VHS question...

[tarasha]

Hi, I'm just wondering if I have a VHS and wanted to transfer the files into a computer must I use the capture process or are there a second choice like drag and drop or other hardware to do it quickly instead of waiting. If there any please let guide me through please

[redwudz]

The main problem is VHS is analog and computers only do digital. So you have to do a analog to digital conversion, IE, a 'capture'. Many ways to do this.

I use a analog to DV conversion box, a Canopus ADVC-100. But you can also use a capture card and convert to a variety of formats. One popular method is a Hauppauge video card that can do a hardware conversion to MPEG-2 for a DVD type output. Or some cards can capture in a variety of AVI type formats and you can convert to other formats as needed after the capture.

What's your final output format? DVD?

[thecoalman]

Since a VHS player can only play at *1X it can only be done in real time, Fastest way to get it into a digital format is with a DVD recorcer.

There's some more information here to get you started:

http://www.nepadigital.com/articles/analog-capture.php

* I believe I've seen some posts with professional decks that will do it faster but they were $$$$.

[tinker]

If you have a digital camera, check the manual. Some have video input and Firewire or USB2 output, where camera can be used as analogue to digital converter.
That is how I do my VHS tapes.

[Marvingj]

for computer usage I use Sony DVMC-DA1 Media Converter. I don't think they are around anymore, But excellent transfer Vhs to Computer.

[overloaded_ide]

other hardware to do it quickly instead of waiting.

Although the other posts offer sugestions how to do it, this quote above was what I felt is the key question here.

No you can't do it quickly, you have to play the tape, if a 1hr tape it takes 1 hr, if 2 hours it takes 2 hrs.

like drag and drop

NO!
From where would you be dragging? I never saw a VHS player to a computer in the first place, and if you find or build one then you get backinto what others said about VHS is analog and Computers are digital so it must be converted durring playback.

I mentioned that part cause cause durring the big computer mod days I was the only person really known about to have a PC with a Cassette and 8Track tape drives
I was the hit of several Lan type parties where modding was the big trick thing.

Same problem with audio tapes and VHS or Beta video tapes, tapes are analog and computers are digital. I could play 8Track or Cassette tapes in my PC as well as AM FM radio, but recording had to be done in real time with something like MusicMatch Juke box to capture the audio and convert to digital as MP3. No fast way to do it, just play at normal speed and capture.

Wish I still had that system, sold it for some good bucks to a friend that had lots of audio tapes he wanted to make Mp3 out of.