Regarding DVD's/VHS stuff...

[ConservativeBalla]

Okay, I've got some serious Tech questions here:

1. How much does it usually cost to buy a DVD/VHS player that can convert VHS tapes to DVD's?

2. DVD/VCR combos that can convert DVD's to VHS tapes, what would this do to the Interactive menus that are in the DVD's?

3. Is it possible to get a DVD player that can record off of TV like a VCR?

4. Will blank/homemade DVD-R discs play in any DVD player? Like, you go to the store, buy some blank DVD-R's, download some video file off KaZaA, burn it to the DVD-R, then go play the DVD-R in a DVD player; would it work? "DVD player" meaning ones in computers and ones used with your TV. (Note: I don't have KaZaA or any other P2P program.) Should one look at the DVD player and see if it "Supports DVD-R"? Does that mean it WILL show ANY homemade thing on DVD-R?

5. They're supposed to be coming out with something better than DVD+RW's this fall for computers called "Dual DVD Burners". Should I wait and not get a new comp. 'til these come out? Because I was planning on getting a DVD burner. What are the new abilities of these "Dual DVD Burners"? "DVD+RW" DOES mean it can play CD's and DVD's, AND BURN CD's and DVD's, right?

6. Are blank DVD discs like the blank CD's? Like, CD-RW's with Audio don't play in as many CD Players as normal CD-R's with Audio do; is this consistent with DVD-R and DVD-RW discs?

7. You CAN just take advantage of the 4.7 GB's on blank DVD's and store info/files, right? It doesn't have to be video, right?

[Liza]

I don't know how much help I can be, but as far as I know there are no video/DVD converters on sale YET. I know some people are able to get it done at certain stores - I think Walgreen's does it for something like $20. I was just reading about a new "movie writer" that will be onsale next month and cost about $399. They say it's very good and you can set up chapters and a menu if you want to. Frankly I don't have that kind of money, so if anyone here knows of a better alternative I'd like to hear about it

[webuster]

I've been looking to get Shock Treatment put onto a DVD here in the UK-but is it possible to convert an NTSC VHS to a PAL (Region 2) DVD? I might just have to look for an old PAL VHS copy on ebay

I got little shop of horrors recalled dvd on vhs and no menus are on it at all- but I think the person that transferred the dvd may have edited this himself, because I've seen other videos (pirate mainly) and the dvd menu is on the video for the first 5 minutes or so.

I don't think proper businesses specialising in dvd transfer do copyrighted movies unless it's for research-but there are probably facilities you can use somewhere- why don't you just hook your VCR up to the PC and make a VCD instead? I don't have the right cables, and I'm not sure if I have a videocard to do that-but VCD plays on mos DVD players.

[Liza]

Originally posted by webuster
I've been looking to get Shock Treatment put onto a DVD here in the UK-but is it possible to convert an NTSC VHS to a PAL (Region 2) DVD? I might just have to look for an old PAL VHS copy on ebay

I know you can get an NTSC VHS transferred to a PAL, there are plenty of shops that will do that - and then you can transfer the PAL to a DVD

[robyrob]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
Okay, I've got some serious Tech questions here:

1. How much does it usually cost to buy a DVD/VHS player that can convert VHS tapes to DVD's?

depends on what you want to spend, but you'll need either a stand alone ($$$$$) or a video capture card and DVD writer drive

2. DVD/VCR combos that can convert DVD's to VHS tapes, what would this do to the Interactive menus that are in the DVD's?

don't know for a stand-alone device, but for a dvdrw drive, it needs software that supports it to recreate the menus because they are not part of the videoflow

3. Is it possible to get a DVD player that can record off of TV like a VCR?

don't know about a stand alone, but i have heard a rumor that a future version of Tivo may do this - recording to dvd/rw, and if you have a video capture card and PVR software combined with a dvd/rw drive, you can do it

4. Will blank/homemade DVD-R discs play in any DVD player? Like, you go to the store, buy some blank DVD-R's, download some video file off KaZaA, burn it to the DVD-R, then go play the DVD-R in a DVD player; would it work? "DVD player" meaning ones in computers and ones used with your TV. (Note: I don't have KaZaA or any other P2P program.) Should one look at the DVD player and see if it "Supports DVD-R"? Does that mean it WILL show ANY homemade thing on DVD-R?

if encoded properly, they should play in most DVD players, of course different players, software, types and brands of dvd/r and /rw make a difference, noone can guarantee 100% compatibility, but it is getting better,
generally the drive in your computer has a better chance of reading a homade dvd than a standalone player, as for "Supports DVD-R" it is better than one that doesnt say it I guess, but it is no guarantee, I would look for reviews online to see if an unbiased reviewer (like pcmag/cnet/egghead.com) found it to be compatible...

5. They're supposed to be coming out with something better than DVD+RW's this fall for computers called "Dual DVD Burners". Should I wait and not get a new comp. 'til these come out? Because I was planning on getting a DVD burner. What are the new abilities of these "Dual DVD Burners"? "DVD+RW" DOES mean it can play CD's and DVD's, AND BURN CD's and DVD's, right?

there are a few of these available now, and specifically it means that they can read and write dvd+r/rw and dvd-r/rw, two different, incompatible formats, Sony makes the DW-U10A, Pioneer makes the DVR-A06U, and Lite-ON makes the LDW-400D
The Sony is a second generation drive and has gotten pretty good reviews all around, but doesnt come with the best software package, it would be worth shopping around, maybe even waiting til a few more companies come out with them...

6. Are blank DVD discs like the blank CD's? Like, CD-RW's with Audio don't play in as many CD Players as normal CD-R's with Audio do; is this consistent with DVD-R and DVD-RW discs?

yes, generally newer dvd players will be more compatible, and a dvd player has to say that it will play dvd audio for it to be compatible

7. You CAN just take advantage of the 4.7 GB's on blank DVD's and store info/files, right? It doesn't have to be video, right?

yes, you can, but one general disadvantage of dvd-r/rw and dvd+r/rw is that most movies are written to several layers of the disc, so they use more than 4.7GB, meaning you can't always fit a movie onto a single disk
Some software can compress the video making it possible to squeeze it back onto a single disc - check out DVD X Copy from 321studios

hope that helps, but you should probably do some more research online, check out ATI's All-in-wonder and Pinnacle's video capture cards

[ConservativeBalla]

depends on what you want to spend, but you'll need either a stand alone ($$$$$) or a video capture card and DVD writer drive

Okay, now how MUCH "$$$$$"? $400? $4,000? And, what do "Video Capture Cards" do/how do they work? And, how do they work with DVD Writer Drives?

don't know for a stand-alone device, but for a dvdrw drive, it needs software that supports it to recreate the menus because they are not part of the videoflow

Well, so what would happen after the software "Re-creates" it onto the VHS Tape? Could you navigate through a menu on a VHS TAPE?

don't know about a stand alone, but i have heard a rumor that a future version of Tivo may do this - recording to dvd/rw, and if you have a video capture card and PVR software combined with a dvd/rw drive, you can do it

Okay, again, what would a Video Capture Card and "PVR Software" do?

if encoded properly, they should play in most DVD players, of course different players, software, types and brands of dvd/r and /rw make a difference, noone can guarantee 100% compatibility, but it is getting better, generally the drive in your computer has a better chance of reading a homade dvd than a standalone player, as for "Supports DVD-R" it is better than one that doesnt say it I guess, but it is no guarantee, I would look for reviews online to see if an unbiased reviewer (like pcmag/cnet/egghead.com) found it to be compatible...

Thank you.

there are a few of these available now, and specifically it means that they can read and write dvd+r/rw and dvd-r/rw, two different, incompatible formats, Sony makes the DW-U10A, Pioneer makes the DVR-A06U, and Lite-ON makes the LDW-400D The Sony is a second generation drive and has gotten pretty good reviews all around, but doesnt come with the best software package, it would be worth shopping around, maybe even waiting til a few more companies come out with them...

Thank you. And, you would recommend I wait until more are released? What specific company would you recommend? Andthey are called "Dual DVD Burners"?

yes, generally newer dvd players will be more compatible, and a dvd player has to say that it will play dvd audio for it to be compatible

Thank you.

yes, you can, but one general disadvantage of dvd-r/rw and dvd+r/rw is that most movies are written to several layers of the disc, so they use more than 4.7GB, meaning you can't always fit a movie onto a single disk. Some software can compress the video making it possible to squeeze it back onto a single disc - check out DVD X Copy from 321studios

Thank you. And, actually I meant, can you use these to store files and programs? I know you can store movies, but files/programs?

Thank you for all your help so far.

[dawsongirl]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
1. How much does it usually cost to buy a DVD/VHS player that can convert VHS tapes to DVD's?

2. DVD/VCR combos that can convert DVD's to VHS tapes, what would this do to the Interactive menus that are in the DVD's?

3. Is it possible to get a DVD player that can record off of TV like a VCR?

4. Will blank/homemade DVD-R discs play in any DVD player? Like, you go to the store, buy some blank DVD-R's, download some video file off KaZaA, burn it to the DVD-R, then go play the DVD-R in a DVD player; would it work? "DVD player" meaning ones in computers and ones used with your TV. (Note: I don't have KaZaA or any other P2P program.) Should one look at the DVD player and see if it "Supports DVD-R"? Does that mean it WILL show ANY homemade thing on DVD-R?

6. Are blank DVD discs like the blank CD's? Like, CD-RW's with Audio don't play in as many CD Players as normal CD-R's with Audio do; is this consistent with DVD-R and DVD-RW discs?

7. You CAN just take advantage of the 4.7 GB's on blank DVD's and store info/files, right? It doesn't have to be video, right?

If you're talking about transfering...

1. Upwards of $500. The one I have retails for about $600. Philips DVDR.

2. Most VCR/DVD combos won't let you dub DVD's to tape.

3. Yes. Mine does.

4. If it's DVD+R...not DVD-R, it will play in almost anything once you finalize the disc.

6. DVD-R and RW don't play in as many players as do DVD+R. +R/+RW is the best format.

7. I don't think so. There's plenty of room on CD+R/RW's.

[dawsongirl]

This site might help:

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvd

[dawsongirl]

Philips

Philips are good machines.

Here's the one I have...it's very easy to use.

985

[ConservativeBalla]

Originally posted by dawsongirl
If you're talking about transfering...

1. Upwards of $500. The one I have retails for about $600. Philips DVDR.

2. Most VCR/DVD combos won't let you dub DVD's to tape.

3. Yes. Mine does.

4. If it's DVD+R...not DVD-R, it will play in almost anything once you finalize the disc.

6. DVD-R and RW don't play in as many players as do DVD+R. +R/+RW is the best format.

7. I don't think so. There's plenty of room on CD+R/RW's.

1. So a "Philips DVDR" allows you to put in a VHS tape and a DVD. You then simply tell it to record FROM the VHS tape ONTO the DVD? Is it really that simple?

2. Well, I haven't tried it yet, but the one I have says it copies DVD's to VHS tapes. I need to check it out/try it sometime.

3. How much did it cost? What is the name/company? And, is it available in common retail stores?

4. So, you can buy both blank DVD+R, and DVD-R Discs? What's the difference?

6. Thank you. If -R/-RW are so bad/inferior, why were they even made? Were they just made BEFORE +R/+RW?

7. I dunno, time's are changing; 700 MB seems like less and less relevant/useable, or what have you. Thanks, though.

[dawsongirl]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
1. So a "Philips DVDR" allows you to put in a VHS tape and a DVD. You then simply tell it to record FROM the VHS tape ONTO the DVD? Is it really that simple?

2. Well, I haven't tried it yet, but the one I have says it copies DVD's to VHS tapes. I need to check it out/try it sometime.

3. How much did it cost? What is the name/company? And, is it available in common retail stores?

4. So, you can buy both blank DVD+R, and DVD-R Discs? What's the difference?

6. Thank you. If -R/-RW are so bad/inferior, why were they even made? Were they just made BEFORE +R/+RW?

7. I dunno, time's are changing; 700 MB seems like less and less relevant/useable, or what have you. Thanks, though.

1. Look at the links I posted. It's a stand alone machine. You hook up the DVDR to a VCR to put what's on the tape on DVD. I can talk you through it if needbe. It really is pretty simple.

3. See the 985 link I posted. That's what I have.

4. Yes...I'm not sure what the difference is, but they say + works on more DVD players. www.dvdrhelp.com might say what the difference is.

6. Not sure, but I think they did come out first.

[ConservativeBalla]

So, did you buy that 985 in a retail store?

Thanks, I think I have all the info I need except:

I want to know what a Video Capture Card and PVR Software is/does.

Should I buy a Dual DVD Burner now, or wait 'til more come out?

[robyrob]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
Okay, now how MUCH "$$$$$"? $400? $4,000? And, what do "Video Capture Cards" do/how do they work? And, how do they work with DVD Writer Drives?
Well, so what would happen after the software "Re-creates" it onto the VHS Tape? Could you navigate through a menu on a VHS TAPE?

No software can recreate dvd menus on VHS tape (other than manually copying them as still pictures), but, for example DVD X Copy allows you to copy menus onto dvd or create them,
As for pricing on stand-alones, that you'll need to look up on your own, but the $600 range sounds about right - i say shop around see what deals you can find
All DVD's are encrypted with a technology (DSS) that prevents dubbing to VHS, there are ways around it, but in most cases the loss of quality makes it completely pointless to do so.

Okay, again, what would a Video Capture Card and "PVR Software" do?

Best way to describe it, is a video capture card lets you capture video from your VCR, cable box, video camera, etc - pretty much any device that has a compatible output.
Personal Video Recorder software basicly does what a Tivo does - lets you copy video in realtime to a hard drive so you can watch it when ever you want - usually you can find these bundled together, like with the ATI All-in-Wonder video cards

Thank you. And, you would recommend I wait until more are released? What specific company would you recommend? Andthey are called "Dual DVD Burners"?

Well, certainly the Sony model has gotten rave reviews, and seems to be a good product, but I would say that it depends on how much you want to spend (prices WILL drop) and what features do you want (there may be future products that are more integrated and do everything right out of the box) as to whether you should wait.
Mostly they are advertised as "Dual Format" or "DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW" drives, I have seen lots of claims from either side each saying that DVD+R or DVD-R is more compatible, I dont think it matters too much anymore, as long as your other hardware (what you are playing it back on) is fairly recent
As for specific companies, it is hard to recommend a single brand, as I haven't tried them all, all I can say is that the Sony has gone through a couple different models, so has gotten most of the bugs out, and I personally like Lite-On products, and they come with Nero software, which I prefer.

Thank you. And, actually I meant, can you use these to store files and programs? I know you can store movies, but files/programs?

Thank you for all your help so far.

yes, you can use DVD+/- R/RW for storing data, and that is one of the biggest benefits over a stand-alone DVD recorder, you just need to make sure you have software that supports it, this is usually bundled with the drives, of course in order to read the data on another machine, the disc must be finalized and the drive in that machine must be capable of reading DVD+-R/RW's (most newer models should)

One comment about storing files versus storing programs - most programs will have problems if they are installed to a writable disc - if they dont need to be changed at all, and you can set it up in the registry properly, it MAY work, but that disc is a LOT slower than your hard drive, and probably isn't worth the trouble.

[ConservativeBalla]

So, for those Video Capture cards, you hook your PC up to your TV/Cable to watch stuff? Does it download them into files on your PC or something?

[ConservativeBalla]

And so, to convert VHS to DVD, the best way is to put a tape in a VCR, connect your Video Capture Card into a PC, get the video in a file format on your hard drive, burn it onto a blank DVD+R and play it in a compatible DVD player?