Can I Convert VHS to DVD?

[rhem]

Hi all.
I want to know if i can convert VHS to DVD using what i have at the moment....
I got the yellow port. so video is all alrite, jus need to sort out audio...any suggestions?

Thanx

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[SingSing]

Those video output ports means you can play video from PC to TV.

For converting VHS to DVD, you need a DVD recorder.

[rhem]

oh I see. Is there no other way?

[j1d10t]

A capture card, a lot of HD space, an MPEG encoder (if you don't capture directly to MPEG2), a DVD authoring program and a DVD burner.

Check out the guides on the left

[Justin42]

Actually, based on the position, that yellow port is more than likely a digital coax output *audio* port. The Svideo port is an output. You need to get a capture device of some kind to input video.

I'd second the idea to get a DVD recorder. For basic uses, they're much easier and faster than trying to figure out how to do it on the PC, at least initially.

[guns1inger]

It could also be a cheap composite out from an on-board graphics system. If so, it will be shutdown because there is a graphics card installed.

[FulciLives]

You can buy a video capture card/device for your computer or you can buy a stand alone DVD recorder.

Depends on which way you want to go ...

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[GeekFunk]

Ok.

I don't know whether the yellow port is video-in or video-out. Check the documents that came with your computer or with the motherboard. If it's video-in, then you will need some software to do the video processing.

As for the s-video port on the graphics card, well I don't know if it is VIVO (Video-in, video-out). Check the documents that came with the graphics card, if you bought it separately.

If you bought his computer from a store, then the documents that came with the computer should help you out.

Otherwise, here's how you can easily check to see if your your computer is currently capable of capturing video. Start Windows Movie Maker (on a Windows XP machine). Select "Capture From Video Device" from the menu on the left. If your computer has a video capture device installed and ready to go, it will show up in the the next window that pops up.

If no device shows up, it may mean that the device drivers haven't been installed for it yet (yellow question mark in Device Manager) or that it does not have video capture capability.

In addition to adding a video capture device (PCI or USB TV tuner or plain video capture), I've found that the best way to convert VHS tapes to DVD is to use a miniDV camcorder with analog video-in, and digital video out via 1394 connection to the computer. The VHS tape in the VCR is sent to the camcorder where it is converted to digital video, and is recorded on the computer's hard drive. Virtually no video quality is lost in the conversion.

Once on the hard drive, there are numerous software apps that can burn the digital video to a DVD: Nero, Intervideo WinDVD Creaor, etc. Didn't you get some software with your DVD burner?

Note that not all miniDV camcorders can convert analog to digital in a "pass through" to a hard drive. Some might require that you record from a VCR to a miniDV tape in the camcorder, then record from the tape to the hard drive. So, it is important that you examine the camcorder manual closely.

[rhem]

Ok Thanx everyone

[TheFamilyMan]

To answer your question: most likely no.

I've yet to see a mobo that has an analog video input (the yellow port). And that s-video port on your graphics card is for displaying the graphics card output on a TV. A VIVO port uses a DIN connector like s-video, only it has many more pins and uses a specialized dongle that plugs into that connector. The dongle has 4 connectors on the other end: 2 composite (RCA) and 2 s-video. As mentioned, check your documentation for your system to see if its really a VIVO port. If it is, the answer becomes yes.

Some advice: if you thinking of using your computer to convert VHS tapes to DVDs, you have to realize that there is LOTS to know to pull it off well. Its not as simple as start the computer, start the VCR and then remove a finished DVD. A stand alone DVD recorder is suggested, plus you can use it and ditch your VCR once you are finished. Of course, you can buy a video capture device for your computer (or use a digital camcorder pass-thru) and learn all about creating MPEG2 files and authoring/burning DVDs using your computer. Give it some thought and good luck.