VHS to DVD via Mac Computer

[vaggmk1938]

I am comtemplating recording most of my VHSs to DVDs and I thought that I would try to do it via my VCR and the computer with a Video Card and relevant software.

I am using an I-Mac running OS 10.4.9 and am told I need either a Firewire or USB connection.

Do any of you technical genii have any suggestions as to the hardware and software best suited to non-genii?

I see ChristineCB is on line, this is rather up your alley, I think!

[sippog]

Before you go this route, I'd suggest looking at buying a DVD-Recorder which is a much less problematic way of achieving what you want.

However, to do it on a Mac you'll need a "capture device" (such as a Miglia or Eye-TV gizmo) capable of converting your analogue VCR signal into digital format. You'll also need lots of ram and disk space to store the huge files. Finally, to get it on to DVD, you'll need an authoring program such as iDVD, Toast or DVD Studio Pro.

DVD SP is the only one of these really designed to handle feature length movies. If you want pretty menus and you have the money, good luck. I'm a huge Mac fan and user but personally I archive all my tapes on a trusty Panasonic DVDR

[julian_craster]

<<Before you go this route, I'd suggest looking at buying a DVD-Recorder which is a much less problematic way of achieving what you want>>


I agree - 'video capture' can feally screw up your PC with repeated system failures...

Get a dedicated DVD recorder (from c £80 these days) and link your VHS to that

[aphra]

Originally Posted by vaggmk1938 I am comtemplating recording most of my VHSs to DVDs and I thought that I would try to do it via my VCR and the computer with a Video Card and relevant software. I am using an I-Mac running OS 10.4.9 and am told I need either a Firewire or USB connection.

I use a G4 Mac PowerBook and love it dearly. I have all the software to do the job, but I totally agree with Julian Craster and Sippog. Get a dedicated DVD recorder, preferably one with a hard drive, otherwise you will go mad. So many things can go wrong using a Mac and Toast. Leave it alone...

[ChristineCB]

I use an old 1.6gz P-4 PC with 512k RAM and a $40 ATI All In Wonder 32Mb video card that has a built-in TV tuner & capture device. 60Gb hard drive.

I plug in the VHS, turn the PC's "TV Watching" software on, and hit its RECORD button when the video starts. This may build a 2-to-5Gb MPEG file (based on length of tape and I generally record in highest quality mode). Once that's finished, I open either Roxio or Nero to build chapters, do any edits and I seldom build menus. (I'm more adept at interim-edits - getting rid of commercials - in Nero than Roxio - that's the biggest difference.)

The chapter-creation and disc-burning takes about 50-75% additional time as the VHS's play-time takes. If I'd put another $20 stick of 512k RAM, maybe I could chop off more time, but I usually let it go and walk away. If I'm running a two-hour VHS tape, then it's probably a 3-hour process in total.

I've also got the same setup on a P3 800gz PC, too, with a 60Gb HD and 512k RAM. Edits, Saves and Chapter-Building takes more time - probably about the same as the tape's play-time.

[D Cairns]

The further beauty of owning a DVD recorder is that if anything good comes on TV, you'll be able to make a DVD of it right away. If you have digital, the recording should be of extremely high quality. You don't want to faff about with a computer!

[clitheroekid]

Originally Posted by aphra So many things can go wrong using a Mac and Toast. Leave it alone...

Go wrong?

With a Mac?

I've never had any problems with Mac and Toast - in fact I would reccommend it !