For 'rich' read desperate.

John

I am getting desperate as well!!. I dont want to climb into the loft to find a DVD recorder which was placed there because we got Sky HD which includes Sky plus. I really want some way of doing the backup of Cassette films to DVD through my computers' Optiarc Drive.

OK, just blew the dust off my old PC and removed the card that I put in specifically for this purpose.
It is WinTV as I thought. Software is by Hauppauge. see here Hauppague.co.uk
As with all things it has moved on since I first looked and you can get USB versions now as well. I suggest having a 'mooch' around the internet or PC World then buying it online if you are not in a hurry like I was. There will be several types, manufacturers etc, its down to how you want to do it really.
I will say that quality is not going to be as good as from a dvd especially when the tape has been used a lot but when you need to copy a one and only then I just put up with it. I guess there is software that will 'spruce it up a bit' once it is in digital format but I have not felt the need to seek it out.
Good luck with your project let us know how you get on.
Now do I put the card back in the old PC or in the new one

John

Card is back in old PC now.
Just realised that I did an intermediate step. Copied tape to another tape recorder using the lead THEN played tape through PAL output into pc.

John

i use avsmedia tech from the uk ! you can buy it from the net ,it comes in package or i belive single parts but the package is a great deal! i use it all the time to capture from vcr of satillite for personal use! i like old westerns and old movies as well as new or at least some? but with this you capture and convert to dvd or media file or dvx or what ever ,it good and better and less hassle than nero or others!

Thanks JayCee and Chat51, I will search the net and mooch around PC World but I wont purchase from the latter as it would risk incurring the wrath of Simple. Thanks again guys I will let you know how things go, particularly quality wise.

Just got next weeks Radio Times magazine and there is an offer in it for a lead. It says try for 14 days and you can return it if not satisfied. I was surprised to see it say it copies movies from any analogue source direct to USB2. Anyway did a Google and this is it, note that it does not mention movies though in this ad. Still same price through RT and you can still return it if not satisfied.
| EasyCap USB Video Capture Adapter | Technology and Gadgets

John

Looks very interesting John,

I am sure an email to them asking the question about movies they will reply and let us know before you buy it ?

KT

Hi JayCee
That is great, it is just the thing that I have been looking for. The blurb actually says it can be plugged into a video recorder then the computer. Thanks a lot.

KT,
It says in the Radio Times ' movies and videos made from a variety of sources - as long as they have analogue outputs'
I was surprised to see this but with a 14 day money back refund, if I was getting one it would be from RT and not the web site. You could read this either way i.e. movies, and videos made from a variety of sources , or with no comma it could mean that only movies made by a source with an analogue output can be copied.
Not sure if running AnyDVD would have any effect or if you could even select the usb as a source.

John