VCR2PC

[EvilKiwi]

Hi everyone,

I would like to get the opinions from everyone who would like to comment on the VCR2PC VHS converter coming onto the market next month in the UK.

[Ken Berry]

I don't have one and probably wouldn't buy one because my analogue to digital conversions are already well covered by either using one of my mini DV cameras as digital passthrough via Firewire for my VHS tapes, or by using my Digital 8 Sony for direct firewire capture of my analogue 8mm collection. However the idea of the VCR2PC is to provide a VHS player which itself directly connects to you PC via USB 2.0. In essence, for those willing to pay the money, it is a good idea.

However, the website of the company which makes them (ION), is exceedingly short on detail as to the formats used. It has links to Manuals, but when you click on those, you have to sign up first, and I wasn't prepared to do that. Given the paucity of detail, there is no way of knowing whether Video Studio could capture directly from the device -- if that is the point of your question.

The device does come with its own software (Ezy VHS Converter) which would obviously capture from the device and carry out relevant conversions. So you could almost undoubtedly capture using that software and edit in VS as long as the capture format was one recognised by VS and the relevant codecs were installed on your computer.

[DVDDoug]

Here's the link.

If I was in the market for a VCR, I might consider this one. But I don't know the cost, and I can't tell if this an actual VCR that can record to tape, or if it's just a VHS player. I wouldn't want this as my only analog capture device, but it might be handy to have a VCR with a USB output.

But, in general, I don't trust "cheap" USB capture devices... I have no idea if this falls into that category...

Usually, the best option for analog capture is a MiniDV camera with "pass thru" capability. That's because it gives you AVI/DV files, which is the best format for editing or converting to other formats.

Another option is a capture card or a stand-alone capture device that can capture from a VCR or any other (non-copy-protected*) analog source. I have a Haupauge card. The ATI All-In-Wonder cards seem to be very popular. Most internal capture cards (and some USB capture devices) include a TV tuner so you can use your PC as a "TiVo".

My Hauppauge card does have a TV tuner. It works great, but it's MPEG only... MPEG can be "difficult" to edit, and I had to buy a special-purpose MPEG editor.

I'm pretty sure this "VCR thing" also only captures to various MPEG formats, because USB is not fast enough for less-compressed formats. This is fine if you just want to watch the videos on your computer. But if you want to edit and/or convert the files to another format, you are better-off with a device that can capture to a less-compressed format.



* Almost all commercial VHS tapes and DVDs are protected with Macrovision. All VCRs have the Macrovision circuitry to prevent VCR-to-VCR or DVD-to-VCR recording of copy protected tapes/DVDs. Some analog capture devices also have this circuitry, and some simply ignore the Macrovision "signal" and allow recording.

[EvilKiwi]

If you were to capture and edit in MPEG which is the only format I am currently aware that this machine exports in, what difficulities would there be?

[Ken Berry]

Well, without more info it is difficult to say -- though I guess that what you mean by 'mpeg' is mpeg-2. I further guess that it is designed to capture in a format of mpeg-2 which is designed then to be burned to DVD.

Now the general receive wisdom is that mpeg-2 is not meant to be edited. It was primarily meant for presentation. But the reality is that increasing numbers of devices -- and software packages -- are designed for it. And if you maintain high standards of quality settings, and keep editing to a relative minimum, normally you get away with it. The main thing you have to bear in mind is that mpeg of all kind is a lossy format, and multiple re-rendering of it will inevitably lead to fairly rapid fall-off in quality, particularly if the number of conversions starts to exceed one or two.

[Devil]

I suggest that anything that exports via USB to any MPEG format would be too restrictive for any serious work, besides which some have had problems with USB capture to Video studio. Editing in MPEG may entail quality loss.

I suggest you read http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=29031 very carefully before making a decision.

My advice would be to consider a Canopus ADVC-110 which would give you a hassle-free conversion from any analogue source to your computer with virtually loss-free editing.

[Ken Berry]

Devil's advice is not only accurate, but particularly relevant if the the device you are considering costs more than a couple of hundred dollars. The Canopus devices Devil refers to are a bit on the expensive side, using the eminently high quality and editable DV format and capture is via firewire rather than lowest common denominator USB... DV is lossless and largely problem free to edit in VS, whereas as both of us have already said, mpeg-2 can be problematical...