Desktop for Converting VHS tapes to DVD

retexan599 · 05-16-2007, 03:55 AM

I am planning to buy the Dell XPS 410 with this video card: VIDEO CARD 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro. I am assuming I will be able to feed my analog VCR output into this card for purposes of using Vista Movie Maker and Vista DVD Maker. Other features I am buying are:
Intel® Core™ 2 E6420
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
I am mainly trying to see if I have forgotten something important. How does this look re my VHS to DVD task? Thanks

madtownidiot · 05-16-2007, 04:13 AM

There's no analog input for that video card. You'll need an analog video capture card like this : http://www.nlesystems.com/_e/DECKLIN...eckLink_SP.htm
There are cheaper ones than that, but because you're going to buy a dell none of them will work. You can't install aftermarket PCI hardware in dell computers

Freedom · 05-16-2007, 06:11 AM

As cheap as combo VHS / DVD units are why would you want to tie up a 'puter with all that?
You can get a unit to dub those over for cheap.

HERE is just a few at walmart, and I saw some nice units at Bestbuy a while back as well.

I have about 750 VHS I plan to dub over too, so I was looking into this about a month ago, all in all I came to the conclusion it would be simpler and cheaper just to get a combo unit, and have at it.

**The_Other_One** · 05-16-2007, 07:21 AM

Be sure you realize you must get a RECORDER. A plain combo won't work.

And as the others said, the Radeon only has TV-Out. If you want to capture using your computer, you do need some form of capture card. Though in the end a DVD-Recorder is very nice. I typically record things on DVD-RW's then rip the DVD, clip the ends, then re-burn it to a DVD-R. With the right software you could also add titles or whatever.

retexan599 · 05-17-2007, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Other_One

Be sure you realize you must get a RECORDER. A plain combo won't work.

And as the others said, the Radeon only has TV-Out. If you want to capture using your computer, you do need some form of capture card. Though in the end a DVD-Recorder is very nice. I typically record things on DVD-RW's then rip the DVD, clip the ends, then re-burn it to a DVD-R. With the right software you could also add titles or whatever.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freedom

As cheap as combo VHS / DVD units are why would you want to tie up a 'puter with all that?
You can get a unit to dub those over for cheap.

HERE is just a few at walmart, and I saw some nice units at Bestbuy a while back as well.

I have about 750 VHS I plan to dub over too, so I was looking into this about a month ago, all in all I came to the conclusion it would be simpler and cheaper just to get a combo unit, and have at it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by madtownidiot

There's no analog input for that video card. You'll need an analog video capture card like this : http://www.nlesystems.com/_e/DECKLIN...eckLink_SP.htm
There are cheaper ones than that, but because you're going to buy a dell none of them will work. You can't install aftermarket PCI hardware in dell computers

Thanks for the good advice! My thought about using a plain DVD recorder: I will be wanting to edit the videotape footage before committing it to a DVD. That will include deleting sections, adding titles, and information to provide context. Not sure I can do that with a plain VHS to DVD recorder and assuming I will need computer software for the task.

**The_Other_One** · 05-17-2007, 05:34 PM

What I tend to do with my recorder, I'll record Mythbusters (got to love that show!) 2 to 4 shows on a DVD-RW. Afterwards, I'll load it on my computer using TMPGEnc DVD Author and cut out the commercials and any extra junk. Then I simply burn it to a DVD-R and format my RW for the next set of shows

05-16-2007, 03:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
retexan599 New Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 19	Desktop for Converting VHS tapes to DVD I am planning to buy the Dell XPS 410 with this video card: VIDEO CARD 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro. I am assuming I will be able to feed my analog VCR output into this card for purposes of using Vista Movie Maker and Vista DVD Maker. Other features I am buying are: Intel® Core™ 2 E6420 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs 320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability I am mainly trying to see if I have forgotten something important. How does this look re my VHS to DVD task? Thanks __________________ John Hanley Sugar Land, TX

05-16-2007, 04:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
madtownidiot Gold Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Formerly Madison, WI.... now in Laguna Beach, CA Posts: 334	There's no analog input for that video card. You'll need an analog video capture card like this : http://www.nlesystems.com/_e/DECKLIN...eckLink_SP.htm There are cheaper ones than that, but because you're going to buy a dell none of them will work. You can't install aftermarket PCI hardware in dell computers __________________ Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works- Steve Jobs

05-16-2007, 07:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	Be sure you realize you must get a RECORDER. A plain combo won't work. And as the others said, the Radeon only has TV-Out. If you want to capture using your computer, you do need some form of capture card. Though in the end a DVD-Recorder is very nice. I typically record things on DVD-RW's then rip the DVD, clip the ends, then re-burn it to a DVD-R. With the right software you could also add titles or whatever. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

05-17-2007, 05:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	What I tend to do with my recorder, I'll record Mythbusters (got to love that show!) 2 to 4 shows on a DVD-RW. Afterwards, I'll load it on my computer using TMPGEnc DVD Author and cut out the commercials and any extra junk. Then I simply burn it to a DVD-R and format my RW for the next set of shows __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

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05-16-2007, 06:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Freedom Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 49	As cheap as combo VHS / DVD units are why would you want to tie up a 'puter with all that? You can get a unit to dub those over for cheap. HERE is just a few at walmart, and I saw some nice units at Bestbuy a while back as well. I have about 750 VHS I plan to dub over too, so I was looking into this about a month ago, all in all I came to the conclusion it would be simpler and cheaper just to get a combo unit, and have at it.

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