Transferring VHS to DVD

VHS tapes aren't the best choice for archiving your memories. They're easily broken, wear out, deliver fuzzy picture quality and can melt in heat. Worse, they're bulky, so they require considerable storage space. Besides having a more reliable medium for your memories, there are creative perks to transferring from VHS to DVD. You can:

• Edit for content (cut unnecessary footage, condense or insert scenes).
• Determine where scenes begin and end, allowing you to jump to scenes on playback.
• Add opening and closing credits.
• Add narration, music, and other audio effects.
• Add titles or messages to preface scenes.
• Add other screen text to indicate the event, date, location, names, relation, etc.
  

• Your Desktop PC or PC
• VCR or analog camcorder (a different procedure is required for digital video formats)
• Composite video/audio cable
• Blank DVD media (recommended:LightScribe

There are four easy steps to completing the VHS-to-DVD process and polishing your footage. Once the VCR is plugged into your HP Digital Entertainment Center or HP Media Center Photosmart PC, you're ready to get started.

Step 1: Capture

1.  Hook up your VCR or analog camcorder into the front of the HP Digital Entertainment Center and turn both machines on.

Note: Please review the hardware manual that comes with the equipment for complete connection instructions.
 
2.  Launch the Intervideo Win/DVD Creator software using one of the following methods:

If the Media Center application is running:  

a. Click the small X in the upper right corner to close the application, or press CTRL + Esc keys on the wireless keyboard. 
b. Click the Start icon to open the Start panel.

If the Microsoft Windows desktop is visible: 

 a. Click the Start icon to open the Start panel.

Once the Start panel is visible, click the Intervideo Win/DVD Creator application icon.

Note: If the icon is not visible, click All Programs Intervideo Win/DVD. Click Intervideo Win/DVD Creator from the list of available programs. Click the Intervideo>Win/DVD Creator application icon.

3. Click the Start New Project icon.

4. Click the Capture tab.

5. Click on the desired video capture device.

6. Click on the wrench icon to define the video capture settings.

7. Click the Record Preferences tab and select how you want the video captured.

8. Click the Device Control tab to define which video inputs to use. Note: VCRs and analog camcorders must be plugged into the front input panel on the HP Digital Entertainment Center.

9. Set Video Source to Composite Video 2.

Note: The front input panel on the HP Digital Entertainment Center is Composite Video 2. The front input panel on the HP Media Center Photosmart PC is Composite Video.

Note: The front input panel on the HP Digital Entertainment Center is Composite Video 2. The front input panel on the HP Media Center Photosmart PC is Composite Video.

10. Click the Video Qualities tab to adjust settings if necessary.

11. Click OK.

12. Insert the VHS tape and position the tape at the beginning of the section you want to transfer. Don't worry about finding the precise spot; you can remove unwanted frames later. Make sure you can see video in the Preview window.

13. Click the Record button to start capturing your analog video and converting it to a digital format.

14. Click Stop to end the video capture process.

15. Click Project. Save Project on the menu bar. Give your video project a name. Note: You can continue capturing video clips. Each clip in your project file will be included in your DVD as a separate chapter on the final disc.

16. Click the Edit tab to begin organizing your final video.

Step 2: Edit

1. Add your video clips to the DVD by dragging them from the video library bin to the Storyboard or Timeline area located in the bottom half of the screen. Add them in any order. You can add, delete, or rearrange clips later.

2. To adjust the duration of a clip, click the Timeline button and use the audio and frame controls to adjust the clip.

3. You can add credits to the beginning or end of the clip or add text (like names and dates) to scenes.

Click the Text icon and select the desired text effects.

4. Drag the text clip onto your storyboard. Once included in your storyboard, a text panel displays so that you can type your text, adjust the font and add color.

5. Click the X in the upper right corner of the Edit Text panel to return to the main video library display. Note: You can add music, still images, transitions between scenes and special effects in a similar fashion.

6. Click Project. Save. Save your project often as you add effects and transitions. 7. Click the Video Library icon, and then click the Play button on the Preview panel to preview your movie.

Note: At any time you can click the Preview button to see what your video will look like.

8. Click the Add Menu tab to add a menu to your DVD.

Step 3: Add

Menu Once your clips are organized the way you want, you can add menus to your DVD. Compiling your DVD with chapters and a main menu and a chapter menu allows you to access each clip as a separate scene once the DVD is created. Using the Intervideo Win/DVD Creator software you can add a main menu and a chapter menu to your DVD.

1. Choose a theme for your menu. View the thumbnails and double-click on any one to preview the menu. Note: If you want to create your own custom DVD menu, you may add video clips, music, still images and custom buttons made from still images. Simply click the icons and add the elements to your DVD menu.

2. Click the Menu Button icon to preview the main menu button designs.

3. Double-click on a Menu button to add it to your storyboard and your final video. Note: You can reposition the menu buttons, too. Click on a Menu button in the Preview panel and drag it to position the button where you want.

4. Add chapter menu buttons to your DVD. Click the Chapter Menu icon.

View the thumbnails and double-click on any one to add it to your storyboard and your final video.

 5. You can add captions to the chapter buttons. Click the Chapter Clip on the Storyboard to view the chapter layout in the Preview panel.

6. Double-click on any Chapter Button on the Preview panel. This opens a caption-editing panel where you can type your own chapter names.

7. Save your project often. When you are ready to burn a DVD, click the Make Movie tab. Note: You can continue capturing video clips. Each clip in your project file will be included in your DVD as a separate chapter on the final disc.

4. Select the DVD device if necessary.

5. Click the Forward arrow icon.

6. Set the recording format.

7. Type the name of the DVD.

8. Click the Start button.

The finished DVD will eject automatically when the recording is complete.

Step 5: Burn a Label (optional if you have LightScribe media)

 Your HP Digital Entertainment Center includes revolutionary LightScribe technology that lets you burn a disc label directly onto your DVD. You must use LightScribe DVD media to make your DVD in order to use this feature. If you used LightScribe media to make your disc, use the following instructions to burn a label directly onto the DVD.

1. When prompted, click Yes to create a label.

2. The Intervideo Disk Label application automatically adds your project name and chapter names to the label template. Double-click on any text to edit it.

3. Click the LightScribe icon from the Label Task list located on the left side of the screen.

4. Set the LightScribe Print properties. Click OK.

5. Open the DVD drive and flip the disc over so that the LightScribe surface is facing down. Close the drive.

Now that you understand how the process works, soon you'll be creating DVD compilations for yourself or others—they're unique, personal gifts—with the footage you've transferred.

Looking for a little inspiration to get you going? Here are a few ideas:

1. Highlights of weddings, birthdays, graduations, or vacations.
2. A retrospective of a child growing up, good times with a friend, holiday traditions, or milestones.
3. A documentary of an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or beloved pet.
4. Video greetings to distant friends and relatives.
5. A tribute to a departed relative.
6. “My funny family”: A collection of silly scenes and outtakes.
7. “A day in the life” video to send to a faraway loved one.