Home videos (in PAL format) to DVD

[jinx2007]

Folks,

I have a several VHS tapes of my home videos which I would like to preserve by coverting them into digital format. Good number of my videos are in PAL format unforntunately and when I enquired with desi shops they were charging over $15 per VHS to DVD:mad: ! I said NO since I would be paying in several hundreds this way. I would like to know if there is a good, economical way of converting these VHS tapes. I am not so sure about the NTSC to DVD either, but I believe those can be done more easily by buying DVD recorder available in the market which seem to cost between $150 to $200 (??). In any case please tell me the conversion methods for both PAL and NTSC formats.

Appreciate your inputs.:)

[Desi_by_Nature]

I assume you have a VCR (or can borrow one from a friend) that plays both PAL and NTSC VHS. I also assume you have a PC with a DVD RW drive.

Next, if you're willing to spend $30, this product from eBay looks promising. It has everything you need to convert VHS to DVD via your PC.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VHS-to-DVD-HDD-EXTERNAL-TV-Video-USB-Capture-Card_W0QQitemZ150173819172QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3761QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[DosaiLvr]

Buy or borrow a DVD/VCR combo player. There are plenty of models available in stores in the US.

I used a Samsung (Don't remember the model) to convert my VHS to DVD.

Used MS-MovieMaker to edit the movie and create copies.

There's thread in old the R2IClub w/ some info on this. Try a google search to locate it.

[Purujit]

Used MS-MovieMaker to edit the movie and create copies.
[/quote]

Can the DVD be edited if it is a DVD Read only? If I were to copy the VHS to a DVD-R and finalize, can I still edit?

[DosaiLvr]

Can the DVD be edited if it is a DVD Read only? If I were to copy the VHS to a DVD-R and finalize, can I still edit?[/quote]

If you are asking can I edit/rewrite to a DVD-R after "finalizing" it, the answer would be, no.

I guess you are asking "Can I take a DVD-R disc, copy the contents to my PC using some s/w, re-edit the content and re-burn it on a new DVD?"

I haven't tried it, but logic says "why not?"

In DVD-R, the R constraint is only on the media not the digital content. Your s/w should be able to edit the content whether it reads the data from a R or RW or what not.

[rajsriadit]

Folks,

I have a several VHS tapes of my home videos which I would like to preserve by coverting them into digital format. Good number of my videos are in PAL format unforntunately and when I enquired with desi shops they were charging over $15 per VHS to DVD:mad: ! I said NO since I would be paying in several hundreds this way. I would like to know if there is a good, economical way of converting these VHS tapes. I am not so sure about the NTSC to DVD either, but I believe those can be done more easily by buying DVD recorder available in the market which seem to cost between $150 to $200 (??). In any case please tell me the conversion methods for both PAL and NTSC formats.

Appreciate your inputs.:)[/quote]

If you want to directly record vhs or camcorder tapes (PAL) to dvd, there are plenty of options. I assume that you have a pal player (vcr or dvd player).

1) Buy a international stand alone dvd recorder which supports PAL like these.

http://www.world-import.com/panasonic-dvd-r.htm

2) There are dvd recorders available which are not region free but support both PAL and NTSC (record in either format). Lite-on is one and Coby is another brand which supports both formats. Here's one on sale.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4123700

Please note that the above recorders will record PAL in PAL and NTSC in NTSC. If you need to convert PAL to NTSC and vice versa, you need a video converter.

If you need to edit the videos, add titles, chapters, etc. then you have to use a computer and a program like dvd movie factory.

[jinx2007]

Thank you folks for all your responses! I am gonna try one of the options you have recommended.:)