Digital Video Converters

[dakk]

I am in the process of converting VHS tapes to dvd...I have a combo deck. For most tapes it is fine, but I do need to edit some VHS tapes so I am in the process of buying a digital video converter such as Plextor's ConvertX PX-M402U video capture device or the ADS Technologies API-555 Pyro Av Link.
If someone knows of a better device please feel free to let me know.
The plextor comes w/windvd which is a very limited program.
Does any one know if VideoReDo works w/any of these third party hardware devices. By the way I do not have a tv tuner/video capture card in my tower.
Thanks.

[phd]

Plextor formats:
Hardware Encode to DivX®, MPEG-4, MPEG-2/DVD, MPEG-1/VCD Formats
http://www.plextor.com/english/products/M402U.htm

ADS Technologies API-555 Pyro Av Link:
Shows as disontinued on ADS site.
Capture in DV video format
http://www.videoguys.com/pyroAVlink.html

If you capture with Plextor in MPEG1 or MPEG2, VideoReDo could edit.

Divx and DV are not currently supported in VRD. You would have to reencode first outside of VRD.

[BaysideBas]

You may save yourself some money if you have access to a digital camcorder with "analog pass-thru" capability. What you do is feed the AV signal into the camcorder's AV inputs and use the firewire output into your pc. The camcorder performs the necessary analog to digital conversion. You do need software on your pc to effect the capture. The resulting file, however is AVI and you would have to use another app to convert it into mpeg format.

[May Notingworth]

This is the best way to convert. The resulting file can be no better than the VHS tape and its playback machine. Use Windows Movie Maker to capture the video and export it to AVI, then edit.
An alternative to a digital video camera is a device like DVDExpress from ADS Tech which has S-Video and composite inputs from your VCR and outputs via USB. Once again Windows Movie Maker captures.