Page 1 of DVD Recorder Query

Ok, a very basic query. My system is made up of a Bose Lifestyle Series 2 (multi Region), a JVC S-VHS VCR, a Matsui digibox and an old (soon to be replaced `maybe`) 25" Sony. I also have an ancient but still working Grundig V-2000 VCR which I hook up occasionally just to watch old tapes . I`m thinking about getting a DVD recorder so I can archive my tapes (both standard, S-VHS and V2000) and copy DVD`s, both PAL and NTSC, using the Bose as a source. I`m looking for a recorder that will copy anything that`s fed to it without any `copy protection` lockouts. Ideally I would like to be able to enhance definition on some of the older tapes. Is there such a machine out there, or should I be thinking about a PC based system (I understand that there are some programs available on the Internet that can clean up video images from old tapes).

Any thoughts guys?

Jim.

Some DVD recorders claim to have `macrovision busting` capabilities- I`m pretty sure the Lite On`s can have their firmware updated to make them `macrovision free`, though if you have a DVD drive on your PC, you would be better using that. Run them through DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink and they will copy onto your hard drive as region free, macro free-then you just need to burn them back to disc (WARNING-most commercial DVD`s are pressed onto dual layer discs, so will be too big to fit onto a single layer recordable DVD).

For digitising DVD, you are far better with a standalone DVD recorder than capturing to your TV. You can then transfer the recorded footage to your PC if you want to do any `cleaning up` . Womble MPEG Video Wizard has some nice tools for doing that kind of thing

I would recommend the JVC DR-M10. This has a digital timebase corrector (missing from cheaper models). I use this for copying VHS/SVHS/Beta/Hi8/V2000 to DVD. I`ve not tried any VHS Macrovision encoded tapes however since I don`t have any (never really used VHS myself). I also use a PC system, but this is harder work for certain. If you do go down this road, be sure to get a video capture card with Hardware MPEG Encoder. Many use software and tend to drop frames. Consider the Hauppauge PVR250 for example. You will need Windows XP, don`t even consider any other operating system.