What do I need?
Moderator: Ken Berry
What do I need?
I have several vhs tapes that I would like to copy to DVD. What do I need to accomplish this? Can I do that using Video Studio 9 or maybe MediaStudio? I don't have VS9 yet but Ulead tells me it's on its way in the mail. I do have MediaStudio as well as Ulead's Movie Factory and Pictureshow 4. Will any of these do what I want or do I need to buy something else?
[url=http://pircnet.com/]PhotoImpact Resource Center[/url]
[url=http://wwell.net/]Wishing Well Tutorials[/url]
[url=http://pircnet.com/forum]PIRC Forum[/url]
[url=http://wwell.net/]Wishing Well Tutorials[/url]
[url=http://pircnet.com/forum]PIRC Forum[/url]
VS9 will do it. I'm not familiar with the other Ulead programs you mentioned but I'm sure other forum members will let you know.
You just have to be able to convert the analog VHS footage to DV footage. If you have the hardware to do this then the rest should be no problem. I use my Sony Digital High 8mm as a pass through. My Sony model does the signal conversion. I connect my VCR video and audio out to my camcorder via RCA composite cables and then my camcorder out to my computer via Firewire. The only downside is that since my VCR isn't digital I can't control it throuh VS. I have to do it manually.
I hope this helps
You just have to be able to convert the analog VHS footage to DV footage. If you have the hardware to do this then the rest should be no problem. I use my Sony Digital High 8mm as a pass through. My Sony model does the signal conversion. I connect my VCR video and audio out to my camcorder via RCA composite cables and then my camcorder out to my computer via Firewire. The only downside is that since my VCR isn't digital I can't control it throuh VS. I have to do it manually.
I hope this helps
Last edited by erock1 on Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
You will need a Video Capture device, there are too many to list, however I use a Hauppauge PVR-250 to capture all my video. It captures in native MPEG format, which is convenient. You can do a search on Google for capture cards and look for one that meets your needs.
Media Studio and Movie Factory will capture Video from certian capture cards, it all depends on what Ulead supports. Some capture cards come with liminted editions of software from different vendors that allow you to capture video. Most of the time you can capture video with their applications and use the files in Ulead products.
Media Studio and Movie Factory will capture Video from certian capture cards, it all depends on what Ulead supports. Some capture cards come with liminted editions of software from different vendors that allow you to capture video. Most of the time you can capture video with their applications and use the files in Ulead products.
-
heinz-oz
Hi ML, great to read you in the "other" forum 
First things first. If you want to convert VHS to DVD you'll need the relevant hardware. There are different ways to go about it.
Software wise, you already have MediaStudio and MovieFactory, you need nothing else. Whether you want something else is a different matter.
Now, back to hardware. Do you own a digital video camera? From what I do know about you, I gather not.
The system spec's in your profile would indicate sufficient power to accomplish what you want although the AC97 sound may cause you some grief. It did for me but there are others out there who do not seem to have a problem with it.
Do you have a DVD recorder (set top box) or access to one? If you only want to convert your tapes to DVD, no editing, that would be the way to go.
Modern digital camcorders have what is called an "AV through" function. In other words: you can plug an analog device into the "AV In" port of the camera and convert your analog to digital on the camcorder. Most that I know allow you to be linked to your PC via the iLink/IEEE 1394 (fire wire) port and capture to the PC in real time to DV-AVI (good for editing) or, if your PC is up to it, to mpeg2 which can be authored to DVD using MovieFactory. You will need a fire wire port on your PC though. In case your PC doesn't have this, IEEE1394 PCI cards are rather inexpensive and need nothing in addition, except for the right cable that is.
There are also numerous PCI add on analog capture cards available. Too many to mention here. But be aware though, there is a lot of useless devices on sale also.
I do my conversions via my Panasonic GS 400 camcorder and cannot advise you on capture cards. I learned the hard/expensive way that there are a lot of useless devices available. There are people here though who use analog capture cards successfully. I'm sure there will be someone around offering usefull advice.
First things first. If you want to convert VHS to DVD you'll need the relevant hardware. There are different ways to go about it.
Software wise, you already have MediaStudio and MovieFactory, you need nothing else. Whether you want something else is a different matter.
Now, back to hardware. Do you own a digital video camera? From what I do know about you, I gather not.
The system spec's in your profile would indicate sufficient power to accomplish what you want although the AC97 sound may cause you some grief. It did for me but there are others out there who do not seem to have a problem with it.
Do you have a DVD recorder (set top box) or access to one? If you only want to convert your tapes to DVD, no editing, that would be the way to go.
Modern digital camcorders have what is called an "AV through" function. In other words: you can plug an analog device into the "AV In" port of the camera and convert your analog to digital on the camcorder. Most that I know allow you to be linked to your PC via the iLink/IEEE 1394 (fire wire) port and capture to the PC in real time to DV-AVI (good for editing) or, if your PC is up to it, to mpeg2 which can be authored to DVD using MovieFactory. You will need a fire wire port on your PC though. In case your PC doesn't have this, IEEE1394 PCI cards are rather inexpensive and need nothing in addition, except for the right cable that is.
There are also numerous PCI add on analog capture cards available. Too many to mention here. But be aware though, there is a lot of useless devices on sale also.
I do my conversions via my Panasonic GS 400 camcorder and cannot advise you on capture cards. I learned the hard/expensive way that there are a lot of useless devices available. There are people here though who use analog capture cards successfully. I'm sure there will be someone around offering usefull advice.
Video Studio is a downgrade from Media Studio Pro!
If you buy a capture device, it will probably come with capture software. There is a good chance that the capture software that's made for the hardware will work better than Ulead's universal "capture" software.
Once you have a ditigized file, you can use Video Studio or Media Studio for editing, and Movie Factory for DVD authoring/burning.
There is quite a bit of overlap in Ulead's software line, and they seem to claim that all of the programs can do everything. So, here's my take:
Video Studio - Video Editing with some DVD authoring.
Media Studio Pro - Advanced Video Editing with some DVD authoring.
DVD Movie Factory - DVD authoring with limited editing.
DVD Workshop Express - Advanced DVD authoring.
DVD Workshop Full - Professional DVD authoring.
The most popular video capture cards are the various ATI All-In-Wonder cards.
Pinnacle also makes internal cards and external USB capture devices.
I also have a Hauppauge card. Yes it is convenient and time-saving, as DVDs are MPEG-2. However, if you are planning on editing your videos, I recommend that you avoid an MPEG only capture device. MPEGs are not meant to be edited. I had to get a special-purpose MPEG editor.... And, this doesn't solve all of the inherent problems with MPEG editing.
If you buy a capture device, it will probably come with capture software. There is a good chance that the capture software that's made for the hardware will work better than Ulead's universal "capture" software.
Once you have a ditigized file, you can use Video Studio or Media Studio for editing, and Movie Factory for DVD authoring/burning.
There is quite a bit of overlap in Ulead's software line, and they seem to claim that all of the programs can do everything. So, here's my take:
Video Studio - Video Editing with some DVD authoring.
Media Studio Pro - Advanced Video Editing with some DVD authoring.
DVD Movie Factory - DVD authoring with limited editing.
DVD Workshop Express - Advanced DVD authoring.
DVD Workshop Full - Professional DVD authoring.
The most popular video capture cards are the various ATI All-In-Wonder cards.
Pinnacle also makes internal cards and external USB capture devices.
I also have a Hauppauge card. Yes it is convenient and time-saving, as DVDs are MPEG-2. However, if you are planning on editing your videos, I recommend that you avoid an MPEG only capture device. MPEGs are not meant to be edited. I had to get a special-purpose MPEG editor.... And, this doesn't solve all of the inherent problems with MPEG editing.
[size=92][i]Head over heels,
No time to think.
It's like the whole world's
Out of... sync.[/i]
- Head Over Heels, The Go-Gos.[/size]
No time to think.
It's like the whole world's
Out of... sync.[/i]
- Head Over Heels, The Go-Gos.[/size]
-
D7CEJ01
I am using a Canopus ADVC-300 to digitize VHS tapes and I have gotten good results. This device creates DV AVI files (13 GB/Hour). I got much better results with this than using the ATI 8500 DV card to perform the video capture. The device is not cheap and the user manual leaves a lot to be desired, so you have to play around a bit with it. I then use Ulead Video Studio 9 to perform any necessary editing and then conversion to MPEG2.
You probably already know this, but don't rely on you computer monitor for viewing the results of the conversion. I use a 9 inch color tv for monitoring, but some people use a calibrated TV monitor. For reasons I don't fully understand, the image displayed on the television set is dramatically better than on the computer monitor. Brighter image, better colors, and a cleaner (less muddy) image.
D7CEJ01
You probably already know this, but don't rely on you computer monitor for viewing the results of the conversion. I use a 9 inch color tv for monitoring, but some people use a calibrated TV monitor. For reasons I don't fully understand, the image displayed on the television set is dramatically better than on the computer monitor. Brighter image, better colors, and a cleaner (less muddy) image.
D7CEJ01
One more thing - If you are going to copy commercial VHS tapes, you may need another device to kill the copy protection. I have The Clarifier. I haven't actually needed it for my setup, as my Hauppauge card seems to ignore the Macrovision copy protection signal.
Although it is illegal in in the USA to crack digital copy protection, it is OK to bypass Macrovision analog protection if you are making a personal "fair use" copy.
Although it is illegal in in the USA to crack digital copy protection, it is OK to bypass Macrovision analog protection if you are making a personal "fair use" copy.
[size=92][i]Head over heels,
No time to think.
It's like the whole world's
Out of... sync.[/i]
- Head Over Heels, The Go-Gos.[/size]
No time to think.
It's like the whole world's
Out of... sync.[/i]
- Head Over Heels, The Go-Gos.[/size]