Capture VHS via digital player - is it possible??

[sheila_gk]

Hi,

So excuse me if my question is stupid - but I just don't know!!

I want to digitalize some old VHS tapes to edit a video in FCP for my niece's confirmation. I know that the quality won't be that great - that's not the problem!!

I work for a commercial broadcaster and therefore have access to digital video cassette player, which I normally use to capture video material on. However I normally capture from digibeta tapes. The machine takes both the small and big tapes - but would it be able to play VHS???

I believe it is a Sony DVW-522P - not sure if they are all the same - but I know one of them is this type.

If it can't then what do I do? I don't have a VHS player here (I have one, but it is in another country and is therefore NOT an option). I think some companies can do it for you - but I am not sure how much that would cost. And I don't know if I have time for it or not.

Cheers for any help I can get - I feel really lost!

Sheila

[JohnnyMalaria]

It won't work - the tapes won't fit and there's no digital video connection to the computer.

You best bet is to find someone with a MiniDV camcorder and a VHS player and use them to convert the VHS signal to DV:

VHS Recorder ---> Camcorder Analog Inputs ---> Computer via FireWire

FCP will be able to capture the video.

BTW, are the tapes PAL or NTSC?

[minidv2dvd]

the digebeta won't play vhs. even if it did it wouldn't get the tape onto your computer in any way. you need a vhs machine and a video capture device. that would give you the option to capture at the best quality to edit with. but, if you can't do it, a tape transfer to dvd is $20 to $30 in u.s. dollars and doesn't take too long. call around, i'm sure there's someone local who can do it for you.

[sheila_gk]

Thanks for the swift reply!

I am not entirely sure what the tapes are (am not at home so can't check right now). But my best bet would be PAL as that (to my knowledge!!) is the standard type in most European countries (tapes are from Denmark).

[sheila_gk]

Oh cheers minidv2dvd - that's quite cheap! I live in London - there should be somewhere around!