-R but it sucks at createing those Files...Nero vision Express will Re-encode every file you load into it even if it is allready in the proper Format so no matter what you do Vision express will Ruin your Quality.....
If you Just have a 13 minute AVI file that you want to put on SVCD then you can use a simple Standalone encoder Like Tmpgenc (30 day free trial) to encode the Files to Mpeg2 SVCD and then you can use VCDEasy to add the Chapters and Make the Bin/Cue Image and Burn it to CD-R and if it can not burn it because it does not support your Burner then Nero will Burn the Image to CD-R....If you want a version of Nero 5.5 I have about 10 retail OEM copys of it because I build PC"s and with every CD-Burner I get for my PC"s comes a Copy of Nero 5.5, If you want one you can PM me and I can either Transfer the Program to you Via MSN Messanger or i can mail it to you, You can also have a Older Freeware version of VCDeasy if you want because the new versions are not free......
So PM me with your E-Mail address if you want these Programs and we can work something out so I can get them to you...Cheers

 

I think I've really messed myself up. I downloaded Nero 6 and was able to create a CD in VCD format, it wouldn't do a SCVD. I had a nice still for my menu page but I couldn't get rid of the file name in the picture. I did cut a CD that I was able to make play after the still menu but there was no audio. I double checked the file I imported and it has no audio in both Nero and Windows Media player now. Audio only shows up when I use PowerDirector. Windows Media gives a quick message about some kind of error and not being able to download something.

I also downloaded VCDeasy trial version and that wouldn't do anything with the files I have. I'm wondering if I now have too many authoring programs on my PC and I'm getting conflicts. I used to be able to play these items on Windows Media Player. It still plays audio CDs.

I feel like I'm digging myself into a hole...
Frank-in-CA

 

Well the Problem you had with VCDeasy is Probably because you tried to load your 13 minute AVI file into it and VCD"s have to be in Mpeg format....

What you are Trying to do Is really Rather simple...
From what I understand you have a 13 minute AVI file and you want to put it on CD-R as a SVCD...
Well the First thing you have to do is Convert the 13 Minute AVI file into a 13 minute Mpeg2/SVCD File, This can easilly be Done useing Something like Tmpgenc...
After you have the Mpeg2/SVCD File you would Just Load it into VCDEasy and add your Chapters and Make a Menu from any JPG,BMP,Gif Image file...
The VCDEasy will then format the Mpeg2/SVCD file with the Menu and Chapters into the proper File Structure for SVCD and Output it as a Bin file and a Cue File and then it will attempt to Burn these Bin/Cue Files to CD-R...
If it does not support your Burner then you will Be Left with the Bin and Cue Files...
Now to Burn these files to CD-R as a SVCD useing Nero you Just Run Nero go to "Recorder" to "Burn Image" and then navigate to the "Cue" file and then Click the Burn Button and Nero Will Burn the Cue and Bin files to CD-R and you will have your SVCD......

If you do not want Chapters in your SVCD then you Can Burn the Mpeg2/SVCD File directly to CD-R useing Nero In SVCD Mode...You do not need a Nero Plugin to Burn SVCD"s if they are allready in Mpeg2/SVCD Format, you Only need the SVCD Plugin if you want Nero to encode your "AVI" file to CD-R as a SVCD which isn"t a Good Idea because the Nero encoder Sucks.....

I hope this makes it sound a Little Easier because once you Know how it is rather simple...It is Just encode to Mpeg2/SVCD then add chapters and Menu"s and then Burn to CD-R......

 

Minion;
These files are already in a .mpg format. I gave up tonight and just burnt this short 13 minute clip to a DVD. That works and plays fine. I don't know why the chapter versions won't play when burnt to a CD.

I saved a few CDs and DVDs by experimenting with rewriteables. When I have the final working version, I'll just copy them to a read only and then erase the RW and use it again. I wonder how long I can do that though before an RW won't take data anymore?
Frank

 

A DVD-RW can handle over 1000 burns as Long as you keep them dust Free and clean and free of Scratches so your DVD-RW"s would in theory Last longer that you will....Cheers

 

Hey Minion,
I've got a question for you. I read your replies to me
and the others, and used some of your advice on programs and techniques. I captured VHS tapes to AVI.
Then converted to MPEG2 using Canopus. Very expensive by the way. However, while conversion was running, I stopped at the end of the time line I wanted, Burned
to DVD using Roxio 6 and the sound is way out of whack.
The audio is from the entire original VHS tape, while the video stops where I stopped it during conversion.
Any ideas what happened? Does audio record faster than video? It seems logical. I have my Nephew's crying face
with the sound of Veterans Stadium imploding. Thanks.

 

Have you checked that the Mpeg2 file IS in Sync after you have encoded the AVI to Mpeg2??
Because usually the DVD Authoring program(Roxio 6 in your case) Will usually not cause Sync problems so the Sync problem will usually be caused when you encoded the AVI to Mpeg2 Unless your DVD authoring program is re-encodeing the Mpeg2 file which some programs will do ...
So try to find out through a process of elimination what is causeing the Sync problem and then Post back with your Results and we can go from there....Cheers

 

The audio is NOT in sync after AVI to MPEG conversion.
I guess it's either the capture software, or the conversion software IE Canopus. I also have a question about Canopus. Why does Canopus convert to an MPEG video and a WAV audio file, while it does not recognize
WAV files? I converted my AVI to MPEG using the streaming method, but was only wondering about the other. It seems like a waste of time.

 

Well Sync Problem that are caused from Captured Files are usually due to the Fact that the Audio capture Clock and the Video Capture Clocks are slightly different which means that at the end of Captureing the audio and Video Length would be Different and it would be totally out of Sync, so what some Capture Software does is it will change the Frame rate Slightly so that it matches up with the video and stays in sync, But when you encode the File in an Encoder it will encode the File useing an exact frame rate that will be Slightly different from the AVI Frame rate because the Capture software changed the Frame rate slightly so after encodeing to Mpeg2 the the File goes out of Sync....
Since I do not know what capture Software you are useing and what settings you are useing to capture the AVI files I can not really tell you how to correct it accept for a few suggestions.....
Try Captureing Directly to Mpeg2 DVD with a Capture program Like "WinDVR 3.0" which uses a Better method for Keeping Sync than Most Capture programs do...After captureing you would just author the Captured files to DVD without any re-encodeing or anything....
I also have another Method that uses the same software But does involve re-encodeing but it Seems to Produce much Better results than just captureing to Mpeg2 and authoring to DVD...If you want me to Teach you this Method them PM me with your e-mail and I will e-mail you step by step instructions on this method, But you should also give me Info on your Capture card and your System Specs and any other Info I might find helpfull....Cheers

 

I have a large VHS tape library that I want to Archive to DVD. To save money, I want to archive four tapes per DVD. I have a friend who had a service do this for him a while back (six hours of VHS on one DVD). I think I already have the gear I need to do it myself--so why pay someone else?

The first thing I need to know is, do I need do anything to squeeze 6 hours of video onto a single DVD--other than adjust the conversion bitrate when loading the VHS tapes?

Here is my starting point:

Hardware:

* e-Machines T2240 2.2 Ghz Celeron w/ dual 40 Gb drives (Win XP Home)
* Maxtor 250Gb USB2.0/FIrewire External drive
* Netdisk 7200 rpm 160 GB USB2.0/Ethernet External Drive
* Polaroid Internal DVD+/- R/RW drive
* Panasonic Firewire CD/DVD -R/RW drive

* Sony DCR-TRV330 Digital-8 Camcorder (which I also use for analog/digital conversion)

Software (Most of it unused--most bundled with Hardware):

Adobe Encore DVD 1.0
Adobe Aftereffects Pro 6.0
Cakewalk Pyro 2003
Cyberlink PowerDVD XP 4.0
Nero 5
Roxio EasyCD Creator 5
Roxio Photosuite 5
Sonic RecordNow 6.51
Sony ACID Pro 4.0f
Sony DVD Architecht 1.0d
Sony Sound Forge 7.0
Sony Vegas 4.0e
Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3.0 Disc Creator
Ulead DVD PictureShow 2 Digital Camera Suite
Ulead DVD Workshop 2
Ulead Media Studio Pro 6.5

I know that some of these programs duplicate the functions of others--and I'm not sure if all of them are even applicable to what I want to do.

What I want to know is the cheapest, easiest way (using my available resources with minimal add-ons) to take four 90-minute VHS videos and put them on a single 6-hour DVD--while optimizing output quality?

I don't have any video stabilizer yet, and want to buy one that will be useful later when I may want to back up my commercial DVDs (I lost my last DVD library in a fire--I don't want that to happen again). Any suggestions along this line would be greatly appreciated.

I have a *very* limited budget for this project.

Thanks!
Bob

 

Oops!

Just found Roxio EasyCD and DVD Creator 6.

Bob

 

Stay well away from Roxio as it is well Known for it"s Low Quality Mpeg2 encodeing Pluss it does not support the DVD Format you will have to use to get 6 hours on a single DVD....
There is No chance in hell that you will be able to get 6 hours on a DVD useing the Standard Full D1 DVD Format that is used on most retail DVD"s because the Bitrate used to create Quality Mpeg2 files at that reasolution is Far too High to Fit 6 hours of Video on a DVD ....
The DVD Format you will Have to use too Fit 6 hours on a DVD is called the "Sif" DVD format, It uses either Mpeg1 or Mpeg2 (Mpeg2 is better) at a Resolution of 352+240/288-Pal which is 1/4 the Resolution of a Standard DVD and about 1/4 the Bitrate is also used so in essence the Quality is only about 1/4 the Quality of the Full D1 DVD Format..
And comeing From a VHS source will make the Quality even Lower....
I have gotten 6 Hours on a DVD with Quite Watchable results when Backing up 4 DVD"s to a Single DVD-R useing the Sif DVD format but I am sure you will Find that the Quality comeing from a VHS source is Not going to be Very good and you will be Quite inevitably Dissapointed with the quality especially seeing all the Work you will have to Do....
So this is Basicly your Best bet for getting 6 hours on a DVD with the Best Possible Quality with the Equipmentand Software you have....
Use Vegas Video to capture the Analoge Footage useing the DV Passthrough on your Cam corder and then add any Effects or filters you need to to clean up the Image as much as you can and then render each movie as a 352+240/288-Pal Mpeg2 file useing a Video Bitrate of about "1825kbs" and an Audio Bitrate of "192kbs" and repeat for all 3 or 4 Movies, Now you will need a DVD authoring Program that will NOT re-encode your Mpeg2 files and supports the Sif DVD Format ,Something Like "DVD-Lab" is good....
DVD Lab will let you Make a Main Menu Linking to each seperate Movie and let you add Chapters and scene selections and Finally author the Movies to a DVD-R...
The Most Important thing to achieveing the Best Quality under these Circumstances is that you use a Mpeg2 encoder that is of the Highest Quality and the One that comes with Vegas Video 4 is a Good one but a Little slow...You will either have the vegas Mpeg2 Plugin installed to render to Mpeg2 or if you have DVD architect also installed it will add Mpeg2 and Dolby AC3 encodeing capibilities to Vegas 4....

I"m sure you will realize after finnishing this project that quality is far to low for your Likeing and you will probably decide to go with a Single Movie per DVD unless extremely Low Quality doesn"t Bother you...The Quality will also Look better/worse depending on the Size/Type of your TV set....
well good Luck...Cheers

 

Minion,

You mention PAL twice, but I'm in an NTSC world. Does that make any difference?

Also, you said,

Does this mean that none of my programs listed above qualify?

bob

 

When I said "352+240/288-Pal that means the resolution has to be 352+240 for NTSC and 352+288 for Pal and it does Make a differance you Must use the NTSC resolution the Pal resolution will Not work for NTSC DVD"s...You can use Adobe Encore I believe but it is Very complicated, Ulead DVD workshop 2.0 would be better because it is easier But for it to Accept the SIF format (Sometimes called the Cif Format) you have to go into your Project properties and set up a Template that Matches the settings you used to create your Mpeg2/DVD Files or it might Try to re-encode them to the standard DVD format...I personally use DVD-Lab when Makeing These Types of DVD"s because it does not have an encoder so it will never re-encode your files, Either way you shouldn"t have a problem authoring these Files to DVD as Long as they are created properly and the Software supports them...Cheers

 

Thnaks for clearing that up, Minion.

bob

 

Hi Folks! I, too, have a large VHS/SVHS library that I want to convert to DVD. I studied all the postings in this thread and others and came up with a configuration of hardware and software that seems to most optimally fit my needs.
The hardware:
JVC SVHS HR-S5902U player,
Datavideo TBC-100 time base corrector,
Canopus ADVC-100 converter,
and my computer, a 3 GHz Dell XPS running Windows XP SP1 with 1 GB RAM and a second 160 GB hard drive for use with video only.

The software:
PowerBit bit-rate calculator,
Main Concept MPEG Encoder for capture and encoding,
Womble MPEG-VCR editor for trimming and cutting out commercials,
DVD-Lab for authoring,
Nero Burning ROM to make the DVD, and
WinDVD5 to play it on the computer.

I've converted a dozen or so tapes, both color and B&W, and the process runs smoothly without problems. But there is something that puzzles me. Throughout the entire process, the video as shown by the preview windows of the capture/encode, editor, and authoring programs looks as if the gamma is very low, plus there is a greenish-yellow color cast to everything. There are no whites and the skin tones are dark and greenish. BUT when I burn a DVD and view it on the TV instead of the computer, the video is very close to the original VHS tape (although the skin tones are still a tad greenish). There is obviously a difference between the computer gamma and the television gamma, although the tutorials that I've read (DVD-Lab for instance) do not show this in their examples. Is this gamma difference normal? Or have I got something set up wrong?

The greenish contamination and gamma difference show up from the start, in the capture preview window of the Main Concept MPEG encoder. This presumably show the original video BEFORE anything has been done to it. So where can this come from?

I'd like to make some snazzy menu backgrounds in Photoshop but can't tell how they will look when played on the TV. What I see is not what I get. Is there a way that I can design my backgrounds and then convert them somehow so that they will display correctly with proper color and contrast when viewed on the TV? Is there a fixed gamma conversion that I can apply? As it is now, something that looks good in Photoshop appears washed out when viewed on the TV.

I've searched many guides and tutorials but can find no mention of this. Is it something that's so common that everyone knows about it and therefore it needs no discussion -- or is there something wrong with my setup? My monitor/printer system is properly calibrated.

To reiterate, I can convert my VHS tapes to DVD reasonably well (except for a slight green color cast), but thoughout the editing and authoring process I cannot view the video on the computer as it will look on the TV.

 

Your ADVC-100 should have an Analogue Output for hooking up to your TV set...use this as a refrance to see what the video will look like when played on TV...

 

Using the analog output of the ADVC-100 might tell me if the capture process is introducing the green cast but it wouldn't help with authoring and making backgrounds in Photoshop. I also have some practical difficulties -- the family TV monitor (a 50-inch plasma unit) is in a different part of the house. There's no way I could get a connection to it from my computer.

Does your reply mean the gamma difference is normal? Does everyone just simply live with dark, murky images while editing and authoring their videos? Is there no precise way to convert backgrounds created in Photoshop so they will look as intended when viewed on TV (other than trial-and-error)?

I'm in the dark here (pun intended). I live in a rural area of NW Washington and don't know anyone who is experienced in this area to whom I can go to ask questions and to see firsthand how these things are done. Thanks for your help!