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videoworx · 09-21-2004, 03:02 AM

I think this has been answered about 8 MILLLLIIIOOOON times in this thread, but it boils down to 2 options:

A. If you are not computer savvy, get a stand-alone DVD recorder. Panasonic makes a great model for around $350 (DMR-E55S). You can record up to 2 hours per DVD-R, or 4 hours on a double-sided DVD-RAM disc (ram discs can only be played in panasonic players).
You can record more per dvd, but the quality will degrade significantly, especially if the source material is VHS (chroma noise produced by VHS will cause lots o' artifacting at low bitrate recording settings).

Next year, stand-alone dual-layer dvd recorders will be out (it's pronounced "DVD+R-DL" right now, but i'm sure some marketing genius will call it "SUPER-DVD" or something), allowing 4 hours on a dvd that can be played on any dvd player.

B. If you are competent with PC's and software, you will want to avoid the cheap best buy garbage that says it can do everything with a touch of a button using a USB cable. This produces crap that will look worse than your original VHS tapes, and DVD's that won't play properly on some dvd players.

step 1. buy a dvd burner. Pioneer's DVR-108 is an excellent burner, and can burn dual-layer media (currently, DL discs costs just under $9 each). NEC makes a great alternative model. Both drives are around $85 online. Single-layer burners are about $20 cheaper. Spend the extra.

step 2. buy an analog-firewire converter box. Canopus makes the best bang-for-the-buck model (ADVC-100). ADSTECH also makes one that bundles the software you will also need (see below). Costs vary from $150-600 depending on what you get. If the box doesn't come with a firewire PCI card, and your PC doesn't have one, you will need to buy one. $15 with cable online anywhere.

step 3. buy Adobe Premiere. Editing software is vital in cleaning up home movies, especially VHS. Premiere Pro 1.5 can clean up chroma noise with a single click, and can burn edited video to a DVD with another click (something final cut can not do, mac-users note). Premiere by itself costs $699, but you can get it for less if you buy in the ADSTECH bundle mentioned above (the bundle, with the hardware, and far more software costs $550-599 online). Educational version is $299, so if you know someone in school - get them to buy it.

That's it. Now, some might consider the PC route overkill, but if you spend anything less, and don't devote the time in learning editing software - this isn't for you. Get the cheapy Panasonic burner and you will be very happy.

btw, Sam's Club has a killer deal on blank dvd-r's right now. 50 8x Verbatim's in a spindle for $29.98 - can't beat that anywhere else (generic media is cheaper, but should never be used for archival stuff - data tends to float away on those things).

09-21-2004, 03:02 AM	#160 (permalink)
videoworx Would Make a Good Incubus Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere near Nebraska	I think this has been answered about 8 MILLLLIIIOOOON times in this thread, but it boils down to 2 options: A. If you are not computer savvy, get a stand-alone DVD recorder. Panasonic makes a great model for around $350 (DMR-E55S). You can record up to 2 hours per DVD-R, or 4 hours on a double-sided DVD-RAM disc (ram discs can only be played in panasonic players). You can record more per dvd, but the quality will degrade significantly, especially if the source material is VHS (chroma noise produced by VHS will cause lots o' artifacting at low bitrate recording settings). Next year, stand-alone dual-layer dvd recorders will be out (it's pronounced "DVD+R-DL" right now, but i'm sure some marketing genius will call it "SUPER-DVD" or something), allowing 4 hours on a dvd that can be played on any dvd player. B. If you are competent with PC's and software, you will want to avoid the cheap best buy garbage that says it can do everything with a touch of a button using a USB cable. This produces crap that will look worse than your original VHS tapes, and DVD's that won't play properly on some dvd players. step 1. buy a dvd burner. Pioneer's DVR-108 is an excellent burner, and can burn dual-layer media (currently, DL discs costs just under $9 each). NEC makes a great alternative model. Both drives are around $85 online. Single-layer burners are about $20 cheaper. Spend the extra. step 2. buy an analog-firewire converter box. Canopus makes the best bang-for-the-buck model (ADVC-100). ADSTECH also makes one that bundles the software you will also need (see below). Costs vary from $150-600 depending on what you get. If the box doesn't come with a firewire PCI card, and your PC doesn't have one, you will need to buy one. $15 with cable online anywhere. step 3. buy Adobe Premiere. Editing software is vital in cleaning up home movies, especially VHS. Premiere Pro 1.5 can clean up chroma noise with a single click, and can burn edited video to a DVD with another click (something final cut can not do, mac-users note). Premiere by itself costs $699, but you can get it for less if you buy in the ADSTECH bundle mentioned above (the bundle, with the hardware, and far more software costs $550-599 online). Educational version is $299, so if you know someone in school - get them to buy it. That's it. Now, some might consider the PC route overkill, but if you spend anything less, and don't devote the time in learning editing software - this isn't for you. Get the cheapy Panasonic burner and you will be very happy. btw, Sam's Club has a killer deal on blank dvd-r's right now. 50 8x Verbatim's in a spindle for $29.98 - can't beat that anywhere else (generic media is cheaper, but should never be used for archival stuff - data tends to float away on those things).