Just starting to transfer analogue tapes to DVD

Engine · Post by **Engine** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:30 pm

I have many analogue tapes in VHS, Beta, Hi-8 format, mainly of children and grand children and travels. I want to do some editing, some insertions, some voice over etc so that our family can view the information from the old tapes on DVD.
Firstly, I need some help on suitable A/D hardware/software and which format is the best/most appropriate.
I have StudioVideo SE7 that came with the DVD burner, but I do not know which Ulead program will be suitable for my purpose. I would like to be able to put a "Table of Contents" at the start of each DVD so that viewers can go directly to particular topics, dates, events etc on the DVD.
I will be upgrading to StudioVideo 10+, but will I need to get one of the DVD burning programs and if so, which one. I have Nero burning software that came with the DVD burner.
I have started to search the forum, but again, the array is really very wide and at this stage of my knowledge, very confusing.
Any help will be most appreciated.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:07 pm

Depending on the level of menu complexity you want, VS10+ may not entirely fit the bill when it comes to menus for your DVD. You will easily find out if it suffices or not by trying it out. DVD WorkShop 2 in addition to VS 10+ will give you more complex menu choices so does MovieFactory 5 Plus. The problem with a comparison of DVD WS and MF5+ is the fact that DVD WS is getting on in age (it shows) whilst MF5+ is the latest and offers HD and dolby 5.1 support, it does not offer you the complexity in menu creation, I believe.

Personally, I use MediaStudioPro 8 and MovieFactory 5 Plus and have yet to find an area where my expectations are such that I would want another program. Incidentally, my reasons for video editing are similar to yours. I mainly work with my own footage from MiniDV but also have a large number of old VHS tapes taken with my Panasonic M7 and later on M40.

I have experimented a lot with analog capture cards and wasted a lot of money that way. I use my Panasonic GS 400 digital camcorder to 'pass through' the analog footage and capture this to DV-AVI via the camcorders firewire connection. This works very well and I have a relatively uncompressed format to edit.

lakewud · Post by **lakewud** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:30 pm

Just wondering Heinz, wanting to transfer my old analogue tapes ( one day ) into VS10 and re-edit etc, have a lot of S-VHS-C tapes. Will try passing it through my camcorder and into the computer via firewire ( cant i use the svhs connection at the back of my computer?...Tried it once upon a time...worked fine..but the sound was out of sync.

Was also wondering, ever tried cini films? Wanting to transfer them onto dvd via vs10..unless you or anyone knows of a better way, is the only option for me to capture them - by filming them off the white screen ( making show i or my camcorder doesnt cast a shadow!! )?

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:53 pm

I think you answered your question re SVHS yourself, OOS

I do my VHS tapes by passing these through my Panasonic GS 400. Advantages are the DV-AVI format, best for editing and no OOS problems.

Cinefilm I honestly don't know but Steve has a tutorial in the tut section of this board on it. The only other way would be to get a professional converting service to do it because dedicated cine systems are rather expensive.

Steve's tut you can find here http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=8849