I was wondering what hook up will give me the best PQ or if it matters?
Still waiting for delivery of my Pio 460-H-K, but I was wondering if there is a best hook up.
Obviously, hook up to my VCR for dubbing tapes to to the HDD then buring to DVD is straight forward, no choices, just composite hook up.
However, I also want to record from my PC off stuff like HULU, YouTube and such.
The DVD recorder has the following inputs:
3 x S-vid
3 x Composite
1 x Front DV
2 x Front USB (A & B)
I have my PC connected to my TV via SVGA cable (and yes, I do get very good PQ, better than direct cable. I have no other video output on my PC). I would like to use the TV as the monitorwhen recording just like I use it now to watch. Is there a way to hook up for that?
If not, what would be the best way to go about recording stuff off HULU, etc.?
I hear S-Video is crap for PQ and Composite is not much better or am I wrong?
I wonder if it even matters for recording?

Composite is crap. S-Video is actually very good, and as good as it gets in fact on most DVD recorders. I've never heard of any way to connect a DVD recorder to a computer via DV or USB. Those only work with camcorders and thumb drives AFAIK. If you have an HDTV that takes HDMI or DVI, I'd invest at least $20 in a video card that outputs one of those and you'll get much better PQ than analog SVGA. For YouTube, just get something like Orbit that can save the FLV files and get an FLV player and converter. I don't know of any, but I'd try to find a similar program for Hulu. Last resort for me would be analog out (S-Video) to a DVD recorder. You're kind of doing the opposite of what most people try to do (low quality video from PC to standalone DVD recorder versus high quality video from TV tuner to standalone DVD recorder). Generally if it comes from the PC, I'd try to use some pure digital way to capture it and use the PC DVD burner for archiving. To go from your pc to a recorder, you'll have to get a video card with S-video out. Unfortunately, I've never seen one of those that doesn't suck. So your recordings will look awful no matter what.

Dubbing from the VCR, try both the S-video and RCA composite video inputs on the Pioneer to see which records better (assuming your VCR has S-video output, if not just use the composite). Its better to use the Line 1 or Line 3 inputs on the Pioneer back panel, they're reinforced by the metal cabinet and very secure. The Line 2 inputs under the front panel flap are more fragile plastic-secured, avoid using these for repeated plug-unplug (especially if the cable tips fit very tightly).

You probably won't be able to use your TV to monitor PC recording directly from the Pioneer unless you get an adaptor cable to convert the SVGA output of your PC into S-video or composite video that the Pioneer can accept thru its line inputs. If that is undesirable or you want to leave well enough alone with the SVGA feeding directly to your TV, you'll have to loop the SVGA thru the TVs s-video or composite outputs (if it has outputs) to the Pioneers inputs. Then the Pioneers line out would go to the TV line ins. With such a setup you usually can't monitor recordings "live" but you can play them back after-the-fact and edit them. It might be cheaper and easier to just get an additional video card for your PC with normal line outs to feed the Pioneer, this would allow live monitoring using the TV. I agree with mdavej that there really isn't any "great" way to get PC-sourced video onto a DVD recorder. Its much easier and better to download the files to the PC and save them to data-formatted DVDs for direct use on the PC. When you want a DVD you can give a friend to play on their TV, use free software like DVDflick to convert the downloaded video files into a playable "normal" dvd, or make DiVX dvds if your friends DVD player is capable of playing those.

Most recorders automatically sense what hardware is attached to their DV camera inputs, and limit themselves to cameras only. They usually will not respond to or accept a DV datastream from a PC, but sometimes they do- you could try that and see if it works. If it does, you might get marginally better quality than the line ins, but note DV input often results in unpredictable starting and stopping of recording and random chapter marks as the recorder tries to interpret what it assumes are control signals from a video camera. The USB connection on the recorder is largely useless for anything but digital cameras or memory sticks with JPEGS or MP3 music files. It cannot be used to download DiVX or AVI or any other video files directly from a computer, nor can they accept a "live" video feed.

Yeah, I know Composite is crap, I've had to live with it for years. (Unfortunately, it is the only thing going on my VCR).
My TV (Sammy LN40A530) is an HD that takes....well, everything, you name it, but my PC is a notebook and only has SVGA out and S-Video out (and the S-video out sucks) There is no way for me to get a video card with HDMI or DVI output for it as far as I know.
(Having compared the two, the PQ from my PC to TV via SVGA is far and away better than the tuner though).
I know about capturing stuff via software, heck I can even do that through Real Player although that is not my favorite way. The problem with doing it that way though is that I think I would only be able to play the DVD on the PC and not in my player?

Hi Citibear,
My VCR only has Composite unfortunately.

I can get a convertor cable for converting SVGA to S-video, but I'm concerned about the PQ for recording.
How would I do all that looping without re-wiring my TV which is a no-no?
Couldn't I just hook the DVD recorder to the TV directly through one of the video ouputs on the TV (provided it has any, I know it has audio outputs and I would also have to use one of those for the audio) and leave my PC hooked up the way it is and just record that way?
My DVD player will play Divx, but video editing on a PC requires a PHd in engineering and $3000 software.
I'm wondering if I just bought a DVD recorder or a large paperweight if nothing I do will work?

Uh oh, I was just looking at the specs for my TV and there is no Video Outputs!!!! This means I won't be able to record anything from the PC?
I'm wondering if there is a way to do it if I routed the DVD recorder through my receiver? If not, could I see what I am recording on the Notebook if I went direct via S-video? If I go that way would the PQ be equivalent to a VHS tape on 6 hour mode = unwatchable?

You've run up against the brick wall that separates "standard" DVD from computer/internet video sources. This wall is part of what killed the market for DVD recorders altogether. Once people get a taste of Hulu and DiVX they just hook the computer up to the TV and never bother with their DVD recorder again (why would you, when you can have hundreds of DiVX files at your fingertips on the PC hard drive, or random-access data streams?)

If I'm understanding you correctly, what you're really after is making permanent recordings of streaming sites that don't allow capture to the PC. Doing that requires a conversion step from digital to analog, so the DVD recorder can make use of the feed. Unfortunately that conversion step can impact the quality severely, and then you have the recorder doing a secondary analog-to-DVD conversion. The best you can hope for here is a "souvenir" recording: no matter what, its not going to be top notch. I do this sometimes when I miss an episode of a TV show I'm collecting: I'll connect my PC video out to my DVD recorder to capture the stream of the missed episode on the network website. The conversion isn't perfect, and you end up with some crap from your computer operating system framing the image, but its better than nothing. Until all these sites agree to allow TV streaming over analog (unlikely), we'll be stuck with these kludges.

DVD/HDD recorders are designed for one thing only really: make standard DVDs as easily as possible from traditional TV sources, camcorders and old VHS tapes. They are a VCR replacement, and a very good one, but they are niche products wholly separate from the PC and internet. For that matter, standalone recorders are not even considered as a factor by video websites. PC-sourced video is intended to stay bottled up in the PC. Unless you subscribe to one of the newfangled external Roku or NetFlix boxes, these sources do not want you making DVDs from their stuff. Sure, you can use software to fake out a traditional DVD from the streams or files, but they aren't about to make TV connections too easy.

Like many of us accidentally do, you backed a wrong horse. You picked up a somewhat limited notebook before you quite realized how involved you were going to get with video. Short of replacing the notebook, you'll have to try some workarounds. Does the notebook have a PCI slot? If so, try looking around for a video interface that can go thru that. Or perhaps a USB2 video interface. One way or another, the computer video has to be translated into standard analog video that a DVD recorder can work with. Your idea of using your AV receiver might also work, if it can accept the direct SVGA output from your notebook and convert it to one of its composite/S-video outputs. If you want to monitor the Pioneer as its recording from the notebook, the only way to do that is to put the Pioneer between the notebook and the TV: the feed must go thru the DVD recorder before the TV. If the s-video on your notebook is really terrible, try an s-video to composite adapter: it might smooth the rough edges on that output and make it usable. Or try the SVGA to S-video/composite adapters: since this would tap the SVGA output that you think is very clear, it ought to work fairly well.

You've run up against the brick wall that separates "standard" DVD from computer/internet video sources. This wall is part of what killed the market for DVD recorders altogether.

If I'm understanding you correctly, what you're really after is making permanent recordings of streaming sites that don't allow capture to the PC. .

Thanks Citibear. You have hit the nail on the perverbial head, that is exactly what I am trying to do. (I guess I'm just a niche type of guy). :D
I'm not expecting to make an HD recording, just trying to equal the quality I get from the notebook to the tv via svga if I can.
The notebook has one of those external card slots, not talking about "card reader" I mine the slot your talking about. I guess those are PCI slots. (I'm used to desktops which I build myself. My notebook is my first and it is quite nice and custom and a gaming rig - better than any big brand, but I could not afford the HDMI interface. The notebook is only 7 months old).

I'll try looking around for that PCI interface , I did not know there might be one. (I'll try NewEgg. Any place else you suggest looking?) USB to video? I'll look for that as well.

I have not tried the S-video from my notebook to my LCD flat screen TV yet, so I'll give that a try too. (I tried it from the note book to my old CRT TV and you can guess the result...yeech!).

I may have all the adaptors, but if not, Monoprice is my friend. (I get all my cables from them).

Once people get a taste of Hulu and DiVX they just hook the computer up to the TV and never bother with their DVD recorder again...If you're a Hulu user, expect to pay fees eventually if you want to keep using it. They're not planning on leaving it free forever. :(

If you're a Hulu user, expect to pay fees eventually if you want to keep using it. They're not planning on leaving it free forever. :(

I wondered when that was going to happen. Everyone went on about how great Hulu was and I was thinking, "It can't last forever on just ads."

Yeah, I think there's a currently ongoing thread in the Programming forum about it, but I had actually originally heard rumblings about it awhile back. I guess they just say "eventually" - they currently aren't developing the plans right now. I guess it's on "the back burner".

If you're a Hulu user, expect to pay fees eventually if you want to keep using it. They're not planning on leaving it free forever. :(

True that. If you're of a "certain age:rolleyes:", like I am, you may recall we have trod this path many times before: in the end, the emperor never does have any clothes on. No matter what the technology, no matter what bullsh*t they dress it up in, no matter what deranged utopian "world at my fingertips for free forever" fantasy each generation has, it all ends the same way: play for pay, or the concept just dies. All roads lead to Rome, or in this case a subscription service or pay per view. After all my years in the video retail and computer businesses, I'm absolutely exhausted by how dense consumers are. Twenty+ years ago (yes, 20+!) there were a number of advanced prototype cable TV services in testing phases that were pretty damned close to the utility of what we have now with Hulu and the NetFlix boxes and TiVO. After a couple years experimentation, the cablecos wrote all those systems off as a multimillion dollar pipe dream: consumers loved the concept, but only if it was free, or at no additional cost to basic bare-bones boxless cable.

Imagine what we might have had access to all this time had people been realistic and willing to pay for it. Imagine what advanced service tiers these monopolies have rotting on the back burner because no one wants to pay for them. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating for these companies: they rob us blind (they have the gall to require the use of a decoder box, and then make you rent it???? among a hundred other usurious practices). What I'm saying is, content has always been a business, and the "Star Trek:TNG no-fee holodeck" is a fantasy that will never come true. When something seems "free", especially on the internet, its either thinly-veiled piracy like NapSter was (lets not lie to ourselves) that will eventually be closed down legally, or its bait to get us hooked on a new delivery method so we'll agree to pay for it later on. We don't pay, they pull the plug.

And people question my sanity because I've recorded thousands of VHS and DVDs over the years. Harumph: when we're all in the nursing home together, guess whose room you'll be visiting for the free entertainment?:p Me and DigaDo, thats who: crazy like a foxes!;):D

If you're a Hulu user, expect to pay fees eventually if you want to keep using it. They're not planning on leaving it free forever. :(

Not worried. It seems a long way off for the moment, but when they do go there it will depend on the price. I would not mind paying a very small amount the equivalent of say $1 per month as long as they keep it the way it is with hardly any commercials. That's why I disconnected from the grid of Cable and all that stuff. I'm not willing to pay $70 per month for 16 hours of commercials per day and 10 minutes of program and besides there is nothing to watch 99% of the time. (That's why my 40 inch LCD is strictly for DVDs, PC and other sources - no cable and crap like that).
If it turns out to be something like $10 per month then I simply click off and either find an alternative or buy the damn DVD which would still save money in the long run.

...I guess it's on "the back burner" - kind of like Obama and immigration reform. ;)
I'm not following. Is there a political solution to the OP's issue? I thought this was a DVD Recorder forum. As long as we're on a reform kick, maybe we should get Obama to enforce the copyright laws (http://www.hulu.com/terms) the OP is attempting to break.

It wasn't meant as a "political" statement. Just to be taken at face value - meaning "they'll get around to it when they get around to it". Sorry if anyone took offense to the quip - but I expunged it, so you should be happy now.

As far as "breaking copyright laws" and pirating, unfortunately, you're going to see more of that once they start charging for things that they once offered free (and I'm not condoning it, before anyone gets uptight over that statement, too).

I'm not following. Is there a political solution to the OP's issue? I thought this was a DVD Recorder forum. As long as we're on a reform kick, maybe we should get Obama to enforce the copyright laws (http://www.hulu.com/terms) the OP is attempting to break.

First of all I don't think politics is helpful so I ignore. (for the record I'm not right-wing, left-wing or center. I'm also not a big fan of Obama, but he has nothing to do with my AV adventures).

Second, because of your comment I am forced to make it perfectly clear that you can go on thinking your the gustapo or something, but I am not attempting to break copyright laws. I am in no way trying to circumvent copyright protection because there is really no good reason to do so 99% of the time. I do not have the wear-with-all to do so anyway. I'm only trying to convert what I already have recorded myself from VHS to DVD and do some "keepsake" recording of old TV shows from the internet if I can, not entire seasons and box-sets. (For the record I by music CDs directly from the artists whenever I can because I support their work and would rather see the artist get $10 then the RIAA and CEOs get $9.99 and the artist get only 1 cent. That goes for local talent as well as big names. I did not like that whole Napster stuff and did not do it because I also found in research that most times what was posted on those sites was either corrupt, infected or not what the title said, so it was not worth it)!
This is a very old strawman argument that started when cassette recorders were introduced. There was huge fights about recording radio shows and people did it and still do all the time and now it's a big nothing. If I were to follow your faulty black and white logic we would all have to get rid of our cassette decks, VCRs, CD burners, DVD burners and computers because all those things give ability to copy or record. Your logic also states that converting home recorded VHS tapes, NOT prerocorded VHS tapes is illegal. (Why would someone want to copy a pre-bought VHS tape? It's almost cheaper and even better to just buy the DVD version on those. Under your assumed logic we would also have to get rid of FM attennas because we don't pay a fee for tuning into FM radio over the air, Over the air HDTV antennas would also be illegal for the same reason.
Taken to it's end conclusion we would also have to get rid of our surround sound systems because only movie theaters that charge extreme $ to watch a movie are allowed to have a surround sound system.
Sorry, but I don't do draconian laws.
Now enough of the forced politics and back to the item at hand please.
Thank you.

(I now have gotten some good info here that I will test out when my DVD recorder arrives). Thank you all for your advice.

Don't worry about the goose-tapo thing - everytime someone brings up any kind of copying here, the overly-authorative and self-righteous types all come out of the woodwork. It wouldn't be a normal thread on copying if they didn't.

All I know is that, if you're truly discussing something against forum rules, the mods will let you know.

Don't worry about the goose-tapo thing - everytime someone brings up any kind of copying here, the overly-authorative and self-righteous types all come out of the woodwork. It wouldn't be a normal thread on copying if they didn't.

All I know is that, if you're truly discussing something against forum rules, the mods will let you know.

Thanks Rammitinski, your probably right. It's just that that kind of thing really bugs me, the whole assuming I'm some kind of criminal thing. I am sensitive to the needs of artists and such and care a great deal about them having been in aspects of the music industry myself. So I get a little offended at the "overly-authorative, self-rightous types" (who usually also do all the very things they preach against).

Anyway, I think we have covered this ground well enough.

It's just that that kind of thing really bugs me, the whole assuming I'm some kind of criminal thing.

I assume you're a criminal, but it has nothing to do with copying stuff. I just assume everyone but me is. :p

I was wondering what hook up will give me the best PQ or if it matters?
Still waiting for delivery of my Pio 460-H-K, but I was wondering if there is a best hook up.
Obviously, hook up to my VCR for dubbing tapes to to the HDD then buring to DVD is straight forward, no choices, just composite hook up.
However, I also want to record from my PC off stuff like HULU, YouTube and such.
The DVD recorder has the following inputs:
3 x S-vid
3 x Composite
1 x Front DV
2 x Front USB (A & B)
I have my PC connected to my TV via SVGA cable (and yes, I do get very good PQ, better than direct cable. I have no other video output on my PC). I would like to use the TV as the monitorwhen recording just like I use it now to watch. Is there a way to hook up for that?
If not, what would be the best way to go about recording stuff off HULU, etc.?
I hear S-Video is crap for PQ and Composite is not much better or am I wrong?
I wonder if it even matters for recording?

What you need is this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=2

Mine is on the way so the jury's still out. But check the favorable reviews of the product. You can buy cheap ($6.00) SVGA to s-video adapters but there are two problems with them: (1) they come with short 6" cables, and who keeps their laptop right next to their HDD recorder???, and (2) you need a direct TV-OUT video card on your PC. These were popular a while back but the only cards still available are really low end stuff.

I am already capturing YouTube audio to my Toshiba RD-XS recorders by using a mini-jack to RCA cable, which you can buy in 4-5' lengths. You connect the mini-jack to the headphone out of your laptop and hook up the RCA end to the front (usually) Input 1 jacks of your HDD recorder. I've tried a Maggie 2160A and it works too. TIP: max out volume on your PC so you can record the widest volume range on your HDD recorder. And of course, to hear the audio during recording you need to set your recorder to Input 1 (Duh!). I got bored of watching a black screen during playback so that's why I want to try the s-video adapter above so at least I can watch the performer singing.

I just bought a state-of-the-art gaming laptop. It comes with a 17" WUXGA 1920x1200 screen and has HDMI, e-SATA, firewire, co-axial ports, dual HDDs in RAID, dual ATI 3870 video cards in Crossfire, and can take a quad-core Intel CPU. No problem hooking it up to my Sony Bravia HDTV using any of the four HDMI ports. At 1920x1200, the laptop screen looks gorgeous on my TV.

Although my Toshiba RD-XS series of recorders were ahead of their time and came with HDMI ports, they are output only. So only way I can output video from my laptop is via the s-video adapter above. I hook up the SVGA port of my laptop to the adapter and connect the s-video end to the s-video port of Input 1 on my recorders, which should allow me to record video as well as audio of anything I see on the laptop.

Because my laptop screen is capable of 1920x1200, recorded PQ should be quite good I imagine. Although everyone knows YouTube video (and sometimes audio) isn't the best.

Thanks Rammitinski, your probably right. It's just that that kind of thing really bugs me, the whole assuming I'm some kind of criminal thing. I am sensitive to the needs of artists and such and care a great deal about them having been in aspects of the music industry myself. So I get a little offended at the "overly-authorative, self-rightous types" (who usually also do all the very things they preach against).

Anyway, I think we have covered this ground well enough.

Before, I used to get a negative impression of YouTube. You know, the kinda stuff office workers with nothing better to do, distribute via e-mail about amusing video of accidents or whatnot. But for me, I have to worry about getting OD-ed with the commercial CDs by my favorite performer, as they only come about once a year. So YouTube provides variety.

To me, YouTube exhibits the passion (or respect) others may have for your favorite performer. I am seeing multiple uploads of the same song. Or clever remixes of songs using the original voiceover. I've recorded OTA stuff that I've seen on the Tube here in Japan, but don't know how to post it on YouTube, then two weeks later, somebody does it. And of course, there are the comments about a performance that come worldwide. Many people outside the country would have never heard of this performer except for surfing YouTube.

I don't think this kind of recording is any big deal, I mean it made it on YouTube right? So it's there for 230,000 other people or whatever to have seen. I wasn't the one who taped a live performance and posted it on YouTube. For me, it's mainly I can play music conveniently on my TV while sitting on the couch, rather than having to turn on my PC, get on the web, and find the link. Face it, the audio and video on YouTube isn't the greatest. So I'm more interested in original things here, like video of a live performance or an OTA broadcast I might have missed. For really good audio quality, I buy the commercial CD and listen using my AKG-701 headphones.

You guys missed my point completely. I could care less who copies what. That's why I offered advice on exactly how to do it in my first post. As an avid DVD recorder user, I personally think it's well within our fair use rights to backup whatever. My point was, if Rammitinski wanted to turn this thread into a political statement with snide remarks about Obama completely out of left field (pun intended), he shouldn't be a hypocrite, criticizing our government's lack of enforcement of one law while openly condoning breaking another.

So, Anubis, I offer my sincerest apologies. I should have left you out of my little tiff with Rammitinski. And, Rammitinski, I forgave you after withdrawing your quip, until you started insulting me. In spite of that, I humbly ask for a truce.

My point was, if Rammitinski wanted to turn this thread into a political statement with snide remarks about Obama completely out of left field (pun intended), he shouldn't be a hypocrite, criticizing our government's lack of enforcement of one law while openly condoning breaking another.Are you sure you're not mistakenly attributing someone else's comments to me?

Are you sure you're not mistakenly attributing someone else's comments to me?Anubis took offense (and rightly so), fired back, and I thought you were piling on. Perhaps I misunderstood, or am reading too much into it. If so, my apologies.

Composite is crap. S-Video is actually very good, and as good as it gets in fact on most DVD recorders.

Before accepting this P(olitically) C(orrect) crap, compare both. Best theoretical analog connection for a DVD recorder, which generally is no longer offered, is 480i Component.

I find Composite much closer to S-Video than S-Video is to Component. Under the best circumstances coax ch. 3, Composite and S-Video can be difficult to identify blindly.

But who should you believe, other posters or your lyin' eyes? :eek:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=6#faq

Just to clarify, adapters which change a signal from Composite to S-Video change the format but the quality can't and doesn't change. At this price I'd be surprised if there's a quality difference between output formats from this VGA converter.

You guys missed my point completely. I could care less who copies what. That's why I offered advice on exactly how to do it in my first post. As an avid DVD recorder user, I personally think it's well within our fair use rights to backup whatever. My point was, if Rammitinski wanted to turn this thread into a political statement with snide remarks about Obama completely out of left field (pun intended), he shouldn't be a hypocrite, criticizing our government's lack of enforcement of one law while openly condoning breaking another.

So, Anubis, I offer my sincerest apologies. I should have left you out of my little tiff with Rammitinski. And, Rammitinski, I forgave you after withdrawing your quip, until you started insulting me. In spite of that, I humbly ask for a truce.

Mdavej, I accept your apologies, but just in future please be careful about whom you accuse of what. In other words, at least make sure you have sound evidence and are "pure of heart" (translated Egyptian phrase for being "guilt free") before pointing a finger and of course make sure you have accurate aim so to speak. Its sloppy broadbrush accusations that lead to the messes we see around us in the big world and innocent people get hurt or killed. I'm obviously not a mod or anything and don't want to step out of place, but just as a note of personal observation, we all should leave politics to the appropiate forums and discussions so we can be free to have fun, enjoy our toys and help out here without violating any clear cut obvious laws, but be free to play with the gray areas as well. (Of course, we should always stand up for our and others fair rights, but that should go without saying).

What you need is this:



I got bored of watching a black screen during playback so that's why I want to try the s-video adapter above so at least I can watch the performer singing.

I just bought a state-of-the-art gaming laptop. It comes with a 17" WUXGA 1920x1200 screen and has HDMI, e-SATA, firewire, co-axial ports, dual HDDs in RAID, dual ATI 3870 video cards in Crossfire, and can take a quad-core Intel CPU. No problem hooking it up to my Sony Bravia HDTV using any of the four HDMI ports. At 1920x1200, the laptop screen looks gorgeous on my TV.


Because my laptop screen is capable of 1920x1200, recorded PQ should be quite good I imagine. Although everyone knows YouTube video (and sometimes audio) isn't the best.

Thanks Clevor. I'm not worried about audio I have that covered 9 ways to sunday. I have used Monoprice alot for cables and everything I have received is rather high quality, the prices are amazing for what you get. You just have to put up with sketchy stock, but it's worth the wait when you look at the prices in the stores.
I'm not sure about those convertors like the one you linked here, I've heard mixed stuff about them, but perhaps a lot of it is due to not hooking up right or something. I like the idea of the one you posted, but before I fork out the money I'd like to know how it works out for you. Let me know and if it does what it says well, I'll waste no time ordering one up for myself.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=4724&seq=1&format=6#faq

Just to clarify, adapters which change a signal from Composite to S-Video change the format but the quality can't and doesn't change. At this price I'd be surprised if there's a quality difference between output formats from this VGA converter.

I'm thinking that as well, but would like to see how Clevor gets on with his when he gets it. It may not be the world changing solution, but it could be the best we can do for now.

Anubis took offense (and rightly so), fired back, and I thought you were piling on. Perhaps I misunderstood, or am reading too much into it. If so, my apologies.As far as the "Obama" reference, the last thing I was trying to be was intentionally "snide", or personally put down the guy. It was just a "late-nite talk show host monologue" sort of attempt at humor. I could've used any number of analogies in there. But my comment had no intentionally nasty, partisan political bias behind it.

And as far as the "Obama" reference, the last thing I was trying to be was intentionally "snide", or personally put down the guy. It was just a "late-nite talk show host monologue" sort of attempt at humor
most of my comments are sarcastic and snyde. I'd have nothing to say at all otherwise.

Back to reality: I am surprised the moderators haven't closed this thread already, given the size of the off-topic discussion. I recommend we return to discussing the OPs original question about various hook-ups and image quality.

Back to reality: I am surprised the moderators haven't closed this thread already, given the size of the off-topic discussion. I recommend we return to discussing the OPs original question about various hook-ups and image quality.

Speaking as the OP: Perhaps it's because I said something to this effect a couple of posts ago?
I now have lots of good info for the moment and when my recorder arrives I will be experimenting and waiting on the results of Clevor's purchase of his device from Monoprice to see if that will give me the edge I want. At least to monitor what I am recording if nothing else.
All this inspite of the tiff started by someone else that did not involve me until I was dragged into it against my will. Apologies have been posted and accepted this time, so all should be fine.