What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes??

faiith · 04-01-2007, 08:55 AM

Hi there,

I'd like to digitalize my VHS casettes: family movies and some vintage stuff recorded from TV. I am reading on this and it seems like you need a PhD to do this, the codecs and all... Is there any simple and reliable way to transfer movies from analog to digital?

Perhaps there is this magic box somwhere that I can connect my VCR on one end and my computer on the other end, press a button to have VHS cassettes transferred onto the computer?

Any suggestion?

**8210GUY** · 04-01-2007, 09:54 AM

Well I've never done it but I know it can be done, to start with you will need a video card with a TV input (or similar), then some software to record it as you play it.
But thats where my knowledge stops on this, if you reply with what video card you have and hopefully someone will be able to take you onto a further stage, but they will need to know what hardware you have to start with to say if you would be able to do this with that.

**bruiser** · 04-01-2007, 09:57 AM

Why yes, there is a magic box. They're known as video transfer devices, or video capture devices. Another way is get a video card with video in. The magic boxes do connect between the vcr and the pc, or a standalone dvd player. They plug into a usb or firewire port on the pc. You need some kind of video capture software, but that generally comes with the device. Or Windows Movie Maker can handle the task, or if you have Nero it can also do it. Another way is the combo vcr/dvd recorder which will also so the job of making a dvd out of a tape.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=vid...p=mss&ei=UTF-8

Terrister · 04-01-2007, 10:12 AM

I have used this device to capture from a 8mm camcorder.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...736&CatId=1428

Has the software to make it easy.

faiith · 04-01-2007, 06:25 PM

Thanks all for the recommendations.. :)

By the way, it seems that the dazzle video creator does not have firewire connector.. does it mean that I can't use that with my cam recorder which is having firewire connector?

I have saw a product at http://news.softpedia.com/news/Creat...or-50157.shtml

Will this work?

**bruiser** · 04-01-2007, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faiith

Thanks all for the recommendations.. :)

By the way, it seems that the dazzle video creator does not have firewire connector.. does it mean that I can't use that with my cam recorder which is having firewire connector?

I have saw a product at http://news.softpedia.com/news/Creat...or-50157.shtml

Will this work?

It seems as if that device uses USB. Does your camcorder not have USB?

faiith · 04-02-2007, 01:53 AM

My camcorder is having firewire connector.. want to get a device that has different type of connectors available so that i will be able to connect video devices that maybe having connectors such as s-video, firewire etc.. i saw the creative video blaster editor and it seems to do the job and has the DVFX technology for improving video quality.. any idea?

**bruiser** · 04-02-2007, 06:04 AM

If your pc has firewire ports, you could try connecting the camcorder directly to the pc, and using Windows Movie Maker or another program to capture the video.

Terrister · 04-02-2007, 06:15 AM

You just buy the correct cable (firewire) to connect the computer to the camera. If Windows Movir Maker will do the job, your ready to go. If not, you may need another editing program.

Kovac · 04-02-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faiith

My camcorder is having firewire connector.. want to get a device that has different type of connectors available so that i will be able to connect video devices that maybe having connectors such as s-video, firewire etc.. i saw the creative video blaster editor and it seems to do the job and has the DVFX technology for improving video quality.. any idea?

You have a few options here as suggested already. If you do not want to rely on PC that is too slow or you are not familiar with the typical conversion software and codecs this blaster that you have linked should actually work out well for you. I see it has "4 pin DV cable" included. This is so called mini DV which is essentially firewire, if I remember well. So yes, you could connect both your digital (via mini DV) or VHS (via analog) camcorders to this box.

faiith · 04-02-2007, 06:37 PM

There's no firewire port on my computer and on my camcorder there's no firewire port.. that's why i am looking for something else.. well, it seems that the video blaster editor has everything i will need.. I have manged to find the product at their site http://us.creative.com/products/prod...&product=15739 It seems to use domino processor for the conversion which mean conversion speed will be fast ya~

**bruiser** · 04-02-2007, 08:04 PM

I thought you said your camcorder had a firewire port.

Are you wanting to use a vcr or the camcorder, or both? Most of the capture devices have USB, s-video, component, or composite hook ups. Something ought to work.

Does your camcorder have any kind of port, or does the tape go into the vcr for playback?

Terrister · 04-03-2007, 06:16 AM

The creative device will do a great job. It come with the Adobe software. We use that at work to make training videos. Takes a while to learn, but should be able to do anything you want.

04-01-2007, 08:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
faiith Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? Hi there, I'd like to digitalize my VHS casettes: family movies and some vintage stuff recorded from TV. I am reading on this and it seems like you need a PhD to do this, the codecs and all... Is there any simple and reliable way to transfer movies from analog to digital? Perhaps there is this magic box somwhere that I can connect my VCR on one end and my computer on the other end, press a button to have VHS cassettes transferred onto the computer? Any suggestion?

04-01-2007, 09:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
8210GUY TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,558 OS: xp Pro	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? Well I've never done it but I know it can be done, to start with you will need a video card with a TV input (or similar), then some software to record it as you play it. But thats where my knowledge stops on this, if you reply with what video card you have and hopefully someone will be able to take you onto a further stage, but they will need to know what hardware you have to start with to say if you would be able to do this with that.

04-01-2007, 09:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
bruiser TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,065 OS: xp	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? Why yes, there is a magic box. They're known as video transfer devices, or video capture devices. Another way is get a video card with video in. The magic boxes do connect between the vcr and the pc, or a standalone dvd player. They plug into a usb or firewire port on the pc. You need some kind of video capture software, but that generally comes with the device. Or Windows Movie Maker can handle the task, or if you have Nero it can also do it. Another way is the combo vcr/dvd recorder which will also so the job of making a dvd out of a tape. http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=vid...p=mss&ei=UTF-8 Last edited by bruiser; 04-01-2007 at 09:58 AM.

04-01-2007, 10:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
Terrister Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,095 OS: Xp	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? I have used this device to capture from a 8mm camcorder. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...736&CatId=1428 Has the software to make it easy.

04-01-2007, 06:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
faiith Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? Thanks all for the recommendations.. :) By the way, it seems that the dazzle video creator does not have firewire connector.. does it mean that I can't use that with my cam recorder which is having firewire connector? I have saw a product at http://news.softpedia.com/news/Creat...or-50157.shtml Will this work?

04-02-2007, 01:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
faiith Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? My camcorder is having firewire connector.. want to get a device that has different type of connectors available so that i will be able to connect video devices that maybe having connectors such as s-video, firewire etc.. i saw the creative video blaster editor and it seems to do the job and has the DVFX technology for improving video quality.. any idea?

04-02-2007, 06:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
bruiser TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,065 OS: xp	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? If your pc has firewire ports, you could try connecting the camcorder directly to the pc, and using Windows Movie Maker or another program to capture the video.

04-02-2007, 06:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
Terrister Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,095 OS: Xp	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? You just buy the correct cable (firewire) to connect the computer to the camera. If Windows Movir Maker will do the job, your ready to go. If not, you may need another editing program.

04-02-2007, 06:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
faiith Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11 OS: WinXP	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? There's no firewire port on my computer and on my camcorder there's no firewire port.. that's why i am looking for something else.. well, it seems that the video blaster editor has everything i will need.. I have manged to find the product at their site http://us.creative.com/products/prod...&product=15739 It seems to use domino processor for the conversion which mean conversion speed will be fast ya~

04-02-2007, 08:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
bruiser TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,065 OS: xp	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? I thought you said your camcorder had a firewire port. Are you wanting to use a vcr or the camcorder, or both? Most of the capture devices have USB, s-video, component, or composite hook ups. Something ought to work. Does your camcorder have any kind of port, or does the tape go into the vcr for playback?

04-03-2007, 06:16 AM	#13 (permalink)
Terrister Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,095 OS: Xp	Re: What can I use to digitalize my VHS casettes?? The creative device will do a great job. It come with the Adobe software. We use that at work to make training videos. Takes a while to learn, but should be able to do anything you want.