Firewire to S-VHS?

[alonzo]

How can I transfer VHS tapes to a laptop through it's Firewire port?
The VCR I am using has an S-Video out port but I don't have a camcorder.
Can I connect it straight to the laptop using a cable of some sort? (one with S-Video out on one side and Firewire in on the other?)
Do I have to have a camcorder to use the Firewire to transfer video, whether it is on VHS tape or from the camcorder itself?
Thanks for any replies.

[Baldrick]

you need something that captures the video to a digital format. just a cable wont work. you can use a dv camcorder or "dv convert box" https://www.videohelp.com/capturecards.php?CaptureCard=&dvconverter=1&searchconnection=...&Search=Search

[alonzo]

Thanks.But those convert boxes are way to expensive to buy just for one function.
A DV camcorder would cost just a little bit more and I could use it for making my own movies as well. I am surprised there isn't a simple cable rather than a box for this. Composite to S-VHS convertor cables are available so why not Firewire to SVHS?

[non-linear]

I am surprised there isn't a simple cable rather than a box for this.

DV is digital, composite is analog. A cable can't convert analog video to digital, so you need a DV camera or a converter box to make that conversion.

Composite to S-VHS convertor cables are available so why not Firewire to SVHS?

Composite and S-Video are analog. Composite carries the luminance (Y) and choma (C) information together, while S-Video cables (it's called S-Video -- S-VHS is a tape format) separate the Y and C. Adapters just simply either split the Y and C or merge them, depending on which way you're going.