Laptop/pc to VHS

[askepios13]

Hey, i've seen this question asked here a couple times before, how can I record/screencap my laptops screen to vhs, but it always involves video cards.
My question is, is there anyway I can do this without the use of a video card?

I don't need the highest quality, just decent to low since this is all for artistic/aesthetic purposes for my graphic design n music stuff so I can get the authentic vhs tape grain/texture look n quality.

Any advice or help will be greatly appreciated.

[Mr Chris]

What video outputs does your laptop have? This may be straightforward if it has a composite or S-video out port. If not, you're probably going to need another piece of hardware or try a workaround (e.g. burn your capture to DVD, then route your DVD player to a VHS recorder).

[Cornucopia]

There are some ways, but we would have to know some simple basics first, such as what laptop you have. Also, what's your budget?

You won't get the highest quality.

The chain would look like this:

Laptop -> some kind of output -> adapter -> composite video output -> VCR. You might vary the 2nd & 3rd to accommodate your laptop (or a friend's) so long as you get a composite video output (usually RCA, but sometimes BNC). If BNC, BNC->RCA adapters are like $8USD.

I hope you realize you could convincingly simulate all the VHS's foibles using something like AVISynth, and say in the digital domain.

Scott

[askepios13]

Chris, my laptop has neither of those outputs, only HDMI n DVI. I always wondered if it was possible to just hook the hdmi up to my tv then record straight from my tv to the vcr, would that work? I feel like it wouldn't, since it's digital n whatnot n it just seems too easy lol.

Scott, I have a Dell Inspiron N5040 w/Windowds 7. My budget's around 40 but I can stretch it if it's worth it. Again, quality is not an issue as long as it's not unrecognizable to the human eye or just a mess of pixels or something. Im after medium to low quality n glitches are welcome. I know I can use digital means for this...but I really want the old analog authentic vhs look.

It's funny, plenty of tools to get from tape to pc, but nooot alot for pc to tape.

[Cornucopia]

It's not that funny. Makes sense: (consumer, analog) tape is being superceded and need to be migrated to digital, file-based forms. History isn't moving backwards.
So there's little need nor money in it.

You're going to need something like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=770116&gclid=CLeEk6fG7sICFYtAMg...=REG&A=details. You won't find ANYTHING for $40 (except maybe sketchy ebay stuff).

Scott

[Mr Chris]

Chris, my laptop has neither of those outputs, only HDMI n DVI. I always wondered if it was possible to just hook the hdmi up to my tv then record straight from my tv to the vcr, would that work?

That only leads to the same question: what sort of outputs does your TV have? What you're suggesting isn't impossible, but I wouldn't build up my hopes too much if I were you.

Another suggestion for a workaround would be to use a camcorder as a go-between - do you happen to have a camcorder with a Firewire connection? If not, and you can't do what I suggested previously (burn to DVD, then record that on VHS), then I'm afraid it looks like you're going to have to spend more than you were hoping.

[Cornucopia]

TVs don't commonly PASS-THROUGH signals, because TVs are primarily DESTINATIONS (also known in computing as a "sink").

Scott

[Mr Chris]

A quick search threw up this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Portta-Composite-Converter-Support-format-white/dp/B008MHY1VC

The reviews are fair but mixed (and I can't vouch for it - perhaps someone reading this can), but it looks like it could be a surprisingly inexpensive solution to your problems. Opinions, anyone? Hopefully it's available on your side of the Atlantic.

[mammo1789]

TVs don't commonly PASS-THROUGH signals, because TVs are primarily DESTINATIONS (also known in computing as a "sink").

On Pal TVs with SCART connection (TV scart has in and outs for audio and video/svideo and RGB only input) they pass through the picture from The Tv aerial or cable on any analog capable input device (VCR DVD recorder or TV card).

Why will you want to record to the VHS? Because if you record lets say word document or something from the desktop with letters "downscaling" them (convertor and VHS will do that in this situation) from 1920x1080 to VHS resolution will make them unreadable. Many free softwares can record desktop,games or else on HDD like Fraps

[Cornucopia]

The OP is not in a PAL area, thus no SCART.

I think the OP answered the "WHY" in #4.

Scott

[mammo1789]

The OP is not in a PAL area, thus no SCART.

I think the OP answered the "WHY" in #4.

Scott

Sorry I thought that you wrote generally for TV sets and later saw that he is in USA. If he wants to use VHS recorder [QUOTE]It's not that funny. Makes sense: (consumer, analog) tape is being superceded and need to be migrated to digital, file-based forms. History isn't moving backwards.
So there's little need nor money in it.[QUOTE] i think that that way he have to buy some convertor like you post it and in digital he can do it all for free.

Its funny how most of the members here ( including me and you i suppose) try to improve VHS tapes and transfer them in digital while the OP is trying to do the the opposite

[newpball]

Its funny how most of the members here ( including me and you i suppose) try to improve VHS tapes and transfer them in digital while the OP is trying to do the the opposite

Yes, personally I am amazed by the number of filters that come out every month for NLE's to make footage look old and broken.

[Cornucopia]

Nostalgia. Or continuity of interposition with historical content.

@mammo1789, yeah I should have been more detailed, originally.

That amazon link has an American equivalent: http://www.amazon.com/100HC-Composite-Converter-Blue-ray-DVD1080P/dp/B009CL8NH0/ref=sr...ideo+converter, but I wouldn't guarantee its reliability, let alone quality.

Scott