I have found that most software companies like to promote how easy it is to exchange your Vhs tapes to Dvd when using their software. Although their products do make this process very easy, I have found that the final video on Dvd is worse than the primary Vhs tape. After trying any base Vhs to Dvd software products I became frustrated that I could not perform the primary video ability of the primary Vhs tape. Dvd technology surpasses Vhs tapes by a long shot and in my mind there is no reckon why there should be any degeneration of video ability after the transfer. After much trial and error and hundreds of hours spent I have written this article. This record reviews three (3) beloved software products and describes a formula on how to convert your Vhs tapes to Dvd while achieving diminutive to no degeneration in video ability on the final Dvd.
Common Software Products Tested:
Three (3) software programs were tried:
1. Roxio Vhs to Dvd
2. Homestech 4.0 Vhs to Dvd
3. Pinnacle Systems - Dazzle Dvd Recorder
The above software packages were the most beloved and seemed to be very bright to get the job done. They were available at local computer stores and were also the most beloved software packages found within internet quest engines. The above software packages use a small Usb gismo that allows the Vcr to be linked to the computer. The Usb gismo converts the analog signal to digital before sending it into the computer. The final Dvd produced by each of the three (3) products was less ability then the primary Vhs video. The software that came with each of the packages installed properly and was working fine. The Pinnacle Systems goods did not come with a driver. Their website did not have any drivers. After any hours I could not get the Pinnacle goods to work at all. The other 2 products were returned due to the video ability being noticeably lower than the primary Vhs tapes. It was considered that the digital signal produced by each of the small Usb devices was a major cause of the final Dvd being of poor quality. It was also considered that the software in each of the packages contributed to the final Dvd to also have lower video ability then the Vhs tapes.
Final Vhs to Dvd Process Used:
After trying and then returning each of the software products above, I spent many hours researching this task. I have managed to talk to some video experts and read hundreds of forum posts. The final process to convert Vhs to Dvd with diminutive to no degeneration in video ability was:
1. Use the Canopus Advc-300 developed Digital Video Converter to convert the Vcr output to digital format. This unit needs a firewire connection on your Pc.
2.Use a free software called "Win Dv" to capture the digital video (Dv) and originate Avi files on your hard drive. Capturing digital video software only captures to Avi files. There isn't software available that captures directly to Mpeg files which is what you need for Dvds. Further file converting is necessary.
3. Use "Canopus Procoder 3" to split the Avi files into M2V video and Wav audio files.
4. Use "Tmpgenc Mpeg Editor" to concentrate the M2V video and the Wav files into Mpeg files.
5. Use "Tmpgenc Mpeg Editor" cut and take off portions of the Mpeg files if needed.
6. Use "Tmpgenc Mpeg Editor" to author and originate the final Dvd's
The Canopus Advc-300 is a unit make specifically for converting analog to digital signals from Vcrs. It has any built-in filters designed to filter out base noise that is found on video tapes before it encodes the digital signal. Though trial and error I have tried all combinations of settings of these filters. These filters made no revising in the final Dvd quality. The 3D filter left a ghost trail behind objects as the camera panned. The 2D filter and the Y/C separation had no effect at all. My final Dvd's were created with all of the filters turned off. Although I didn't use the filters, it is extremely recommended that everybody try all combinations of these filters for each of their tapes. Every Vcr recording has its own unique noise characteristic. One combination of filter settings does not work for all tapes so you need to experiment with these filters.
The output file settings on the Procoder were:
1. Quality/Speed: High Speed
2. Bitrate Type: changeable Rate (Vbr)
3. Number of Passes: 2 Pass.
4. Video Bitrate: 4500 kb/s
5. Max. Bitrate: 7000 kb/s
6. Min Bitrate: 2000 kb/s
Increasing these numbers may make your final Dvd non-standard compliant.
Why do many of the beloved software programs degrade the ability of the primary video? This requires an comprehension each of the processes involved while the conversion:
1. convert the primary signal from analog to digital.
2. Encode and originate a file from the digital signal.
3. convert file to Mpeg file format.
4. convert Mpeg file to Vob files for use on final Dvd.
Whenever there is an encoding or conversion process a "codec" is needed. A codec is a technical term that can be best described as being an examiner in the middle of two different speaking languages. Most language interpreters have an accent. This accent is the interpreters' own degeneration of the language they are interpreting to. Some interpreters have heavier accents than others. Very few interpreters have no accent. Since converting a Vhs tape to a Dvd involves more than one interpretation, or conversion, the chance for degeneration will all the time be present. The conversion process needs to be programmed by the software developer. The less the accent, or degeneration, the more time, knowledge, and skill are required on profit of the programmer who is creating each of the codecs within the software programs. The three (3) software programs that were tested and returned cost around .00. The developers are not going to spend excess resources on a software agenda costing this little.
So how one to know which software is converts the best? You don't. The only way is straight through lengthy, timely, and frustrating trial and error. The author of this record went though months of trial and error and reading forum posts from many experts. The purpose of this record is to give you a way to convert your Vhs tapes to Dvd with near perfect ability while sparing you the timely trial and error.
The Final Cost:
Although they cost around .00 dollars, the three (3) software packages tested earlier in this record have poor conversion and are not worth using if you are trying to perform the best ability in converting your Vhs tapes to digital format for Dvd or Blu-Ray. I have purchased the Advc-300 converter, Procoder, and Tmpgenic software from eBay totaling about 0.00. After all Vhs tapes were converted the Advc-300 and software was sold on eBay and the net cost was about 0.00. Although the up-front cost of the equipment and software may be non-desirable, your final cost is well worth having the best ability of your old video tapes on Dvd.
The Canopus Advc-300 analog to digital converter is probably the single most pricey item you will need. If you cannot afford it, you may want to consider using the less costly Canopus Advc-55 or the Canopus Advc-110 analog to digital converter. All of the Advc units use the exact same algorithm in converting the analog signal to digital. The Advc-300 unit has noise filter controls that are designed to filter tape noise before encoding the signal to digital. I have tried all combinations of these filters and found them useless. Using the Advc-110 or the Advc-55 would give me the same results. You can watch reviews and see demonstrations on the Canopus analog to digital converter products by Reading Canopus Reviews Here.
Converting Vhs and Beta Video Tapes to Dvd For Best quality