Re: Converting VHS to MPEG


Les Desser wrote:
A friend has a camera recording onto tape.

He has converted many recordings onto VHS by connecting the camera to
the VHS recorder/player.

Now he would like to

1. Convert the VHS tapes to MPEG files on a PC so he can then copy them
to a CD/DVD for distribution.

2. Convert future recordings from the tape to MPEG vithout losing
quality by first converting to VHS.

What does he need in terms of cables and programs?

Thanks.
--
Les Desser
(The Reply-to address IS valid)

Easiest and best way, imho, is to use a hardware mpeg capture encoder
when capturing VHS tapes. There are two ways to go here, one with a
set-top DVD recorder. Second would be with a PC capture card or USB
device.

Using a stand-alone DVD recorder is fairly straight forward: simply use
RCA cables from output to input on the recording device. I generaly
capture to DVD-RW and then take that back to my PC for editing,
combining, creating a DVD menu, and burning to DVD-R. I have not had a
problem with audio/video sync when capturing to my stand-alone
recorders as they both have a built-in time base corrector.

PC capture devices are a bit more work, but they can allow for greater
flexability in capturing, such as adjusting brightness. color
saturation, audio volume, etc... The best quality of analog capture of
mpeg-2 seems to be a a bitrate of 7000 for 720x480. I can set this
with my PC capture USB device, but with the DVD-R I am limited to a vbr
of 6000 or 8000. I either sacrifice a little time or a little quality.


For PC capture look at ADS, Hauppauge, Snazzi, or Plextor. For set-top
DVD recorders I have had good experience with Panasonic and Pioneer.

For post process editing, I recommend Womble Video Wizard ($100). For
ensuring that the audio and video remain in-sync on the DVD I (and
almost everyone else) uses VideoRedo ($50). To author my DVDs I
generaly use TmpgEnc DVD Author ($50). Shrinking and burning I use the
freeware apps DvdShrink and DvdDecrypter. Both available from
www.mrbass.org.

Cheers...

.

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