Transferring old video to DVD About This Page:

[imagineer95]

Hi! My "research project" for the summer is to figure out how to transfer old VHS tapes on to my computer. The tapes are home video tapes, ranging from 1995 to 2004-ish. How can I transfer the video onto my PC? I thought about connecting my VCR to my computer, but I have no way to get the tapes into the VCR, as they are small enough to go in a camcorder. I also considered trying to hook my camcorder (with the tape into my computerand transfer it that way, but it is an old video camera and has no computer hookup that I know of. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks!

[DVC_Increda_Man]

Could you tell us what model the tapes are???

[rescuesk]

Are they VHS-C tapes(larger)? If they are, there is a converter that you drop the tape in that makes them a standard size video tape. If they are DVC tapes (tiny), you will probably need to hook up your video camera to your VCR.

We ended up getting a DVD burner and connected it to our VCR/DVD combo player. Then we recorded our tapes (our first camera used the VHS-C tapes, our second the DVC tapes) directly onto DVD. From there, I could download them to the computer if I needed additional copies.

[imagineer95]

Okay, I have now gathered all the specifics and still have no clue!!! The video camcorder is a Magnavox Easy Cam that runs with vhs-c tapes, purchased about 1995.
I can effectively hook up the camera to the vcr. so how can I hook up the vcr to the computer?? My vcr is a RCA home theater. it says VHS plus on it. Does anyone have any ideas??? Or can I somehow just skip the whole VCR step and hook the camera up directly to the computer?? (by the way, my computer is a Dell that runs on Vista.) Once the video is on my computer, i can use Roxio to change it to DVD format.

Thanks!!!!!!

[A & J's Dad]

You will definitely want to skip the VCR step. These are analog recordings and with each subsequent copy quality will suffer. You basically have two options; get a VHS to DVD copier and a VHS-C adapter or get yourself a capture device to convert the video to something you can edit. I've used a predecessor to this DVD Xpress DX2 before with very good results.

Cheers
Craig

[imagineer95]

thank you very much!!!! I just discovered that my camera has a video/audio out holes (?) in it. does anyone know if they sell connectors with video/audio (yellow/white) jacks on one side, and a usb connector on the other?? thanks!

[A & J's Dad]

It's possible, but I doubt it. You're still talking about an analog signal. You'll need something, hardware or software, to make the conversion to a digital format.

Good Luck
Craig

[Dave Marx]

There are many devices that can help you. What you need is a "video capture" device. You can buy that as a card to install in the PC, or a box with cables attached - just as you wish, you can connect those video/audio outputs on the camera directly to one of those boxes, and plug the other end into your USB port. Any decent camera shop or computer store will have something for you. Prices start at around $40, and go up from there depending on the bells and whistles. I can't make any personal recommendations, as I don't have one.

[disneygramma]

I was recently at Best Buy here and they had what I think you are looking for. Call them and explain what you are looking for. Good luck.

[DVC_Increda_Man]

If you have a newer Camcorder, It may have what is called "Pass Through Mode"
or Analog Video Dubbing..
Some of the Camcorder makers made these options so that people with the older
video recorders could transfer their video from the older analog video recorders
to their computers or to the newer Mini DV without losing a lot of the quality of
the original tape.

In "Pass Through Mode", your newer camcorder acted as a analog to digital
converter, so that you can transfer your older video to a computer.
You play back your tape in your old camera through a AV cable plugged
into your new camcorder and it would convert and transfer the video through a Firewire cable to your computer.

In "Dubbing Mode" you could play back your old video camera into the newer
digital camcorder through a AV cable and the newer digital camcorder
would record everything to the mini dv tape in the digital camcorder, or
you could put a tape in your VCR and then play it into the digital camcorder
and transfer the recording that way.

Here is a web site with a list of camcorders that do some of these things.
DV Camcorders with pass-through

Now some of these camcorders are discontinued and you can still
buy one on Ebay really cheap and get your video transfered over to
something newer to work with.