****Capturing from a VHS video player to Computer****

[kathleenbilly]

I'm sure this will not be difficult for someone out there...'' l have been asked to go back to basics which involves Capturing from a VHS video recorder (friends old video tapes etc) to my computer after which l will then burn to svcd using the relevent programs etc no probs there..........However how do l connect a VHS recorder to my computer? l can help in saying that the VHS recorder has a s-video jack which l presume is an output.........and my computer stack has an s-video at the back which l presume is an input so l have connected to two via these connections and surprise surprise nothing has happened. l thought if l played the VHS recorder the computer would sort of detect a new hardware device? l know l am going to feel really stupid but l would appreciate what l have done wrong, or what it is l need, or should be doing for this to work, thanks for any help you may offer.

[bunyip]

To capture from a VHS Recorder to a PC you need a video capture device in the PC.

You say that you have an s-video socket on the PC - what is this connected to? Is it you PC Video Card - if so what is the card?

[tik-tak]

I could bet $100 that S-Video you have on your PC video card is OUT, not IN. So, refer to a post above.

[hlof]

Try the following:

1- Get Capture Software "VirtualDub".

2- Connect VCR to your PC's Capture Card using A/V cables. The Audio Connector for the PC may need an Adapter.

3- Start VirtualDub and Choose Source (usually Composite) and go to File/Capture AVI.

4- When VCR is playing you might see the Video on the VDub Screen.

5- Click on Capture when you want 2 start capturing.

Good luck!!

[kathleenbilly]

thanks for the reply, l already have a firewire connection with a pci capture card which i use for my dv camcorder etc, this all works fine. l already have Pinnacle studio 7.... so l go to the local p.c shop as l thought there would be a lead l could buy which could be a scart connection at one end connected to the VCR out of my video player, to then to firewire which would let me use my current pci capture card. Or even line in line out leads or s-video going into firewire is anything like this available? l didn't want to buy another pci card surely there must be an atapter............'' P.s my s-video on my computer was a output unfortuntately.

[rsuave5]

when i was a newbie i also looked for the exact same thing and there is no such thing. the reason i was told is because firewire transfers digitall signals only and your vcr sends out analog. (im unsure of that) but i did look up and down and i finally bought a card.
look over cards well and buy what you need i paid 30 bux for an ati tv wonder on ebay and ive copied hundreds of hours of video. albeit the first week was spent pulling hair out getting settings right but you can ask here or email me.
i installed capture device. i capture with avi_io then encode and burn its pretty easy and looks good

[LloydAZ]

thanks for the reply, l already have a firewire connection with a pci capture card which i use for my dv camcorder etc, this all works fine. l already have Pinnacle studio 7.... so l go to the local p.c shop as l thought there would be a lead l could buy which could be a scart connection at one end connected to the VCR out of my video player, to then to firewire which would let me use my current pci capture card. Or even line in line out leads or s-video going into firewire is anything like this available? l didn't want to buy another pci card surely there must be an atapter............'' P.s my s-video on my computer was a output unfortuntately.

What I use is the Dazzle Hollywood DV-Bridge. It plugs into your firewire port and allows you to import analog video into your computer, and it allows you to export digital video from the computer back to an analog recorder. It also features a firewire pass-through that will allow you to connect your firewire device to it.

It is a little pricey ($299) but worth it to me. If you want to check it out, go to www.dazzle.com.

Lloyd

[ahfairley]

I think you need to read your DVcam manual (yeah, I know they're badly written). Some DV cams have an "analog pass-through" mode. You connect the AV cable from the camera (the one ou ordinarily connect to the TV) to the line out of your VCR, take the tape out of the DV cam, you may have to make a change in the cam menu, connect firewire to camera and capture with your PC software (note that in your capture program you may have to disable the "control camera from capture program" feature if it has one). start capture and hit "play" on the VCR.

Not all DV cams support analog pass-though. Some cams that don't have the feature will allow you to record off the VCR onto the camera tape ("video dub"), and then you can capture the tape like any footage you shot in the cam.

I think it's a lot easier to capture from a cam than with a card. I couldn't cap at 640x480 without losing a ton of frames, and I can capture the DV without dropping any.

Good luck

[kathleenbilly]

ahfairley

Well the solution you gave was the correct one, although my dv camcorder av does not allow input l was able to use my friends Sony dv camcorder which does allow output/input as you said via the av which connected to the vcr scart out works perfectly to record on the camcorder which l then capture with my current pci firewire card/lead...........'' many thanks again for your help. Kathleen x