VHS to DVD

[Quang]

I have some old VHS tapes I want to convert to DVDs (home videos, etc.). I don't want spend money purchasing a machine that does it. Does anyone know of a place that will do it locally for a reasonable price?

Thanks. :flower:

 

[inkblue]

if you get an inExpensive TV card for your PC, you can probabLy do it yourseLf ask gHief... he know PCs, especiaLLY DELLS

 

[reefman]

i know some1 that can do it. they charge by the time length of the conversion.
bare in mind the resolution of the dvd is only as good as the vhs.
he can even add in stuff like a movie.

 

[Quang]

thx ink

reefman, can you PM me his ballpark rates?

 

[roncgizmo]

All you need is a DVD RECORDER you can pick one up cheap on ebay..<$50
just pop the tape in and hit record...

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Maybe someone here has a dvd recorder/vhs machine and can help you out free of charge?

 

[bad coffee]

Q, Do you have a DVD burner on your laptop?
For about $70 you can get something like this, and burn your own.
http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-tuner-ad...v200u/4505-9332_7-32453009.html?tag=pdtl-list

I know you don't want to spend money on a piece of equipment, but I think it will be cheaper than paying someone else to do it.

B

 

[inkblue]

I have to agree, conversions can be eXpensive more than $70 thats for sure

 

[Dmitry]

It'd probably be cheaper to get a cheap stand-alone DVD recorder and do it yourself. Here's a $49 one from Samsung on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EHODY8/?tag=reefs04-20

I'm not sure how long it would last, but I'm sure it'll be long enough to convert your VHSs!

 

[Cloud1921]

In the past, I have done them on my standalone panasonic dvd recorder.
If I remember, the maximum time frame you can get on a DVD5 is 6hrs.

or...
You can just get a tv tuner card.
This can provide the added benefits of modifications to your liking.

 

[inkblue]

iF its porn, i do it for free :bunnies:

 

[Dmitry]

There's a good Panasonic burner (DMR-ES25, about $150) that does 8 hours on a standard DVD. (It also upconverts to 1080i, and has HDMI, so you can use it to play back your DVDs). The problem is if you want good picture quality you shouldn't record more than 4 hours (standard LP speed) on a DVD.

 

[Quang]

Wow, thanks everyone for the responses!

So my options are:
1) Get a computer TV video card - cheapest.
2) Get a stand alone DVD-R and connect a VHS to it? - more expensive.
3) Pay someone to do it - most expensive.

It looks like option 1 or 2. I'll do some research and see the cost/required work of each.

and no, ink, its not porn.

 

[asianer]

I have the video capture card and vcr and all the necessary cables you can borrow; I would offer to do it for you but my DVD burner is on the fritz right now.

 

[Quang]

Asianer, thanks for the offer. Let me weigh the options, first. I'll let you know. :hug:

Here's a question for you folks. If I record the VHS straight to DVD using a DVD-Recorder, what format is it saved, and is there anyway for me to upload the video to the computer for post-editing?

 

[asianer]

It saves it into an MPEG format and yes there is a video editor that comes with it called PVR plus, although I have yet to utilize it. I have only used the fade in and out to cut the VHS tape into different parts but I know there is functionality to add titles, music, etc.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Anyone have a DVD recorder DVD combo that they can loan him or maybe pick up the tapes from him and do it for him? That would be the best option. Froggie buys the DVDr's and gives them to someone and they hook him up. That's the MR way!

I would help but mine is only a dvd/vcr not a dvdr/vcr.

 

[Quang]

Thanks Asianer. I think I won't be using the PC TV tuner card method.

Here's the catch, the VHS tapes in question actually belongs to someone else and I have to do the copying at their place. So it seems like the DVD-R/VCR combo is only choice.

Chief, that would be ideal, but I think I'll be pushing MR's genorosity.

I was looking into buying this bad boy:
http://www.buydig.com/shop/product....medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TBDVR600&sku=TBDVR600
It looks like a good upconverting DVD player as well.

Has anyone purchased from BuyDIg.com before, and how is their free shipping to NYC?

 

[Dmitry]

A stand-alone DVD burner creates a DVD pretty close to a commercially available Hollywood flick. There will be a Video_TS folder, just like on commercially purchased movies. There are many software available that will let you import it to your computer to do some editing, but you'll be losing generations. (I know it's digital, but you're still losing generations, especially if you convert it to a quicktime or something.) For any editing you might want to do the best choice is to record directly to a computer. But since you're doing it at someone else's house a stand-alone recorder is probably the best choice.

If you really wanted to spend money they do make DVD recorders with hard-drives on them. Those let you record to the hard-drive, do some basic editing, then put out to DVD.

 

[Quang]

Thanks dmitry.

I'm looking for a good dvd-r stand alone below $150. Anyone have any good recommendations cause I'm reading mixed reviews about most?