Making an expensive coaster.....

This afternoon, I had some free time, and had the idea of starting to convert my video tapes to DVDs, including some commercially-produced ones. I'm only doing that if they're out of print and aren't released on DVD.

The first tape on my list is my copy of The Mind's Eye. Originally released in 1990, this compilation of early computer graphics imagery was never released on DVD, but it was issued on laserdisc.

I first used the Honestech VHS to DVD 3.0 dongle and software, but there appeared to be a few glitches during playback. So I tried the VCR/DVD recorder unit, which can do one-button dubbing onto a DVD-R or DVD+R disk. I had a great transfer, and was able to set the chapter points easily. But I ran into trouble when I tried to add titles for the chapters. I wanted to delete the working title and replace it with "The Mind's Eye", but the "title delete" function does something completely different. Big mistake. Big! Huge! I ended up deleting all my work, rendering the DVD unreadable and unplayable.

Now would be a good time to get one of those shredders that shred optical disks, like CD-Rs and DVD-Rs and DVD+Rs.

I then found the manual for the VCR/DVD recorder online. I printed the pages that deal with DVD editing. So, after RTFM'ing, I plan to try again tomorrow.

Next up is Devovision: The Men Who Make The Music and a tape my dad made of old Christmas and family get-together films from 1956-1973.

Adventures in video editing.....

I got up early this morning and restarted the transfer of The Mind's Eye to DVD. This time I didn't delete any titles. I spent about a half hour putting in the chapter breaks and disc title. When I finalized the disc. ejected it, and played it on another DVD player, I noticed my chapter breaks weren't there. Instead, it used the default breaks, spaced 10 minutes apart.

Later, I did the same with Devo: The Men Who Make The Music. This time, both the disc title and chapter breaks didn't stick.

I also scanned the cardboard covers of the tapes and printed them out on specially perforated DVD cover stock.

I'm not completely satisfied with the results, but I'm satisfied enough to be able to watch these shows on DVD. After all, it's a personal project for private use. I have no desire or intention to make further copies. Unfortunately, that may not be good enough for the FBI, who are always on the lookout for video piracy.