Help capturing analog with with analog-to-digital passthroug

[okorkie]

I am trying to convert my old analog VHS tapes to VCD/SVD using the analog passthrough mode of my digital camcorder. I have read many, many posts as well as the guides and I can't seem to find the answer. I output from my VCR into my digital camcorder using RCA jacks. I then output the camcorder into my PC using the fireware connection. Am I supposed to record the analog signal from the VHS onto the DV tape in my camcorder, and then output to my PC, or can I directly capture to my hard drive? I am using Pinnacle Studio 8. What format is used if I don't record to the DV tape and capture directly to my PC? I can't seem to find the answer. The guide in one place says I can capture directly to my PC, and another part says I need to record to the DV tape first. Dazed and confused.

[Tommyknocker]

Some cameras can without recording, others cannot. We need to know which camera you have.

[okorkie]

I have a Sony DCR-TRV25.

[Tommyknocker]

Go to page 174 on your manual. According to it, you do not have to record to a tape.

[okorkie]

Unfortunately, pg 174 is where I went to get everything set up. I am trying to figure out if it is a DV signal or analog signal once it enter the firewire port. Then do I record an AVI, MPEG, or DV? Once I hit capture on my software, it tries to play the DV tape and capture the DV tape instead of capturing the analog signal. All of the guides for capturing analog assume you have a TV capture card which I don't.

[tweedledee]

I have a Canon but it should be the same. Try using DVIO (look in tools) it's an easy program to get you going. The file going onto your hard drive will be an AVI.Expect about 13gig per hour. Take out the tape first.

[ImaWeTodd]

Unfortunately, pg 174 is where I went to get everything set up. I am trying to figure out if it is a DV signal or analog signal once it enter the firewire port. Then do I record an AVI, MPEG, or DV? Once I hit capture on my software, it tries to play the DV tape and capture the DV tape instead of capturing the analog signal. All of the guides for capturing analog assume you have a TV capture card which I don't.

I looked at your manual. The internet is an amazing thing. I did this kind of capture the other day. I have 2 miniDV cams. 1 that supports "passthru" and 1 that does not. Sony seems to call it "signal convert". Any way, when the info is on your computer it is DV. The cam converts it to DV and sends it up the firewire. I suspect you did not follow step 2 (setting the menu option to allow the passthru). That is why it plays the DV tape. Also, make sure you hit play on the vcr not on the cam. I though this was unclear in the manual.

If things are still not working for you, you could try a capture of TV. Connect the cable to the back of the VCR. This way you don't have to press any buttons. You should see the signal in the cam lcd and on the computer. You could also just record to DV tape, and then "capture" this to your computer. There would be no quality difference in this. It would just take twice as long.