Thread: DVDs from Analog Video

I started trying to convert my old VHS tapes and my newer tapes from my Sony Video 8 to DVDs ,also I wanted to be able to edit my home movies.
Put your tape in the VCR, plug in this little capture card, edit your film, burn you dvd, right? Wrong!
I tried loads of programs, they crashed, the quality of the DVDs were poor or just plain a mess, etc. I tried the endless stream of "downloads" off the internet and the dozens of guides to go with them.

So, here is my . It's not the cheapest, but it works every time and it is cheaper than buying a new qualtiy digital camera and still having to buy the editing programs.

Get on line and buy a Canopus ADVC 100, this little contraption flawlessly converts (captures) any tape you throw at it from your camcorder or VHS. Canopus converts any analog tape to an AVI file. These files are huge, but the quality is as good as the original.

You will need a software program for the "capture" and editing. Ulead, Sonic, Roxio, Pinnacle Studio etc. all offer free trials...use them. See which one you like.
Since I would rather render to a MPEG2 (and ditch the AVI file) and Nero has flawless burns, thats the route I choose.

Once you have the editing program installed, just plug your little Canopus in (literally, no instruction needed) and the Studio immediately IDs it as a DV...while it captures it breaks your video up in "scenes"...really handy when editing.

Once you have the AVI file, you can take it into your editing program and edit, render, and burn. I do not use Pinnacle to burn...to many crashing problems with rendering to DVD. I always render to an MPEG file, then burn it with Nero. The advantage to rendering to an MPEG file, is because if you ever want to edit a bit more, you can do it with the MPEG file, instead of having to weed through the "raw" AVI file...basically you can delete the AVI file and free up a boat load of space.

That's it.

This is exactually what I have been dealing with. I have spent way to much money trying to figure this out . I am going to look for ADVC now, thanks