VHS to DVD Burners

MichaelS wrote on 11/20/2004, 7:08 PM

It's beginning to look a lot like...VHS to DVD Burners will be the hot item this Christmas.

I just got in from a wild day of shopping with my wife. Practically everywhere I went, I saw shoppers snapping up the VHS/DVD-R/RW units. Our studio does quite a bit of business transferring VHS/VHS-C/8mm/Hi-8mm/Betamax to DVD. These "straight to DVD" copies are not a profit center, but they do pay their on way. We primarily use a Pioneer DVR-7000 DVD Recorder for the process. With the proliferation of the new, low cost machines (under $300), I'm expecting this service to "take a hit".

My question. Does anyone have experience with these machines.

Comments

wombat wrote on 11/21/2004, 3:45 PM

I have been using a JVC DR-MV1SE (PAL) at work, and have been very pleased with the quality of output, creating disks between 1 and 2 hours playing time. The mpeg compression seems excellent. One touch dubbing makes single tapes a doddle to convert. Mutiple clips can be added as individual titles, which link automatically and seamlessly to each other. The menuing options are limited, and text input for titles / chapters is via cumbersome remote control multiple key presses. But heck, it is so simple to get good results, and you can keep adding bits before finalizing the disk (even on write once media ie DVD-R). This JVC unit is a simple DVD / VHS combo, with no hard disk.

Another handy thing is you can use the firewire input to write direct to DVD from a camera without even having to use up tape in the camera e.g. for recording some long hours of rehearsals / auditions. At the end, within in a minute or two you can give the client one or more completed, and very compatible DVDs with automatic chapter marks every 4:30 (I think) so they can quickly review the day's work! The first time I did this, a few weeks ago, the client was quite stunned and very pleased with the results - far better than the old tapes they used to wade through. I haven't tried it, but I think it will also record to both formats simultaneously.

B_JM wrote on 11/21/2004, 3:52 PM

the quality is now stunning in some of the cheaper units ..

MichaelS wrote on 11/21/2004, 6:14 PM

I vaguely remember something from a year or so ago about product branding on the DVD's. I think it was a Phillips model that automatically put it's logo at the beginning of each track. I may be wrong. That and quality was a concern.

Thanks.

farss wrote on 11/21/2004, 6:52 PM

The qulaity is pretty good but the menus suck, there is a way to change the background on the Philips units but the CD to do that I've only heard about, still you soon get tired of the same thing and typing in text is a major PIA.
I'd imagine that at the lower bitrates the 2 pass software encoding is better.
One thing though, you can pull the mpeg-2 files back off the DVD and author using DVDA for a better look to the DVD, certainly a cheap way to get RT encoding, there's also the usint from ADS that does f/wire in and I think you get deck control and it also has a TBC.
Bob.

Chanimal wrote on 11/21/2004, 9:10 PM

Picked up a "new" Panasonic DMR-e75v at a pawn shop for $230 (still had the packaging, etc. - looked like someone pawned it to get cash out of their VISA but never used it). The street price for the same unit at Circuit City (with the $50 rebate) was $399.

I am surprised at the quality. It is also easy to use. Push the dub button and it's done.

I mainly got it to replace my Zenith DVD/VHS combo player. This was over 1 year old, but I only used it about 10 times and the DVD motor would never turn off (had to trash it, even though it still looked new).

It will also allow me to transfer my dvd to VHS for proof and duplication, which is what I used my standard DVD/VHS player for. The best thing is that the VHS is a Super Drive with sVHS reading capability and I have two svhs in and two svhs out. No firewire on this unit though--nice option, but I wasn't picky considering the price.

By the way, for simple stuff like this it is good, but the menu system is a nightmare so far as usability and the documentation is horrible.

Worth $230 any day though.

Couldbe wrote on 11/24/2004, 12:33 PM

I've been using a JVC DR-M10 DVD recorder that allows me burn a DVD using print to tape via firewire right from the Vegas 5 tilmeline sees the recorder just as if it were a camera.

As a poster above notes the menu are nothing special, but the quality is great even at well over 2 hours..

It records to and plays dvd-ram and r/w as well as -r.

B&H has them for around 250.00

Laurence wrote on 11/24/2004, 2:58 PM

On the JVC can you go the other way and capture non-copy-protected video via firewire from the DVD? That would be kind of cool. I did a bit of a search and couldn't find anything about this.

wombat wrote on 11/24/2004, 4:38 PM

for Laurence: no, the firewire connector on the JVC DVD recorders is input only. you have a choice of component, s-video and composite out.

InterceptPoint wrote on 11/24/2004, 5:40 PM

I'm assuming that none of these combo burners can handle a Macrovision protected tape.

Correct?

MichaelS wrote on 11/24/2004, 6:09 PM

A few days after the original post I went to my local SAM'S and bought a Pioneer combo unit. I was pleasantly surprised how well this unit works. It makes it easy to "quick copy" a tape to DVD.

Features I like are:
1. Auto Chapters - adjustable every 5, 10, 15, or 20 minutes.
2. Auto detects no video signal. When the program runs out to unrecorded tape, the machine will stop the DVD recording process (there is a 1 minute buffer, just in case the program material restarts).
3. Records on DVD-R (compatability with every playback unit I own).
4. Creates a nice menu with first frames. Some type of soft fade up on the beginning of each track would be sweet, but not necessary.
5. Quality in the SP-2 hour mode is good, XL-1 hour mode is excellent.

I checked our local Wal-Mart to find that they no longer do VHS to DVD transfers (this may be regional). Outside of the machines regular utility, the machine will come in handy this Christmas producing economical transfers.