I have alot of VHS home videos which are analog, and digital still pictures that I would like to transfer to CD for preservation. 'Video Explosion Deluxe' is the software that I have access to, but I don't know what hardware I need. Since I have 'Digital' still pictures AND analog tape, is there hardware that allows use of both? P4 1.6GHZ, 40GHD, 512 RAM, Win XP (Home). Thanks to all. Bruce

I am using a Dazzle Analog Video Adapter. The Software which is supplied with this Adapter is converting your Analog VHS Videos to AVI files. Then I convert these files to MPEG1 files with TMPGEnc254 Encoder and burn it to VCD's. You can find out more about Encoders and converstions on http://www.vcdhelp.com/vcdtools.htm#codecs

XP Doc, Could you give me the model number of your 'Dazzle Analog Video Adaptor', and do you know if you can transfer from a digital camera as well as VHS tape with your adaptor? Thanks, Bruce P.S. Web site is great!! Thanks

The analog adapter I have is the Dazzle 80. Check it out on http://www.dazzle.com/products/dvc80.html Yes it will work also from a Digital Video Camera, however I would not recommend it. If your DVC has an IEEE1394 Firewire port get your self a Firewire card for your PC. The quality will be much better. The Dazzle is alright to convert your old VHS stuff, but Firewire is the go. If you don't mind spending some bucks I would recommend either the Dazzle Holywood Bridge http://www.dazzle.com/products/hw_bridge.html or http://www.synchrotech.com/product-1394/analog-dv-converter_01.html or the Canopus which has one of the best test results http://www.dvdirect.com/Prods/CNP/5055.htm

You may want to look at the Amoisonic VDR2000MKII for transferring vhs tapes to cd. I tried doing the conversion on my pc but ran into all kinds of problems. First the video cards I tried would not work (ATI and Hauuppege(?). Then I realized I would need more disk space. Then I had problems with the programs only to find I needed a faster processor. When I did get it to work it took over 12 hours to make the conversions and they were not that good using the vcd format (mpeg1). Then I lucked out. I found a site on the web advertising the Amoisonic VDR 2000MKII. I took a chance on it (costs $600.00) and hooked it up to my vcr and it worked without any problem. The cd's were still not that good so I tried the SVCD format and they came out perfect. The only problem with the svcd format is that it will record only about 37 minutes of tape per cd but the quality is great. So far I have converted over 50 auto show tapes to svcd along with 25 home movies of my grandchildren. The best thing is that I can do it while I am working on my computer. They are completely seperate. Believe me, thats the way to go if you want to convert vhs to cd. Its a big investment to make $600.00) but it saved me the cost of upgrading to a faster computer with the right video cards and disk space plus it only takes 37 minutes per cd. ( I do use the pc (Pentium II/233 to make copies of the svcd's using Nero 5 to send to my other children. It makes copies in about 10 minutes). If you look into it, be sure to go with the MkII model. It is an upgrade to the original Amoisonic VDR2000.