VHS onto PC [Archive]

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trumby

16 Jun 2008, 00:28

Kempie

16 Jun 2008, 00:34

Hi everyone, I have a few games on VHS and I was wondering if there was a way (I am pretty sure there is) to load it onto my computer to burn to DVD.

If anyone could help me out with this, that would be great.

Thanks.

Basically, you have to get a 'video capture' card (with associated software) that you play the VHS video through it and so onto your PC for capture.

Best starting point for you would be

http://www.videohelp.com/

swanniez1983

16 Jun 2008, 00:39

Hi everyone, I have a few games on VHS and I was wondering if there was a way (I am pretty sure there is) to load it onto my computer to burn to DVD.

If anyone could help me out with this, that would be great.

Thanks.

It can be done with a TV tuner card. I have my VCR hooked up to the card (AV cable to S-Video connection). I have a program called Ulead Studio which is used to copy the VHS contents onto the computer in whatever format I wish (generally MPEG as my computer isn't fast enough for more compressed formats). Basically you hit PLAY and start recording. Only problem is that the recording is in real time i.e. you simply can't fast forward through the tape. I generally just let the tape run overnight. Once on the computer, you can use other software to edit, add chapters and then burn onto DVD :thumbsu:

mitchzz

16 Jun 2008, 00:51

What about getting stuff from a set top box to your pc? Same deal?

swanniez1983

16 Jun 2008, 00:56

What about getting stuff from a set top box to your pc? Same deal?

As in digital TV?

Yes, the card I have is HD capable.

You generally need a fast PC* and lots of hard drive space if recording HD. *depends on your video card though.

Kempie

16 Jun 2008, 00:58

What about getting stuff from a set top box to your pc? Same deal?

Haven't done that, but set top boxes can plug into VCRs anyway so in that respect it's similar.

But set-top boxes mostly come with a Hard Disk for capture anyway. Different sotware tools, that's all.

trumby

16 Jun 2008, 01:19

swanniez1983

16 Jun 2008, 01:30

so is a video capture card like a portable VHS player that has a cable attached that plugs into a PC or is it something that you plug into your VHS and you download whatever video your playing then plug it into computer and upload onto PC.

sorry if I sound really stupid or if im missing something really obvious, I just have no idea.

EDIT: Or is it a cable linking between PC and VHS player?

It's a card which plugs into a PCI slot in your PC such as this:

http://www.geniusdv.com/weblog/archives/Osprey530capturecard.png

The input on the left is an S-video input. I connect the VCR to this input (AV output from VCR--> S-video above).

The middle input in where you connect the antenna cable so that you can watch TV on the PC :)

Kempie

16 Jun 2008, 01:32

so is a video capture card like a portable VHS player that has a cable attached that plugs into a PC or is it something that you plug into your VHS and you download whatever video your playing then plug it into computer and upload onto PC.

sorry if I sound really stupid or if im missing something really obvious, I just have no idea.

EDIT: Or is it a cable linking between PC and VHS player?

A 'card' is a card (with all sorts of neat 'lectronik stuff on it) that plugs into one of the slots in the motherboard of your PC. ie You have to take the covers off and stick it in.

Really, you need some more basic knowledge about this before you proiceed.

trumby

16 Jun 2008, 01:36

It's a card which plugs into a PCI slot in your PC such as this:

http://www.geniusdv.com/weblog/archives/Osprey530capturecard.png

The input on the left is an S-video input. I connect the VCR to this input (AV output from VCR--> S-video above).

The middle input in where you connect the antenna cable so that you can watch TV on the PC :)

So by using one of them, by watching TV on PC, is it then possible to use software (such as Hypercam) to record what you are watching, then later burning that to a DVD.

swanniez1983

16 Jun 2008, 01:40

There are loads of software which you can use to record TV or record from your VCR. Software is generally bundled with the capture card.

As kempie suggest, www.videohelp.com is a good place for further information :-)

http://www.videohelp.com/capture

trumby

16 Jun 2008, 01:45

haha he lost patience with me :thumbsu:

Kempie

16 Jun 2008, 02:10

haha he lost patience with me :thumbsu:

He was very helpful, especially since he's a Swans supporter, posting on this board :)

But this is a footy forum after all, so you really should go to a video forum, as suggested. Good luck.

Jafa

16 Jun 2008, 10:22

You don`t need a PCI card. You can buy USB devices specifically designed for this type of thing.

Here is an example - I have no idea how good it is. You need to make sure your USB ports are USB 2.0 compatible.

http://www.nextag.com/Avermedia-DVD-EZMaker-USB-584317572/prices-html?nxtg=bf2e0a1c051b-55CF7EED4BBDCB97

arfadunger

16 Jun 2008, 12:38

I tried doing this, but found it all to hard. That says more about my technological abilities, rather than the technology available though.

However......... I bought a cheap DVD recorder ($130) and recorded from my VHS tapes to DVD format through that. Once it was on DVD format it was easy to do what I wanted with the PC.

Kempie

16 Jun 2008, 18:57

You don`t need a PCI card. You can buy USB devices specifically designed for this type of thing.

That's interesting, didn't know about that one. Haven't done this stuff for years though I admit. It's effectively an external video capture card really.

However......... I bought a cheap DVD recorder ($130) and recorded from my VHS tapes to DVD format through that. Once it was on DVD format it was easy to do what I wanted with the PC.

Yeah, that's probably the simplest and least painful, unless you really like spending hours and hours on learning and doing :)