Converting VHS to digital video and DVD

I have recently purchased a thing called KWorld DVD Maker. What I want it to do is connect my computer to a VCR so I can copy video to the computer and turn video cassettes into DVDs, and do some editing and tidying up along the way. It came bundled with a couple of applications from Cyberlink (PowerDirector 5 and PowerProducer 4). The piece of hardware has on one side RCA inputs for audio and video from VCR, and another sort of plug for connecting to a video camera. On the other side it has a lead and jack for audio in and a USB for, I presume, the video input to the computer. Should be just the ticket, but ...
The instructions were minimal and contained no help beyond installation, and the so called manual was nothing but installation instructions in pdf. The manual obtained from the KWorld site is pretty much the same pdf, and says the product comes bundled with PVR software and has 2 extra pages showing the PVR interface, but the CyberLink apps have no such interface, and I am unable to capture the video, and what is more the Cyberlink apps both crash as soon as they are started. Also there is no interface for the KWorld beyond an icon in the notification area called BDA TV Monitor. Don't know what that is supposed to do, if I mouse over it I am offered the option of "Exit." That is it!
I am not overly bothered by the CyberLink stuff crashing, there appear to be other apps around that do as good or better job of DVD authoring (and the whole thing is going back for a refund any old how) but I am more than a little deflated at not being able to import video to try these apps out on.
So in a nutshell (this is a rather large nut) I have two problems to overcome. Firstly I would appreciate knowing what other people have used successfully to connect a VCR to the computer (has anyone else used the KWorld DVD Maker?).
Secondly some opinions about authoring applications would be helpful. Wikipedia has a list of some free apps, but the entry is only a stub. DVD Lab Pro also looks good. In the true spirit of wanting my cake and eating it I want an app that is user friendly for a neophyte like me, but will allow me to do more as I gain experience.

Hi,
You don't tell us what other kit you have such as a digital camcorder, or what other software, such as video editing, and what other skills you have (if any) in these areas.
So assuming none of the above I would suggest something like the following which uses Ulead Video Studio, an excellent and easy to use set of software which will allow you to create quite professional-looking output.
Welcome to Video-2-PC.co.uk

You could also try this from Roxio, another good name in this sort of area:
Roxio Easy VHS to DVD

Now if you already have a camcorder, some editing/authoring software, and your PC has a firewire card/skt, then you don't need to buy anything as you can do it all with the above.
First you can either copy the old VHS stuff to your camcorder (doing some rough editing as you go), or most cams have an "analogue pass thru" which means you connect your VHS recorder to the analogue inputs on your cam then capture from your cam via firewire and it all appears magically on your PC converted to digital video. Then you edit it to your requirements and author a DVD.
HTH,
Regards.

Hi Ford Prefect,
I was trying to keep my post as brief as possible, but I did describe myself as a neophyte.
I don't have a video camera, and am not likely to be acquiring one in the short term.
I have some treasured stuff on VHS and want to convert to DVD, so the Video 2 PC link is exactly what I am looking for, and what the KWorld thing was supposed to do.
The source of the KWorld has a refund policy which indicates I may only receive store credit, so that is an argument I will be having tomorrow morning. If a store credit is all they will give me, and this may be subject to their stated, "if it works on our system, tough" policy. They also list this thing Leadtek - We make dreams a reality which would do the job, and provide a few other benefits.
I have sent them (Video 2 PC) a query via their eBay shop to find out what postage to Australia will cost, and also asking the name of the "Open-source Conversion tool. We provide a download link to this powerful tool." The are a little coy in not naming this, can you answer this question?
Thanks for the rely and links, I will check out the Roxio link also.
Another question is this. I have come across references to Windows Movie Maker which suggest it is part of Windows XP. It is not part of my copy, and when I tried to get it from Microsoft I got a package welcoming me to Windows Live and including a number of things but not movie maker. Is this one of those components they were only allowed to sell in some markets?

Well this is a little embarrassing.
I found Windows Movie Maker on my computer after all, just looking in the wrong place. Using Movie Maker I have managed to capture video, which it saved as wmv. The CyberLink software that I have continues to crash and I am seeking help on how to delete it.
I have a trial of DVD Lab Pro which cannot see any video in the folder.
Movie maker offers other choices of format, what are the clever people using (please don't say NOT Movie Maker), and what is the best for converting from wmv/avi to mpeg 2 which appears to be the format I need to burn the finished product to DVD.

An additional question.
I converted all my vinyl and audio cassettes to digital files, and at that time a number of sources advised against doing anything else on the computer while recording. Does the same advice hold true for converting my analogue VHS to digital files? That is leaving the computer alone during video capture?

Hi,
OK, glad you found WMMaker.
In order to create DVDs using a DVD authoring program you will need to input avi files or mpeg2 files for best results. Some will convert wmv files but you should avoid too many conversions between lossy formats such as wmv and mpeg.
My advice would be to capture into WMMaker but set your output file format to AVI as this will give best results in your DVD program.
OK, how to output avi.
Once you have loaded your video into WMM and have on the timeline, go to "File", "save movie file".
Select My Computer, then "next"
Choose name and location, hit next,
Select "other settings" or click "show more choices"
Click "other settings" then in the scroll down window, select DV-AVI(PAL).
Be aware that avi files take up a lot of space so make sure you choose a location that will hold all the files.
You need to allow 1GB for every five mins of avi. That means for every 60 mins you need 12 GB of disc space.
On your last question regarding your PC and processing, it depends on your PC processing power.
If you have a modern dual/quad core PC with loads of RAM and big drives, it won't matter much.
The smaller your processor and RAM the longer it will take to process if you run other apps at the same time.
Also, unless you have a powerful PC it's best not to do anything else when you are actually writing the DVDs.
HTH.
Regards.

Hi Ford Prefect.
HTH? I'll say.
Particularly pleased with you pointing out how to save as avi. I was not terribly thrilled at saving as a wmv as this format does not appear easy to convert to mpeg2, and too many conversions is not good.
I have learned the ropes fairly well when it comes to dealing with audio files so I know it is not a good idea to transcode from one lossy format to another.
Your help is greatly appreciated, and the thread will no doubt help others in time.
Thanks

Well I have done some more searching, and found a couple of guides to converting VHS to DVD. Both use several apps, and one has mostly stuff you have to pay for, the other has freeware apps, except for one.
I have also got myself a better capture device, which will capture video and save as mpeg2. Mpeg2 appears to be the code stuff needs to be in before burning to DVD, so do I need to worry about capturing in avi and then encoding? Being able to capture as mpeg2 looks like it will save quite a bit of time (I have seen one guide state that 1 hour of video will take 10 hours to encode, I would prefer to avoid this for obvious reasons). Will the other apps work on files in mpeg2?
Put another way I have learned a little, and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

More help needed on this subject.
I have tried two ways of capturing video and had mixed results.
Method One using Windows Movie Maker I have been able to capture video, though not preview it, and I can hear sound but the it is not being saved, even though I specify a sound device at the beginning.
The other method involves following a guide from Doom9 using Virtual VCR. This won't save sound or video.
The capture card I have is obviously working, but I am having trouble seting up the apps to actually save the video and sound.
For my purposes, I mainly want to top and tail stuff I have on VHS, getting Windows Movie Maker to work properly would be the easiest, so suggestions as to how to get it to save sound would be just what the Dr ordered. I will worry about being Francis Ford Coppola another day.
Help appreciated!

Hi Russell,
I don't think you have a Windows Movie Maker problem, it's so basic.
It nust be something else.
Try using the "Capture Wizard", it should come up as soon as you load WMM if you have already connected your video recorder.
I've just done a quick test and I chose DV-avi and location desktop.
It worked perfectly, previewed the capture ok, then opened WMM with the clip in the storyboard.
I put it on the timeline and it plays both sound and video.
So what are you choosing for your capture settings?
Regards.