AVI's

Can someone here recommend software to capture video from VHS....I also
need software to split AVI's ..Then of course softwar eto burn the AVIs
to DVD's .Have some home videos I want to transfer

Funprice...

Try VirtualDub to capture and edit your .avi's. Try TMPGEnc DVD Author
to author and burn your video-dvd's. All quite good quality software.

rich...

I tried VirtualDub and found it confusing to use. I thought they're
would be other choices. VirtualDub always ends of being reccomended...I
need tutorials or something because I found the interface and the
options confusing

Ken Maltby...

You will need some hardware to "capture video from VHS".

If your "home videos" are unedited material such as from a
home video camera, then you could choose to capture to AVI,
for a greater range of cheap editing options but a lengthy
MPEG encoding after the editing. Or you could capture to
DVD compliant MPEG, either with a PC based capture card/
box or by using a standalone DVD Recorder and transferring

xmradio...

I use the costco liteon dvd recorder. Its only $119. Works great...

rich...

How do I split Avi's with virtualdub. Has anyone here ever done it..If
not can someone point me in the direction of where I can find a
tutorial on it..

Bill's News...

Audio - Direct Stream Copy
Video - Direct Stream Copy

Use the Mark In button to set the beginning of the first segment
Use the slider or Edit - "Go to" for positioning
Use the Mark Out button to set the ending position

File - Save as AVI (name the segment accordingly)

When this step is done, press the Mark In button
Ctrl-Right Arrow will take you to the end of the file
Press the Mark Out button to set the ending position

File - Save as AVI

the video to your PC using DVDRW disks. MPEG editing
is quite able to handle most "Home Movies" (birthdays, trips,
family gatherings, ect...)

If your "home videos" contain professionally edited material,
TV shows, Movies, ect... then the only editing you might need
is to cut out commercials and maybe join two, or more parts
into one. This is done very quick and easy using VideoReDo
or a Womble product in MPEG.

The advantage of capturing directly to DVD compliant MPEG
is that no lengthy additional encoding step is involved, in the
processing to a DVD. You just edit and author the new DVD.

One advantage of using a standalone DVD recorder is that
you can just load a two hour tape and a blank DVD+RW
disk, then have the time consuming real-time capture take
place without bothering you or your PC. You can get an older
model high quality DVD Recorder, refurbished, for a reasonable
sum. These will most likely have component outputs and built-in
TBC and Noise Reduction circuits. ( I have a refurbished RCA
DRC8000N)

If you go the AVI route you will want a good MPEG encoder
to convert the edited AVI to a DVD compatible format. (And
a great deal of additional time, many encode overnight) Or you
will have to use a DVD Authoring package that includes an
encoder; usually this means either the encoder or the authoring
function is less than it should be.

You will need some hardware to capture to AVI, as well, at
least a cheap ATI AIW or VIVO card. A much touted box,
like the ADVC 300, with TBC lists for $549 (even their
cheapest box [the ADVC-55 without TBC lists for $229]
(Try a Froogle using "RCA DRC8000N")

I also find TDA is great as a workhorse authoring program,
it can form a very reliable part of a smooth workflow. ( And
I've worked out a few tricks to make it do a little more if I want
it to.) [I even use the CD/DVD burning application in TDA to
burn data disks, as well as video DVDs.]

If you find you need more complex menu commands then you
should check out DVD Lab Pro.

All the software mentioned can be found using web-search and they
have free demos you can download and try out.

Luck;
Ken

Ray S...

Then look at Microsoft Moviemaker