[mythtv-users] VHS to DVD

[Stroller]

On 31 Dec 2006, at 12:59, Brian Wood wrote:
> ...
> Standalone recorders can be had for under
> $100US (at least in the USA). I picked up a unit that combines a VHS
> deck and a DVD recorder for $90 (GoVideo model VR3845) and it has
> performed well and copied over 300 tapes.
> ...
> But if you have a lot of time on your hands it can be done with a
> computer that has a capture device and a DVD burner. By the time you
> add up the cost of your time, the cost of the blanks you will
> inevitably "coaster" and the aggravation, this is probably a more
> expensive way to go :-)

This is so often overlooked by geeks, because I think we tend to be  
perfectionists; I can imagine a strong desire to take whatever means  
are necessary to achieve the absolute best image-transfer quality,  
were I undertaking such a chore myself.

But if you consider that a standalone recorder could be resold on  
your local Craigslist or classified ads in a month's time for 80% of  
it's purchase price (I always include the original receipt "store  
warranty until December next year!" in such an advertisement) then it  
really becomes cheap to transfer the movies this way. If one  
subsequently wishes to try to achieve higher transfer-quality of the  
videos one at least has a quality-baseline against which to work, and  
the demand to make them is no longer so pressing.

Stroller.