DVD Recorder or Video Capture card ?

Halcyon · 08-12-2005, 20:42

Ok I'm interested in recording off TV or VHS, or anything else, and burning to DVD.
Now I have a NEC DVDRW drive in my PC so I have two choices.

Do I:

A) Buy a TV / Video capture card for my PC and then connect up my VHS, TV, etc, to that and record to my PC.

or

B) Buy a standalone DVD Recorder that will link straight to my TV, let me programme recordings, and burn straight to DVD.

Ideally I would like to be able to edit my footage so the video capture card seems more favourable at the moment.
Unless anyone knows of a DVD Recorder that also has a link to send to PC via firewire or some other way ?

May be there are players that let you do editing on the actual machine itself. I dont know.
I would want really good quality video capture.
Which route would you advise me to take ?

Thanks for your time and help,

Tim. (halcyon)

Mauldor · 08-12-2005, 23:02

Look at it another way:

Capture Card

Pro's
Can save Uncompressed format for Editing

Cons
Need VHS next to your PC (or close anyhow)
Need decent card - TV Ones wil be rubbish

DVD Recorder

Press Play on your VHS, Press record on your DVD.
Take out DVD, insert into PC and its already in DVD format - great
Possible to edit the thing but as already compressed - might loose some quality (but as its VHS to start with - not a lot really).
Can record TV at the touch of a Button.

Bascially I have gone now for the DVD recorder router, it has a I.Link (Firewire) but this is for IN only I assume, to record form a Dig_cam..

littld · 08-12-2005, 23:54

Now that DVD recorders are so cheap it's hard to say.

I record to DVD on the PC using an Adaptec VideOh! card. The output quality is very high. I get the video using a DigiSender as my PC is in the next room.

The advantage is total control. I also tend to save a lot of recordings to DivX so I can fit more on a disc. When I bought the card last year for £70 it worked out much cheaper than any DVD recorder on the market.

OK now for the downsides. It's difficult to just set up and leave it - if the kids start switching profiles, restarting the PC etc it spoils it. Basically I can record really well when I am at the PC, not otherwise. I don't have VideoPlus or anything similar. Oh, and it can take ages. There is a realtime option (direct to disc) on the PC but it's not without problems (like being restricted to a 90 minute recording).

If I had no interest in DivX and I was making the decision this year (where pretty decent DVD recorders can be had for under £70) then I would get a standalone one.

My recommendation: get a standalone recorder that can use either disc type. Buy some rewriteable discs. Get some DVD editing software from somwhere cheap. That way you can record direct (easy, direct, no need to rely on PC) but you still are able to edit the rewriteable, burn from the PC if and when you have time. And then re-use the rewriteable disc.

mwphoto · 09-12-2005, 17:45

THe single biggest factor for me was record time. I went for a PC because I can have a 200Gb disk and record 150+ hours of video, I never have to worry about space (I also have a standalone recorder I don't use any more)

Malcolm

Halcyon · 09-12-2005, 19:03

Thanks for all your replies.
At the moment the idea of a stand alone Recorder is winning me round.
Good idea about the trasferring to PC afterwards littld.
I've been looking at different recorders and the Pioneer's seem to have the most editing functions compared to Panasonic's and Sony.

altis · 09-12-2005, 22:53

Good price here:

http://www.lidl.co.uk/gb/home.nsf/pa...rd_Disk_Drive_

And it appears to record RGB too. Pity there's no digital terrestrial tuner though.

homealone · 09-12-2005, 23:37

I only just found that I can record TV straight to a DVD/RW disk on my PC, ok max 90 minutes & remember you need a 'lead out'

Halcyon · 10-12-2005, 01:09

So do you have a video capture card in your PC Gaz ?
How does it connect up ?

Thanks,
Halcyon.

zinglebarb · 10-12-2005, 15:32

sky + NTL's pvr when it happens or a Hard drive recorder which will be easily available next years or a freeview box with pvr.Not sure if any but a dedicated pvr will record of vhs but I predict hard drive pvrs that will take various inputs on the mkt next year

Various pvrs http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/pvr.html

If you wanna go full hog about a dvd recorder with hdd

http://www4.shopgenie.co.uk/search/q...tnerid=8909723

The hdd pvr with input exists and here one is http://www.beststuff.co.uk/humax_pvr_8000t.htm
and not stupid money http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews9925.html

homealone · 10-12-2005, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

So do you have a video capture card in your PC Gaz ?
How does it connect up ?

Thanks,
Halcyon.

hi

sorry, I have only just seen your post

yup, I have an ATI Radeon 'All in Wonder' 9800se, which has a TV tuner/capture facility built in.

Connection wise, I have RF going from my (analogue) STB to a VCR, which connects back to the TV card using a standard 'aerial' lead. Sound connects via a 3.5mm minijack to my sound card line in, & 3.5mm line out to the speakers amp.

That handles the TV, plus, as well, I have the VCR connected by composite & an external DVD player connected by SVHS.

The 'All in Wonder' came with all the leads necessary to make the above connections.

The main drawback of the record direct to internal DVD method that I mentioned above, is that you only get a max of 90 minutes recording time on a 4.7GB disk - less in practice, as space has to be available to write a lead out.

hth

Mauldor · 10-12-2005, 16:22

I suppose it all depends on what you want to Achive, I have a DVD +R/RW which also comes with a 80GIG HD, I have to set up the Timer to record programs (so it aint no subsitute for Sky+ for example) or I press record as and when I need something Recording. As I have a VHS Video sitting on Top, I can record anything lying around to DVD also.

As for Editing the Finsihed Product, All I really do is re-cut the DVD to get rid of Adverts etc and then make a ISO which I burn to DVD-R to keep (such as a Movie).

You can now also buy a DivX Player / DVD for Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£20 which would round it all off.

Halcyon · 11-12-2005, 12:11

Thanks for the help everyone.
Maulder.... When you cut out adverts, is there like a timeline and you select what you want to cut out ?
Also, Is it easy to set up chapters, and a menu ?

Mauldor · 11-12-2005, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Thanks for the help everyone.
Maulder.... When you cut out adverts, is there like a timeline and you select what you want to cut out ?
Also, Is it easy to set up chapters, and a menu ?

When you Import the DVD you get a timeline and with that can chop out bits you dont want and chapters are very easy to set up, you either choose Auto chapters (ever XX Mins) or go in yourself and add them - again real easy.

I use the software thats comes with Nero myself as it seems quite easy, I am sure there is loads of Alternatives that does much the same job. By the way the Nero thing does not require me to convert the movie to anything, I just select the DVD and it imports it (all Voodoo Magic Im sure)...