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Inexpensive VHS to DVD conversion...

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protokatie:

--- Quote ---Um, just buy a DVD recorder and run the VCR into it and hit record. Pretty simple stuff. Far simpler than anything that involves a computer.

--- End quote ---

Simpler, yes. Cost wise, no. Although a 120 dollar low end DVD recorder would prolly do the job well enough. For me, personally I would go for a capture card (cheaper by a bit) and would also allow me to email/edit/etc any video I got off of VHS or TV.

So basically, for a low cost solution it is either a capture card or a DVD recorder. The only real problem is that DVDr's have a limited shelf life. If it is something like your wedding videos, maybe dropping the 20 bucks a pop would be worth getting a more profession job done (or not  :-\ )

SavannahLion:

--- Quote from: protokatie on April 30, 2008, 01:04:34 am ---If it is something like your wedding videos, maybe dropping the 20 bucks a pop would be worth getting a more profession job done (or not  :-\ )

--- End quote ---

Professional ---my bottom---. The only advantage most of those "services" is that the service saves you the time it takes to process videos. The same kind of work can easily be done with any variety of tools available on a well equipped PC. Hell that is exactly what most of those guys use. The same ---smurfy--- Sony VAIOs or Apple laptops that you can buy at Frys.

Many of them even use the same exact DVD-/+R's that you can buy at any store. So your life expectancy concerns won't be alleviated. If you're lucky, you might get a logo-less DVDR with a very pretty printed sticker (which is probably going to ruin the DVD much sooner anyways).

Invest in a fat hard drive and USB interface. Dump the videos to the drive. Duplicate the videos to DVDR. Store the drive in a safe place. If you're really paranoid, create a mirror of the drive using a different model/manufacture/whatever drive then proceed to store it in a safety deposit box.

If you figure $180 for a 750GB external drive.
Another $40 for a spindle of 100 DVD+Rs.
$50 for a low-end video capture tool

That's $270 with the ability to archive about 100 to 130 movies.

You save about $130 and you lose the time it takes to process the videos.

Up to you though. :dunno

paigeoliver:
The cheapy recorder they gave me for free with my TV seems to do this just fine, and a DVD recorder is the sort of thing that most people would eventually want to buy anyway. And using dedicated hardware is easier than involving the computer in the mix.

Plus, cost-wise, he always has the option of buying a used one on ebay, doing his tapes, then reselling it, he should get the about the same price for it, keeping his actual costs down around $20.


--- Quote from: protokatie on April 30, 2008, 01:04:34 am ---
--- Quote ---Um, just buy a DVD recorder and run the VCR into it and hit record. Pretty simple stuff. Far simpler than anything that involves a computer.

--- End quote ---

Simpler, yes. Cost wise, no. Although a 120 dollar low end DVD recorder would prolly do the job well enough. For me, personally I would go for a capture card (cheaper by a bit) and would also allow me to email/edit/etc any video I got off of VHS or TV.

So basically, for a low cost solution it is either a capture card or a DVD recorder. The only real problem is that DVDr's have a limited shelf life. If it is something like your wedding videos, maybe dropping the 20 bucks a pop would be worth getting a more profession job done (or not  :-\ )

--- End quote ---

shmokes:
Paige's idea is almost embarrassingly obvious.  I'm surprised nobody had suggested it earlier.  In fairness, once a DVD is made, it is only a matter of ripping it to the PC in order to have a digital version on a hard drive.  So it's not like you lose the option of having a copy on the computer just because you use a dedicated set-top box to do the conversion.  And since the disc will lack CSS or anything, any number of easily obtained (perhaps already owned) programs will rip the disc.

lokki:
Thanks for all the tips.
I do have a DVD recorder and capture card on my PC.
I just don't have the time to do it myself.  Would rather pay for some one to do it for me.
as long as it reasonable, otherwise I guess I will have to very slowly do it myself.


Thanks

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