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- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 7 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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4.0 stars
"Very good machine"
Pros: Picture quality and MPEG conversion
Cons: Uses tapes
Summary: It isn't true that one cannot connect the unit to a computer. There are at least two ways to do so with free programs (DVHS tool and CAPDVHS). One can record from the units' video inputs into 3 different MPEG resolutions via ILINK to the computer (although I have not been able to record directly from an ILINK input, i.e. DV, to the computer - need to record to DVHS tape first). VHS and SVHS tapes played on this unit will NOT output to the ILINK port (there is obviously no realtime analog to digital conversion when playing analog tapes). The ILINK output is compatible with VLC.
Unit is now obsolete, but I found one for around $100. Will play S-VHS, VHS and D-VHS with incredible quality. I wanted to use it to convert my personal VHS and S-VHS recordings to MPEG, but only DVHS tapes will output to ILINK. However, using another VCR connected to the SVideo and audio inputs allows for real-time MPEG encoding. One can also archive DV input to DVHS tapes.
All in all, a good idea for its time - unfortunately, the format did not survive. High bitrate DVHS quality is higher than DVD.
