copying a vhs to a dvd

daven1986 · 27 Nov 2006 at 12:46

Hi, I was wondering if it would be possible to get a TV card and connect a vcr to the aerial input then just record the video onto my HDD then onto a DVD?

thanks

daven

Captain Fizz · 27 Nov 2006 at 13:02

It is possible.

But unless you spend £100+ on a TV card - The quality will be poo.

My Mum has a VCR/DVDR which can 'record' the VCR onto DVD - That would probably be cheaper and of a better quality.

J.B · 27 Nov 2006 at 13:33

I once tried to do the same thing. like Cpt Fizz said, you need to splash out on a good quality tv card and even then its not great.

Sure you could find a decent dvd/vhs combo and have the advantage of having to machines in one for the living room

uk_viper · 27 Nov 2006 at 13:55

this is possible with a tv card but youll need a very very good one, you can also do it via a video card if its got video in, i managed to do it for a video of my neice, turned out quite well

daven1986 · 27 Nov 2006 at 16:13

why would it be poor quality?

Captain Fizz · 27 Nov 2006 at 16:16

daven1986 said:
why would it be poor quality?

Cheap TV cards DO NOT give a good picture.
It took me buying 2 and borrowing one to come to this conclusion.
(And reading of posts on forums)

Generally if you want pin-sharp pictures... It's £250+ you need to spend.
OK quality £150+.
Poop quality £25.

daven1986 · 27 Nov 2006 at 16:20

would it be better to use a special box such as the dvd xpress?

Captain Fizz · 27 Nov 2006 at 16:36

No idea.
Would need to find someone that's used one...

There will be dedicated Audio/Visual forums I'm sure that will have un-biased reviews...

daven1986 · 27 Nov 2006 at 18:14

also how bad is poor quality? is it VHS quality or even worse? is it even watchable?

thanks

daven

Captain Fizz · 27 Nov 2006 at 18:28

Well, you are taking from VHS, so the quality will never be that good no matter what you do.
(No matter what conversion process you do to any video - The end result will not look as good as the original... Which is why you work on an image at 3 or 4 times the size you want the finished pic to be)

With the £25 quid card - Basically coloured lines running accross the screen, a light smattering of 'snow' accross the screen and genralally watchable, just not worth watching.

I had a pic but it looks like my old host has finally stopped hosting my ancient website...

Azagoth · 27 Nov 2006 at 18:31

For simplicity I just plugged my old VCR into my DVD Recorder, hit play on the VCR and record on the DVDR.

Captain Fizz · 27 Nov 2006 at 18:55

Azagoth said:
For simplicity I just plugged my old VCR into my DVD Recorder, hit play on the VCR and record on the DVDR.

That's the best way IMHO.

(Or a dual one)

Mint_Sauce · 27 Nov 2006 at 19:16

I plugged the VCR in to the back of my 7800GT GFX card and recorded to mpeg. Quality was as good as VCR gets really.

daven1986 · 28 Nov 2006 at 09:55

hmm, well if i were to get a decent hauppage card for around £70 would that produce a decent enough picture?

thanks

daven

uk_viper · 28 Nov 2006 at 13:06

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-000-CP, wow the compro has shot down in price, had this one before, was really good

daven1986 · 28 Nov 2006 at 19:44

uk_viper said:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-000-CP, wow the compro has shot down in price, had this one before, was really good

would this be able to take input directly from a coaxial aerial output from a vcr?
and would this make good quality recordings?

thanks

daven

uk_viper · 28 Nov 2006 at 20:05

it was alright quality, its meant to be one of the best ones out

daven1986 · 28 Nov 2006 at 20:10

might look into that a bit more then.

thanks

daven

rickyt · 28 Nov 2006 at 23:18

I have transfered video to my PC using a cheap Jetway TV card [£29] and it turned out alright , quite suprising from a 24 year old V2000 tape . I did'nt use arial co-ax in though . I used a composite signal . Captured using Pinnacle 9 and put onto DVD. You could get a cheap card from fleabay to try.