Windows 7: VHS to DVD help? (merging .mpgs and compressing 4 to a disk)

So basically a while ago I bought a USB Video capture thingy off of eBay for $2, which is called an EasyCap, which comes with a Copy of Honestech's VHS to DVD 2.0. it makes MPEG-PS streams, but those are easily converted into MPEG-2



And here's my problems:
The software insists on splitting the movies halfway through, so I get an ihr part and a 15min part.
I want to try to fit at least three movies to a disk, which would require dropping the image resolution down a bit. The problem is that no DVD program i found so far will let me do this and allow me to make a menu so I can select which movie I want to watch.

So:

1. Is there a free software that will allow me to join the mpgs?

2. is there a free dvd maker that will allow me to use lower resolution video and still make custom menus?

3. is there a way to clean the audio track? it has a lot of scratch noise in it.

thanks.

First off I think you might have bought a "pig in a poke". [The capture device in this case seems to be the EasyCap, and notice the spelling as it is very important. The Easycap is possibly a knock-off from the real, original, legitimate capture device. It is very problematic, and most of the time it will not work correctly. These are very cheap to purchase, and probably for a reason. Most people when they discover that they are more trouble than they paid, will just discard them. These knock-offs got to be so prevalent, that the company was forced to change their name and business trademark to EzCap.] If your device plugs straight into a USB port then i is probably a fake. The real one has a short cable to plug into the USB socket.
That said the "free" software you are seeking I don't think exists. The main thing you need to be able to do is bring down the bitrate of the individual videos to make them fit your DVD. It looks as if you have three full length films here if they are all about 1hr 15mins. To get those onto one DVD with a menu will mean bringing down the bitrate to such a low level that the videos will probably be unwatchable. By capturing you will need save to a lossy format so you have already lost some quality. I think you are going to need a paid for program like Corel Video Editor but as I say I don't think your project is really feasible. That's IMHO, of course.
Please note the section above in [] is taken from a The Corel User to Use Forum.

Nearly forgot the audio question. The very good free program Audacity will do this to some extent but it is a big learning curve to get this right!

thanks. The device and software actually works perfectly, and after converting it from MPEG-PS to a more standard MPEGII Joiner will join them fine.

I'm just trying to see how to fit the videos compressed. converting them to 324x240 has sufficient quality so I may go with that.

I'll try audacity, as it seems to do what I want.

but does anyone know if there is any dvd maker that will allow me to do this?

effit. I'll just trim out the credits so that two videos fit on a disk. I can live with the audio noise.

I'm currently using DVD Styler as Win DVD Maker does not allow you to customize the menu, and hardlocks the limit to 150 minutes (2 hours 30 min). I'm using DVD styler which allows for a more flexible menu and allows me to use up to 223 minutes (3 hours 43 min) at full bitrate.
so, everything works out so far.

turns out the audio quality was in the app itself. Using a third-party program for the Mac gives crystal clear audio.
Unfortunately it means.movs, which I think iDVD minimized the hours that can be put on a disk

Pleased to see that you are satisfied with what you are getting so far. I was confused by your Thread Title when you said "VHS to DVD help?"
I assumed you wanted to do just that, create a DVD from a VHS tape. If that were the case the size for DVD that will play in a standard DVD player , in your country, is 720 x 480px.

thanks. So far it seams that this works:
1. record on Mac with EasyCapViewer (possibly because it requires seperate audio cables, have to recheck on the pc)
2. trim any excess
3. make dvd's with dvdstyler
4. lightscribe a picture onto the disk.

And do you manage to get two full length films onto on DVD and does that DVD then play OK on a TV?

Yes. They play the same as the .mpgs did. the problem is that the .mpgs were terrible. shaky video, and so much noise you could barely make out the words. I think it was due to the official software because on a third party client for the mac everything records crystal clear.

I'm still trying to make one of the mac ones into a dvd, but it's taking an extraordanarily long time because:

1. i have to record it on the mac. ~3 hours for both movies
2. trim if nessissarry. ~5-30min altogether
3. use AVC to convert to .mpg because dvdstyler can't work with .movs very well. This has to be done on the significantly slower older Mac because the .movs refuse to work on the pc (which is a really powerful computer that I need for my college courses) ~3 hours altogether
4. copy to USB drive. ~30 min
5. burn to disk ~1 hour
6. burn lightscribe cover ~30 min

That's not including setbacks, of which there was many (iDVD doesn't work, Mac crashes unless you manually set the fans to full blast, etc)

that being said, from start of inish it'll take about 8 hours or so for the entire procedure (minus the lightscribe cover. that can be done in advanced). I'm currently at Step 3 and almost done