Transfering Videos To DVD - Which One Is The Way To Go?

[Metal Head]

Hi,

I have moved my last post from the thread (link below) I started in January this year as it appeared no one was reading it. Thus my recent questions were not getting answered.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=43236

I was talking to two of my new work colleagues this morning and they both mentioned that they copied their video (via the DVD) they said they did it via the computer as suggested by Peter & Terry . They also added that the quality of the final product depends on how much you are prepared to pay for the TV card. Given that I don't know anything about this subject matter I have a three questions to ask.

Is the quality of the picture (and sound) better going through the TV rather than through a computer?.

Is it true the quality of the picture (and sound) depends on how much you spend on the TV card?

If using a computer is the way to go, which brands should I look for when choosing a TV card?

I am prepared to spend some serious money on it if need be as I have a lot of family footage to be taped and there is a lot of sentimental value to them.

Thanks to those who reply.

Regards
MH

[Gumby]

I am prepared to spend some serious money on it if need be as I have a lot of family footage to be taped and there is a lot of sentimental value to them.

If money isn't an issue, then just go out and buy a DVD recorder with a hard disk. They are around $500-$600 or even less for cheaper brands. You just plug your VCR into it, stick in the tape and it records it to the hard drive. Then, the recorder will copy it to a blank DVD for you. I did all my old video tapes this way. I now have all the old kid's stuff on DVD and can make copies on the computer for grandma etc. Simple.

And once you have a DVD recorder, you'll be amazed at how much junk you record from the TV.

Get one with at least 100MB of disk space

[K_S]

I have a VCR permanently connected to my PC. The card Winfast DV2000 was somewhere near $100 I think.


It depends on how often you want to do it

[manoftalent]

There is a device that looks like a modem...it goes between the pc and the video recorder/player..... video converter something .....anyway the pc cannot recognise the sound/movie in the way it was stored on video , what this devise does is transmit it to the pc in a recognised format.....I would suggest googeling video converter and finding a place near you, I found one in Box Hill, and it sold for about $200.....just dunno what I did with the info......I plan on buying one myself

[RobP]

I use a USB Audio/Video Grabber Kit from Aldi.
Normally sells for $69 but due to a pricing error I got it for $49.
Comes with editing and DVD conversion software.
Cheers
Rob

[manoftalent]

I use a USB Audio/Video Grabber Kit from Aldi.
Normally sells for $69 but due to a pricing error I got it for $49.
Comes with editing and DVD conversion software.
Cheers
Rob

ok ...who is aldi?....more info please .....oh and another thought to ponder on ..when copying movie files onto the pc, do yourself a huge favor and buy a portable harddrive.....say around 200-300GB....and save them there .....movie files are HUGE.....most editing programs I know of auto delete these files once you have finished recording them to DVD.....reason being is they are so big .......and would soon fill your harddrive ......the adverse effect from this leaves a hole of empty space on your harddrive disc .....hence the NEED to defrag a lot ....depending on how many you do at once ......trust me its a whole lot simpler to defrag an external HD multiple times without data loss to running software .....and safer.

[scooter]

KS, I have that same TV card, is it a simple process, the conversion from VCR to your PC, then burning to DVD?

Is it very quick, or is it very intensive on the computer & slow?


Cheers..................Sean

[RobP]

ok ...who is aldi?....more info please.

Aldi is a supermarket chain that often has great bargains on electronics, appliances and tools. Check out www.aldi.com.au and get yourself on their weekly specials email list.
Cheers
Rob

[Metal Head]

Hi,

Well I bit the bullet last night and got a "professional" in too sort out the problems with my set up. After 10 minutes and $89 worse off he told me the wiring was OK but I had to tune it though AV4 (I thought it only went up to 2. Well we all learn something everyday and as the saying goes "a little knowledge can be dangerous" especially in my hands.

Btw, had I known just below the numerous type of hole fitting on the back panel it tells you in tiny words the AV it has to be tuned into. Hopefully this will be of benefit to someone else.

I went this way as I had bought a television especially for just doing this task (tape to disc) so the wife would not had been happy me spending $$$ on somethings else.

Cheers
MH