Hi,
I believe some editors use windows movie maker as the capture funnel for what you're attempting.

I'd use a USB capture device by KWorld.

Cofion gorau
Dafydd

Arnold: I have had problems with PD9 capturing analogue signal. I purchased a different product than that recommended by Dafydd. I did use that product for awhile but the quality was not as good as I wanted. Since forum rules preclude "advertising" products, if you private message me, I will pass on the information on what I use, and have been using successfully for over six months. The software and converter are less than $100.00

I have been capturing VHS and Hi8 analogue video (mostly home movies) with this package and producing .mpeg2 files, which I then import into PD9. It is really seamless and I am very pleased with the quality and stability of the product.

Just my two cents. Have a great day.

Regards,
-Phil Windows 10 Pro x64
Dell XPS 8930
Intel CoreT i7 (4.6 GHz)
32 GB DDR4-2666 RAM
1 TB PCIe -x4 SSD
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
PD14 Ultimate x64, 4207
CD4 Ultra and AD6 Ultra
Bleeping Computer Malware Response Instructor

When I copy content off my DVR, I record it onto a DVD using a VCR/DVD Recorder combo unit. You can find them for around $100. Then I rip the content off the DVD using PD9.

It may be an extra step, but since my DVR and computer are in different parts of the house, it works well for me. Plus, I get an archival copy of the original recording on DVD that I can file away. PowerDirector 10 Ultra
Dell XPS Studio - i7 3.4 GHz / 8 GB RAM / Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

thanks for all the suggestions!

skully: that does sound like a good workaround, the problem i have with it is that you are then recording a compressed video (to the standalone DVD-R), editing it, and then possibly compressing it again when you burn the final copy. plus, i'm usually not sure how much compression i need when i pull things from the DVR (dependent on how much i am trying to fit on the DVD, of course), and like to save the compression for the penultimate step so that i can use as high of a bitrate as possible for the final product.

garioch: as i was saying to skully, i prefer to capture the raw AVI video, do all of my editing, and then transcode to MPG when i have a better idea of what bitrate i will need to fit it on the DVD. maybe your setup would allow for that as well?
if i am going to be buying additional hardware anyhow, i think i might rather get a video card. when i got this new setup a few months ago i had planned on getting a video card somewhere down the line. the MB i got (gigabyte GA-880GMA-UD2H) has onboard graphics with ATI hybrid crossfireX technology that is supposed to use the onboard graphics system in conjunction with a video card to increase both of their performance. do you know anything about that? i could really use some recommendations on what to get there if you do. feel free to e-mail me on yahoo.com (same username i am using here).

dafydd: i can't help but think of matt lucas's character on 'little britain' when i see the welsh spelling of david...are you "the only gay in the village"? lol!
i actually had someone else recommend WMM as well...though i didn't really need all of the other stuff (just trying to get the darned video into the PC...i can take it from there!). while i was looking for it, i wound up getting a hold of 'media player classic' (v 6.4.8.2) which seems to be working OK for the moment...though it deMUXes the stream into separate audio and video files which is a bit of a P.i.t.A. (have to be sure to keep the files together when moving them, after loading the video in my editor i have to go point it to the audio track, etc.)
as i said to garioch above, if i need to buy hardware anyhow i think i'd rather just get the video card i had planned on getting sometime after my MB/CPU upgrade. if you have any recommendations on a video card that will work well in conjunction with my MB, feel free to e-mail me on yahoo.

thanks again to each of you...peace and long life