VHS to PC? Help please.

[Rox]

Firstly, I'm a total newbie so be gentle with me okay?

I have some stuff I've recorded on VHS from the TV and now I want to get it from VHS to my notebook so that I can share it online with friends.... I understand I need some kinda of device or card, right? If someone could point me in the direction of a good tutorial or give me some advice it would be much appreciated.

Dunno if this helps at all but my notebook is a HP Pavilion zt1152 and my VCR is a Sanyo VHRH791E.

Thanks in advance.

[cs_exile]

u will need a tv card, one with an av or scart input, u dont need a tutorial as they all come with software that practically does it for u. basically once u have the card installed plug ur video into the desired port and press record. u can buys a tv card from any pc shop really, or online as they are much cheaper

[davewave]

Your best bet would be to go for a USB video grabber, I found this one.

http://www.gadgitz.co.uk/GadgitzECFeb02/itm00518.htm

The site doesn't give any technical info though.

[MikeV]

Looking at the specs for your laptop
(Integrated S3® Savage4™ 3D AGP graphics
8-32MB shared video memory
Video capture interface IEEE 1394)
It looks like you already have a firewire port for capping video. Either use a DV cam with composite pass through, or get a composite to firewire capture unit. Do not use the USB, unless you know for sure the laptop and the usb unit are both ver 2.0(USB2.0)

It looks like cs_exile didn't see that you have a laptop.

[cs_exile]

It looks like cs_exile didn't see that you have a laptop.

true, i over looked ur last paragraph, but the advice is the same just get an external one usb 2.0 or firewire

[housepig]

I would also suggest, if using a laptop, do some tests with about 1 minute of footage - capture with different codecs, at different sizes.

laptop drives are not known for being the fastest, and it takes a pretty capable drive to keep up with the amount of data a video capture requires.

doing some tests to see where your performance hits the wall will save you some headaches later when you are capturing longer programs.

[Rox]

Thanks for the replies, y'all.

get a composite to firewire capture unit.

Okay, what's that and where could I get one from?
Sorry if that's a stupid question.

[wellvideo]

If I understand correctly, your laptop is already for firewire I/O, then check out Canopus' ADVC-100= Composite video in(from your VCR); converts it to digital and puts it out to your computer via firewire. It's an external device and you don't have to get into the computer at all.
I hope this helps.
Regards........wellvideo

[G-man]

Here's another option:
Pinnacle Moviebox DV ($190 after rebate):
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0156537

There is also a USB 2.0 version that's $130 after rebate. Rebate period (purchase by) ends 5/30/03.

[kazzer]

Whats your budget Rox?

If this is not an issue I suggest a MiniDV cam with analog inputs. If you dont want to spend much and just want video for the internet, I suggest a USB capture device. See the capture card reviews for more info.

[FulciLives]

Hello

I think that for your system the best bet is either the Canopus ADVC-100 or the DataVideo DAC-100

Both of these connect to your computer via the FireWire (also called IEEE 1394) connector. Both units I listed above work the same way in that you can convert ANY analog video and audio source to DV video. These boxes do all of the work so it will not TAX your otherwise modest notebook. Other types of capture devices (such as USB devices) put a lot of demand on the computer. The two units listed above do not do that

The Canopus ADVC-100 is around $300 whereas the DataVideo DAC-100 is only $200 yet based on reading many posts (from owner's of both products) it would seem that they are almost identical. So if I were you I would go with the DataVideo DAC-100

The Electronic Mailbox is a USA based website that carries both of these products. By no means is it the ONLY place. I provide this for your information.

Once you are done capturing you will have a DV type A/V file. This is very easy to edit (if need be) with many different programs. Once you are done with that step (if you need it) you then have to convert the DV file to something that you can share with your friends. If you will be doing this over the internet then you should probably go with DivX or Xvid. Otherwise you could make a DVD or SVCD or VCD of it.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Epi]

Thanks for the replies, y'all.

Do I detect a fellow Texan?

-Epi

[txpharoah]

Thanks for the replies, y'all.

Do I detect a fellow Texan? -Epi

You got one right here.

And thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. Since the ATI All In Wonder is internal and you need external, this is the rare instance where I'll recommend a Happauge or Canopus external card.

Just avoid Dazzle and Pinnacle externals. They don't work well on laptops.

[dpcole7]

Hauppauge is junk (ther PVR 250 is undercooled, to say the least...), so are 99.99% of VIVO capabilities of video cards.

Get yourself a Pinnacle DV500 DVD capture card ($400 or $800 w/Adobe Premiere) or Pinnacle Studio Pro ($200). The devices are of HIGH quality in terms of video capture and they should still lack the evil macrovision detection. (ATI uses macrovision detection, making it useless for me to archive my VHS collection. That's another reason why I avoid them in all things.)

Just my two cents.

Also, avoid Sony VCRs when capturing video - their gamma output is a bit higher than other brands (like JVC, Samsung, and Daewoo - the Daewoo being of the most solid construction these days) and leads to overly bright images. I currently don't have any screen grabs as examples of this, but I will soon.

[ADS Ivan]

While you're on the subject of DV Transcoder boxes like the ADVC-100 or the DataVideo DAC-100, you might want to check out PYRO AV Link, it's about $199 @ Circuit City and offers extra benefits as not only does it accept RCA and S-Video input but also Component (YPbPr) and DV.

PYRO A/V Link Specs:

• Capture Resolution:
  NTSC: 720 x 480 @ 30 frames per second
  PAL: 720 x 576 @ 25 frame per second
  Capture in DV video format
  Audio capture in 48, 44.1 and 32 kHz (12 and 16 bit)
  Power On/Off button
  Mode Selector switch
  Inputs:
  Video: RCA, S-VHS, Component (YPbPr)
  4-Pin 1394/FireWire connector
  Audio: Right and Left RCA
  Outputs:
  Video: RCA, S-VHS
  6 Pin 1394 Connector
  Audio: Right and Left RCA

More info is available @ http://www.adstech.com/products/API_550/intro/api550intro.asp?pid=API-550

[Biodroid]

some xra info if you have a MiniDV CAM like Samsung SD87 where you can fine at Sears at discount prices that can give you a VCR capability in the CAM then you can record your fav Tv shows directly to your MiniDV CAM and then pass the video to your PC using a Firewire or USB 2.0. Check if your Laptop can support USB 2.0 . The 2.0 is a 480mbps traner maximun so check you only need 100mbps

[darkstar127]

Get the ADVC-100. You can't go wrong. Its the top-user rated capture device on this site. I bought mine after reading the glowing reviews in the Capture Cards sections (on your left in the toolbar)

I capture using Vegas Video directly to DV format.

Edit in Vegas Video and then render the file.

If I make a VCD or SVCD, then I burn directly to CD-ROM using Nero.

If burning a DVD, I use DVD Architect or any number of other progs for DVD Authoring to create the DVD files. Then I burn to DVD.

[Rox]

*Bumping an old topic*

Just wanted to say thanks for everyone's help... much appreciated.

I ended up ordering the Canopus ADVC-100 from eBay for £185 (including shipping), it should get here soon.

To the person who asked if I was Texan.... nope, I'm from England.