Transfer Video tapes to DVD

[pmui]

Hi,

can anyone recommend a software program that i can use to transfer my video tape to my computer and create DVD copies. I've already have a video capture device (Canopus video conversion). The program has to be somewhat easy to use.
I know there are vcr/dvd recorder units on the market, but i have that many tapes to transfer.

Thanks.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I have the ATI USB wonder and use the stock software that came with it. you can download the media center from the ati website and see if it works.

 

[reefman]

i dont think there r any fast ways. it will all need to be played to be capture in digital format.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Yes it has to be played at normal speed to be captured digitally.

 

[pmui]

that i know. I've got my hands on DVD architect 2, any good?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Never used it before peter. You are gonna have to review it for us

 

[Dmitry]

Why do you necessarily want to do it through your computer? There are stand-alone DVD burners (Panasonic DMR-ES25 is easy to use and you can get it for about $150; it will double as a DVD player). The encoding to your computer has to be done in real time, so I'm not sure you're saving any time. The only thing you can do better with a computer is design custom menus, etc.

 

[pmui]

i don't need another piece of dvd equipment, that's why i opted for the software.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

There are great benifits to doing this on your pc, the first and best reason is to be able to set up chapters not a continuous feed like most dvd/vhs players do. The next is that after you save them to file form you can back them up so if something ever happens to the tapes or the disc's you have a backup archived. You are allowed to back up any cd,dvd,vhs that you own so long as you do not sell it/give it away or charge others to view it.

 

[Dmitry]

Stand-alone DVD recorders don't create single continuous feeds. They all place chapters at roughly every 5 minutes. Each recorder is different (it may be 4 minutes, but 5 is the average), but they all create chapters.

If you encode the tape to your computer at a decent resolution backing up all this media on your computer is going to take an enormous amount of space, so you'll have to start adding storage drives.