Where to convert videocam cassette to VCDs?

[boroangel]

hi everyone...my frd has a Panasonic VX1 videocam and there a small cassette used for recording and now she wants to convert the video inside this cassette to a VCD. I reckon the end format could be AVI or whatever and then just burn it as a VCD so that a .DAT format is created.

The problem is how to convert it from the cassette? I suppose need some special equipment? Any knows any shops that provide such servies at a reasonable price?

Thanks

 

[CY_OH]

hi everyone...my frd has a Panasonic VX1 videocam and there a small cassette used for recording and now she wants to convert the video inside this cassette to a VCD. I reckon the end format could be AVI or whatever and then just burn it as a VCD so that a .DAT format is created.

The problem is how to convert it from the cassette? I suppose need some special equipment? Any knows any shops that provide such servies at a reasonable price?

Thanks

Not familiar with shops that does this service. Prices should be around $15-20 per hour of source footage.

What format does the VX1 videocam use? It should be stated somewhere on the camera itself, eg. Hi8, Video8, VHS-C, mini DV etc. If it is mini DV, you can do it at home. You will need a computer with firewire card, firewire cable and software for capturing. File format will be AVI and the CD burning software should be able to convert it while burning VCD.

If the video is analogue, a mini DV camera can be connected to the VX1 or a television set playing the footage, then transfering from mini DV to computer by firewire.

 

[trucatus]

If miniDV I do it for you at S$8 per CD.

 

[boroangel]

So I suppose either way we have to get a mini DV camera to do it?

 

[Jia Wang]

There's a shop in Sim Lim Sq that does that.

I can't remember the unit of the shop though, but I know it's beside #02-22, cos that's where I get memory cards for my Apple Mac...

It's at the backlane of the 2nd level, so u'll have to walk behind the 'main' corridors to find it... U can tell quite easily from the shop front cos' quite messy with lots of video equipment n TV n there's some boards with the kinds of services provided written outside...

They convert videos into VCDs for a charge of $25 per hour of footage...

Hope this helps...

 

[CY_OH]

So I suppose either way we have to get a mini DV camera to do it?

Not necessary to have mini DV cameras to do conversion. There are internal and external devices that have firewire/analogue inputs and USB/firewire output to computer. Plug your camera to the device and start capture using software.

Snazzi DV Bridge II, a slim external box, selling for $300+ at SLS can do this. Other device that are internal or do digital/analogue only costs $200+ or less. See http://www.snazzi.com/ under Products, Consumer and Prosumer.

 

[huaiwei]

hi everyone...my frd has a Panasonic VX1 videocam and there a small cassette used for recording and now she wants to convert the video inside this cassette to a VCD. I reckon the end format could be AVI or whatever and then just burn it as a VCD so that a .DAT format is created.

The problem is how to convert it from the cassette? I suppose need some special equipment? Any knows any shops that provide such servies at a reasonable price?

Thanks

Ermm....she dosent have the videocam any more?

 

[boroangel]

Ermm....she dosent have the videocam any more?

I suppose she still has it...what about it?

 

[huaiwei]

I suppose she still has it...what about it?

If still have the videocam, transfering the data will be much easier liao. All you really need is a video capture card, as people above mentioned. The wire and software usually comes with it anyway although you can get your own (and good ol' gates helps you along too if you dont have any video editing software!). You can get one for below $200...or even cheaper for spatan ones.

Much cheaper than that charge in stores, and its just a one-of capital investment.

 

[jac]

hi everyone...my frd has a Panasonic VX1 videocam and there a small cassette used for recording and now she wants to convert the video inside this cassette to a VCD. I reckon the end format could be AVI or whatever and then just burn it as a VCD so that a .DAT format is created.

The problem is how to convert it from the cassette? I suppose need some special equipment? Any knows any shops that provide such servies at a reasonable price?

Thanks

from the last time i saw, it's about $20 per hour of footage.

how much of footage do you have? i can do it for you.. at a cheaper rate.

 

[poh6702]

This is my proposal:

If you only have one or two tapes:
==========================
Go to Sim Lim Square and you will find a shop who do the conversion.

If you have more than 10-20 tapes:
===========================
Buy a DVD video recorder(DVR) for about $400, Buy some DVD-R disc. Connect both video and Audio out into the DVR and start the conversion yourself. This is very simple process, (if you have use Video cassette recorder before) but must remember to "Finalised" the disc so that it is DVD compatible (can be played in most DVD player). After you have done all the conversions, sell the DVR in Yahoo auction for $280. Your cost is only $120 plus the cost of DVD-R. One DVD-R disc can be used to record 2 hours DVD video and it is much superior quality than VCD.

Using DVR to convert video to DVD is alot more simple as compare to using computer capture card => You need to first capture, convert and then write to VCD/DVD, this takes at least double to time to do conversion, whereas using DVR, it is conversion and writting on the fly similar to the VCR days.

This is what I have done to convert all my 30 tapes into DVD at very low cost. I did one tape conversion per night, and after finished all the conversion I sold the DVR at $150 discount.

 

[seankyh]

There's a shop in Sim Lim Sq that does that.

I can't remember the unit of the shop though, but I know it's beside #02-22, cos that's where I get memory cards for my Apple Mac...

It's at the backlane of the 2nd level, so u'll have to walk behind the 'main' corridors to find it... U can tell quite easily from the shop front cos' quite messy with lots of video equipment n TV n there's some boards with the kinds of services provided written outside...

They convert videos into VCDs for a charge of $25 per hour of footage...

Hope this helps...

Just to add to this - its on the way to the overhead bridge linking towards Albert Complex (OG)

 

[huaiwei]

This is my proposal:

If you only have one or two tapes:
==========================
Go to Sim Lim Square and you will find a shop who do the conversion.

If you have more than 10-20 tapes:
===========================
Buy a DVD video recorder(DVR) for about $400, Buy some DVD-R disc. Connect both video and Audio out into the DVR and start the conversion yourself. This is very simple process, (if you have use Video cassette recorder before) but must remember to "Finalised" the disc so that it is DVD compatible (can be played in most DVD player). After you have done all the conversions, sell the DVR in Yahoo auction for $280. Your cost is only $120 plus the cost of DVD-R. One DVD-R disc can be used to record 2 hours DVD video and it is much superior quality than VCD.

Using DVR to convert video to DVD is alot more simple as compare to using computer capture card => You need to first capture, convert and then write to VCD/DVD, this takes at least double to time to do conversion, whereas using DVR, it is conversion and writting on the fly similar to the VCR days.

This is what I have done to convert all my 30 tapes into DVD at very low cost. I did one tape conversion per night, and after finished all the conversion I sold the DVR at $150 discount.

Plausible also, but provided the user

1. Dosent want to do serious editing.

2. Dont mind the less than perfect quality in the video transfer, as well as having no intentions of using the noise removing filters available in some video capturing software.

3. Only intend to play the thing on VCS players, and dont mind having lots of disks. For me, for example, I prefer to capture, encode to xvid, and then save as pc files. I get to squeeze alot more video per disk without much lost of quality, and get to do some video restoration work in the process!

 

[boroangel]

Just to add to this - its on the way to the overhead bridge linking towards Albert Complex (OG)

Ok thanks...have to check this out with her to see her decision. Its actually some wedding shoot but not sure if they intend to use the same cassette/videocam for future use..

 

[Lenscapes]

fotohub does that service too.. checkout their website..>>>
http://www.fotohub.com/v2/services.php?PHPSESSID=7e976fc5a79c0a0652eb285984361411