[fatty]

I realise that this is a similar Q to another on this forum, but it is a little more general so please don't be put off ...

I have a stack of VHS tapes which I would like to convert to DVD or to my HDD. I have seen a few devices with the ability to do this. There are a couple in Argos for about £40 - 60 and quite a few on ebay for a bit less e.g. ADS DVD Xpress and Yakumo MovieMixer to name a couple. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience in this area who could recommend a good device? For further information, in some cases I'll just want to send a full 4hr tape to a single layer disc with no modification, but in other cases I may want to add some menus and chapters etc...

Thanks.

[HSC]

if its just straight copies - any cheap DVD recording deck will do this for you

[fatty]

Thanks for the reply. In some cases, just straight recording of the entire 4hr tape to DVD or HDD. In other cases though I'd like to do some editing (e.g. remove adverts from recorded TV programs, add a sound track to home movies, etc...) and create menus as you get with proper DVDs. Does that make a difference?

Oh and I'd also like to be able to adjust the quality in a similar way to a DVD recorder so that I can decide whether my DVD disc should run for 1 hour or 6 hours. Is that possible?

Thanks.

[jaymac]

As already said go to dvd recorder you then can at any stage import the dvd and edit with most of the editing programmes . As to length of dvd dont think you would be too impressed with a 6 hour dvd but thats your choice .You could try this first on a dvd recorder and see what you think . In my opinion its the best way to go.

[fatty]

Thanks for the reply. If possible I'd like to avoid buying a DVD recorder as I don't have a great deal of room for one and these usb devices sre relatively small and can be put away in a drawer when not in use. The other thing is that if I wanted to edit the movie I'd have to record it to disc on a dvd recorder then import it to my PC and then burn another disc. Wouldn't it be quicker (and easier - uses fewer discs) to go straight from VHS to PC and then to disc? However, if the DVD recorder route is better over all than theses usb devices, I'll take your advice. Thanks again.

[jaymac]

appreciate the space problem. As for discs well you could use Rws also-R's are pretty cheap . Nevertheless its only my preference to use the recorder . One I then have the choice as to when i wish to edit it and dont have to wait around putting n x hour video onto the pc . Two Probably get shot down in flames but I would say overall recorder better than usb device.
One other point if youput it on dvd first you see what the quality is like . As opposed to spending time importing and editing only to find its not up to what you expected or what the Adverts would have you believe. I'm sure some might disagree but form your own opinion from all your replies

[senu]

I seriously urge you to reconsider the settop DVD recorder option.
Many of the newer models are slim and fairly unobstrusive

One with a Built in HDD is probably ideal
You can record as much VHS material as you like to its HDD , cut trim ect.. then compile a DVD from that.. clean off the HDD and start again
As a purpose buit machine it is hard to beat for quality and convenience
I speak as one who has external breakout AV boxes from Pinnacle and AVID ( Liquid 7 Pro ) and could just as easily do it on a PC

Apart from anything else.. if you consider that 1 hr of your VHS will be 13Gb on HDD as DV AVI unless you import and convert to mpeg on the fly, youll be needing a lot of space!

Editing mpeg as such is possible but avoidable if you go "PC less"

In addition to all this PC Hardware, I also have a Settop recorder with HDD which I use as described above.

I sometimes use it for straight DVD copy even from MiniDV to DVD ( or via its HDD for some simple trimming)
If I had a stack of VHS tapes.. I know which method Id rather use
If I had 1 or 2 VHS tapes I might still use this method, edit the material from DVD discs on the PC and remake the DVD or just do it all on the PC if extensive editing is needed.

[jetinder]

Those devices work great but in most cases you cant edit the video, you can just make a carbon copy.

It would be better to buy a VCR with built DVD recorder as that does the same job.

If you want kak quality then yep you can fit 4 hr VHS tape on to a normal DVD, If you want great quality you can only hold 2 hrs of VHS tape at good quality on single layer DVD. You fit4 hrs at good qaulity you'd need a double layer DVD.