Video editing w/out computer

There is two basic types of editting - linear and non-linear. With linear editting, the audio and video tracks are in synch. The editting just starts and stops. If you were to 'dub' your VHS tapes onto a DVD recorder, you would be doing linear editting. The easiest way to do this is to get a combo unit - VHS player and DVD recorder. Low end units start at about $200. If you just get a DVD recorder with a firewire input, they start at about $100 - just use an existing VCR for the input. Here is a link to a LG (Lucky-Goldstar from Korea) DVD Recorder/VHS player unit with firewire:

www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7099775&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat13900050019&id=1109233550883

(Cut and paste the entire link into your browser - eliminate the space before the 83 at the end. This message board won't accept the entire length of the link. And I don't know much about this particular unit, I'm just showing an example)

You will be very limited in this type of editting, but it can be done. I don't think you'd be able to make much of a highlight tape, but certainly it is one way to get cutups. If you go for one of these units, make sure that it has a firewire input so that you can transfer your digital tapes directly to DVD. You definitely do not want to use a S-Video or RCA (composite) input for digital tapes (since you will be doing an analog-to-digital conversion and will lose quality). The VHS to DVD recorders generally do not include a hard drive, but some do have them.

With non-linear editting, you can have complete control over the audio and video tracks. Most cutup packages like DSV or LRS are made for cutups, not true highlight tapes. The best packages use high-end software like Adobe Premiere, but there are less expensive (and more expensive) options. You will need a very capable computer to use one of these software solutions. The best ones will have a hardware-based capture card capable of converting the incoming analog video stream to an mpeg-2 based file. Even better is to transfer digital files directly from a digital camcorder using a firewire input.

There are multiple types of DVD media - DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, etc. Don't worry about any of that since the finalized disk will be able to play on just about any DVD player.

It really depends on your expectations. Seamless transition from clip to clip with tight control is not going to happen on a DVD recorder. You really need a NLE system for that (non-linear editting).

If you want to see a couple of samples of what a NLE system can do:
(7MB - Windows Media file)

(17MB - higher bandwidth version of the same highlights)


(5MB - uses a body mic on one of our players - humorous)

(11MB - higher bandwidth version of the same file)


These are very high bandwidth files that I made for loading onto a DVD, so they may play a little choppy over the net.