VHS To DVD

Okay I still have a VCR (yes it came from the ark). Doesn't get a lot of use these days, but I was going through some of my old VHS tapes, and I found some of my now 23yo son video, taken back in 1990.
I know that time is running out for these tapes. So I am wanting to get them onto DVD asap.


Now this is where I have some questions.


OPTION 1
VCR is a JVC
Digital Camcorder (older tape style) is a JVC

At the moment I am trying to transfer the VHS recording to the Digital Camera, I don't know quite what I am doing, but hopefully given time I will work it out.
Cost = $0
Time = Heaps


OPTION 2

Dick Smith have what is called a Gadget Geek
Cost = $50
Time = Unknown


OPTION 3

Send the three VHS tapes away and have them done professionally
Cost = From $100 and Up


Has anyone ever used the Gadget Geek? My fear is I buy it and it doesn't do what I want it to. So that is $50 down
the tubes, then I still pay someone to get it done Professionally, raising the overall cost.


Another option is to go out and purchase a VCR / DVD combo, starting price for those are $300.

My main aim at the moment is to get my son's baby footage onto DVD, however I also have a collection of bought VHS tapes, that if I were to be able to burn onto DVD may make VHS/DVD viable, my only concern with that is the copy-write protection on them.


So has anyone used this Gadget Geek?

Okay update I tried unsuccessfully to copy from VCR to Digital Cam, I seem to get about a 10 second play time, and although the Dig Cam appears and sounds like it is recording. When I play it back, I get up to 10 seconds of playback then nothing.

According to both JVC Digital Cam Manual and JVC VCR, it can be done. The Dig Cam Manual calls it VHS dubbing, and providing I had set my VCR to "Edit" it is supposed to work, providing I had all of the settings in both the Cam and VCR set up correctly, I rang JVC just to confirm I had all of the settings in the Cam correct and also the cabling, I was told yes I did. I had 1 brand new 60 minute tape in the Dig Cam.


http://db.tt/HAJCow2K
http://db.tt/tpcopTXD
http://db.tt/KhffvH1F

I would look on VideoHelp.com - Forum, Guides, Tools and hardware lists

I'm sure the question has been dealt with many times there. I don't know of any way other than playing the tape to get the data. But then I haven't done any VHS to DVD myself. I don't know if there's such a thing as a dub that's faster than real time.

But that's why you should go to videohelp. Lots of experienced video posters there.

I haven't done this personally however if you have the money and these tapes are important to you you might consider a professional job. They will have good equipment that should get you a high quality picture provided that the tapes are in good shape. For something like that I'd go professional.

It's probably cheaper to just buy the video capture gizmo. I think most of them save to either mpeg or avi. In any case from there the conversion is where the user can make the difference. You can try many conversion programs until you get one that gives you the best output. Also DVD output may not be the best choice. You're limited to 9000 kbit/s whereas something like mp4 can produce better quality. Also some cleanup may be possible using AviSynth. Ask on video help as AviSynth is a paradigm shift. It kind of runs between the source and the output. It takes a bit of getting used to.

I haven't paid for much in the way of video conversions but I would think in most cases the guy will start the capture and get a coffee. Then start the video conversion and get a sandwich. If it comes out playable, that's that. I doubt you'll get any redos because the quality wasn't good enough. Where doing it yourself you can experiment with AviSynth filters to get the best looking output.

MilesAhead said:

It's probably cheaper to just buy the video capture gizmo. I think most of them save to either mpeg or avi. In any case from there the conversion is where the user can make the difference. You can try many conversion programs until you get one that gives you the best output. Also DVD output may not be the best choice. You're limited to 9000 kbit/s whereas something like mp4 can produce better quality. Also some cleanup may be possible using AviSynth. Ask on video help as AviSynth is a paradigm shift. It kind of runs between the source and the output. It takes a bit of getting used to.

I haven't paid for much in the way of video conversions but I would think in most cases the guy will start the capture and get a coffee. Then start the video conversion and get a sandwich. If it comes out playable, that's that. I doubt you'll get any redos because the quality wasn't good enough. Where doing it yourself you can experiment with AviSynth filters to get the best looking output.

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Good answer need to spread rep around or you would get it for this answer