VHS on computer?

[Sonic_13]

Can someone tell me the quickest and cheapest way to upload vhs videos to my computer? For the record I have an HP pavilon a250n. What kind of stuff can I buy to put my vhs recording on youtube?

[KhakiBlueSocks]

You might wanna look into investing in a TV Tuner card for your PC. It's can run you between $30 upward depending on the model and software included, but it's worth it if you do a lot of video editing or just feel like watching TV while you surf the web and don't feel like pushing away from your computer desk. All you really need is a cable line and a free PCI Slot on the back of your computer

Here's how I have mine setup--

• My Tuner card is running to my VCR's TV-Out plug.

• I have my main cable line running into my VCR's Antenna In plug.

• My TV is connected to my VCR through the Audio/Video plugs in the back.

I hope this helps ya out! I have an HP Pavillion a305w, so if you need any help, lemme know!

[Warrior4Christ]

I have video in/video out on my graphic card, so I:
-Use single RCA cable to connect video out on VCR to video in on graphics card.
-Use a 2 RCA to 3.5mm stereo cable to connect the L & R audio outs on VCR to line in on sound card.
Then you can record your tapes onto the computer. My prefered format is Panasonic's DV AVI codec (best by far if you decide to do further editing).
You may find that the audio and video go out of sync slightly for long clips. To fix it you may need a video editor that is capable of time scaling (but that is only for long clips, as I said).

Now, there are four devices I can think of for connecting a VCR to a computer.
-VIVO graphics card (like I have)
-TV tuner
-digital camcorder (some - not all - have a video in connector which you connect the VCR to, then connect the camera as usual with firewire)
-dedicated capture devices that encode to MPEG in real time (expensive, not recommended)

I don't know current prices on things, but my guess is that if you're happy with your current video card, the best choice would be to get a TV tuner with video in. You can get analogue and digital TV tuners in one card, which is probably recommended (but more expensive). I'd be surprised if TV tuners are as cheap as $30 with video in.

[Bobtheduck]

I use an ATI All in wonder 2006 PCI express and movie maker... Movie maker is a decent (for being free) video editor that actually WORKS with the card, unlike Premiere Elements which comes with it (which is totally stupid)

All those connections can get confusing if you're not an AV person, though... Just remember, to get somewhere everything has to go through something else. So it has to come out of your VCR into the computer, output to input. Make sure you figure out which attatchment is input, though... It took me a few minutes to figure out what all the connections were.

[Warrior4Christ]

Premiere Elements only accepts digital inputs.

I use a different bundled video editor anyway to convert the VCR tape to DV AVI. Then edit with Premiere Elements.

[Sonic_13]

hahaha oh dear this is all going over my head! Sounds like a lot of technical work is included

I was looking into getting this http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/ADS-Technologies-Video-Xpress-USBAV191EF-/sem/rpsm/oid/134682/catOid/-13044/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

It's kind of expensive, but I am really interested in doing some movie making here =) Maybe even some stop motion x) heres a sample of what my friend and I were able to do at school- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWcVqkE3t3Q

I just preformed for the first time in front of a live audience, I'm kind of interesting in uploading the VHS =)

Thanks guys for helping out! I hope this device I'm looking into is efficient. Any input would be greatly appreciated

[Warrior4Christ]

That one seems quite decent from the reviews.

[Mithrandir]

That would work fine. You are essitially looking for something with RCA (composite) video inputs and firewire (or USB2.0, depending on your computer) outputs. Once you have that, you'll need to grab a piece of software that will let you record the digital signal coming in. (Most of these external devices will do just that). The really big plus of an external devide is that you can transfer it from computer to computer (and you can use it with a laptop - a major plus for me).

[Bobtheduck]

Premiere Elements only accepts digital inputs.

That is Adobe's big sin... *shakes fist at adobe, then at ATI*

I think I'm going to boycott the Wii SIMPLY because of ATI and adobe bundling this stuff together... Unless the download service rocks... *smirks*

*cough*

Seriously, though, how could both ATI and Adobe be that stupid?

[Sonic_13]

alright! now I just need to add some cash to my checking account

[Sonic_13]

Sorry to double post! I ordered one for 30 bucks, claims to have been rca compatible but was totally foreign.

I got a new one at radioshack It works kinda well!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1659180185342505837

how does it look? The rca plug I have only has 2 jacks, so the audio is sorta cut in half. I will take the one from my gamecube and make better quality audio in the future ;P