Ever used a camcorder line-in to record a TV show?

[Brad]

Just curious.

Before I got a TV tuner setup fully functioning in 2002, I was considering trying to record some shows using MiniDV instead of just SP-mode VHS. It wasn't really going to happen, though. Setting aside the higher cost of tapes, I didn't own a digital camcorder and certainly couldn't justify buying one to primarily record select TV broadcasts.

I found a few old AVS Forum posts about recording special sports broadcasts onto camcorder tapes for personal archiving. Lately I've even heard of some collectors recording '80s TV airings on professional formats like U-matic.

Tell me your weird recording stories.

[fvisagie]

Well, nothing weird, just something that worked - used camcorder to capture to PC instead.

Video recorder outputs to camcorder analogue inputs, camcorder IEEE 1394 output to PC for capturing. EDIT: i.e. analogue to DVD pass-through, as it is called.

Cheers,
Francois

[jagabo]

Many people have used DV camcorders in passthrough mode (or recording to tape then "capturing" the DV stream on a computer) to record analog sources. This site has lots of threads regarding it. Not so much these days but 10 years ago...

[Brad]

What I really meant was non-traditional ways to preserve broadcasts; not so much using it as part of transferring another tape.

[fvisagie]

In case it makes any difference, that's what I'd meant; the video recorder was tuned to broadcasts at the time.

[Brad]

It does make a difference. So.. that's one story.

Where are some grandpas around to tell me some tales?

[handyguy]

So you point your camera @ your TV?

[gll99]

I have a Sony DV camera somewhere in a box on a shelf. Mine has a pass-through AV to DV so you don't have to record to tape first. I used it to test some things back then and moved on. I posted here at one time and so did others. I'm sure if you do a site search you'll come across the thread(s) and it will contain the camera model.