About to recommence analog tape to digital conversion after long delay. Desired output is mpg2. First step is equipment & software, so looking for comments on what I already have.
Scope:
40-50 VHS "home" tapes recorded by RCA video camera with direct cable to VHS recorder. (predates cameras with built in VHS-C) Several VHS recorders were used. Vintage=1970s & 1980s.
1 commercial VHS tape with Macrovision (Polynesian Culture Center); that version (with the performers we actually saw) not available for purchase on DVD.
Approx 100 "home" Hi8 tapes recorded with Sony CCD-V101 (dead) and Sony DCR-TRV480 (alive).
Video equipment:
VCR: Sony SLV-N60 (HiFi)
VCR: JVC HR-A592U (HiFi)
VCR: Goldstar GHV-1280U (untried but supposed to ignore Macrovision)
camera: Sony DCR-TRV480 (pass-through supposed to be available)
dvd recorder: Polaroid DRM2001G (listed in case useful as a pass-through)
TBC/DNR: none
Capture/Tuner equipment:
Hauppaguge HD-PVR (output h.264 TS but that's ok)
ATI AIW (32) AGP capture cards
ATI TV Wonder 650 PCI capture cards
KWorld UB435-Q USB tuner (cheapie)
Computers:
Asus A7V mb (Socket A, t-bird Athlon 1.3 GB) Still have Win2K with MMC (8.1?) that I used for capturing TV during the 2000s.
HP (Asus) K8S-LA Salmon (Socket 754, Athlon 64 single core) XP
HP (Asus) A8AE-LE AmberineM (Socket 939, Athlon 64 x2) XP
Asus F2A85-V Pro (FM2, Trinity 5800K quad, has PCI slots) Win7 (XP available)
Software:
ATI MMC for AIW (Win2k, XP?)
ArcSoft package that came with the AIW2006 that replaced MMC. (AIW2006 died and was replaced by ATI with TV Wonder capture card)
ArcSoft TotalMedia that came with Hauppauge HD-PVR. (Currently using for TV captures)
NPVR
MediaCenter (Win7) - undesirable
History:
IIRC, tried i.Link (Firewire/IEEE 1394) computer-to-Hi8 camera connection a few years ago, but couldn't get it to work - software problems as I recall. Have done a number of the Hi8 tapes using HD-PVR and ArcSoft TotalMedia (edit: composite connection). Raw recording (h.264 TS) seems ok, but having problem of recording stopping in middle and having to restart. Sometimes takes several tries, but usually makes it through. Think there's 1 tape with a problem so far.
Tested VCR to HD-PVR using composite for VHS tapes, but constant loss of sync kills this. VHS tapes play ok, just not recordable using HD-PVR. Tried using Sony camera as a pass-through to HD-PVR several years ago unsucessfully. These VCR tapes are my biggest worry. I used to use ATI MMC with my AIW to record TV, but may have forgotten too much... Worried there may not be anyone to help if I get stuck. It was a real PIA to set up, but once going, it was fine. Belated thanks to LordSmurf and his web tutorial pages. Not much experience with the TV Wonder capture card or it's ArcSoft version of MMC.
Equipment/Software suggestions? Do I need something else, particularly for the VHS tapes?
Scope:
40-50 VHS "home" tapes recorded by RCA video camera with direct cable to VHS recorder. (predates cameras with built in VHS-C) Several VHS recorders were used. Vintage=1970s & 1980s.
1 commercial VHS tape with Macrovision (Polynesian Culture Center); that version (with the performers we actually saw) not available for purchase on DVD.
Approx 100 "home" Hi8 tapes recorded with Sony CCD-V101 (dead) and Sony DCR-TRV480 (alive).
Video equipment:
VCR: Sony SLV-N60 (HiFi)
VCR: JVC HR-A592U (HiFi)
VCR: Goldstar GHV-1280U (untried but supposed to ignore Macrovision)
camera: Sony DCR-TRV480 (pass-through supposed to be available)
dvd recorder: Polaroid DRM2001G (listed in case useful as a pass-through)
TBC/DNR: none
Capture/Tuner equipment:
Hauppaguge HD-PVR (output h.264 TS but that's ok)
ATI AIW (32) AGP capture cards
ATI TV Wonder 650 PCI capture cards
KWorld UB435-Q USB tuner (cheapie)
Computers:
Asus A7V mb (Socket A, t-bird Athlon 1.3 GB) Still have Win2K with MMC (8.1?) that I used for capturing TV during the 2000s.
HP (Asus) K8S-LA Salmon (Socket 754, Athlon 64 single core) XP
HP (Asus) A8AE-LE AmberineM (Socket 939, Athlon 64 x2) XP
Asus F2A85-V Pro (FM2, Trinity 5800K quad, has PCI slots) Win7 (XP available)
Software:
ATI MMC for AIW (Win2k, XP?)
ArcSoft package that came with the AIW2006 that replaced MMC. (AIW2006 died and was replaced by ATI with TV Wonder capture card)
ArcSoft TotalMedia that came with Hauppauge HD-PVR. (Currently using for TV captures)
NPVR
MediaCenter (Win7) - undesirable
History:
IIRC, tried i.Link (Firewire/IEEE 1394) computer-to-Hi8 camera connection a few years ago, but couldn't get it to work - software problems as I recall. Have done a number of the Hi8 tapes using HD-PVR and ArcSoft TotalMedia (edit: composite connection). Raw recording (h.264 TS) seems ok, but having problem of recording stopping in middle and having to restart. Sometimes takes several tries, but usually makes it through. Think there's 1 tape with a problem so far.
Tested VCR to HD-PVR using composite for VHS tapes, but constant loss of sync kills this. VHS tapes play ok, just not recordable using HD-PVR. Tried using Sony camera as a pass-through to HD-PVR several years ago unsucessfully. These VCR tapes are my biggest worry. I used to use ATI MMC with my AIW to record TV, but may have forgotten too much... Worried there may not be anyone to help if I get stuck. It was a real PIA to set up, but once going, it was fine. Belated thanks to LordSmurf and his web tutorial pages. Not much experience with the TV Wonder capture card or it's ArcSoft version of MMC.
Equipment/Software suggestions? Do I need something else, particularly for the VHS tapes?