What is the most simple way to get old VHS onto my computer - Home Entertainment Technology

luvjustin · 05-11-2009, 18:28

I do not own a VHS player anymore but can easily get hold of one.

I do not have a DVD recorder.

I am willing to spend a bit of money but don't really want to shell out £139 for this

http://www.firebox.com/product/2108/...verter?via=cat

..but that does look very simple..

Any ideas/suggestions?

Nigel Goodwin · 05-11-2009, 18:40

You just need a TV card for your PC, as well as a tuner they usually have direct video and audio inputs, and you can copy from a VHS video through those.

misterbarlow · 05-11-2009, 20:25

i bought an adaptec videoh to do the same... think it was about £90..

RobAnt · 05-11-2009, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

You just need a TV card for your PC, as well as a tuner they usually have direct video and audio inputs, and you can copy from a VHS video through those.

Make that a TV capture card OR a TV receiver card.

Thirdly there are USB plug in capture devices which would be suitable for VHS quality images - about £15 and upwards.

Opaque · 06-11-2009, 13:52

But they still require a video player which the OP says they don't have. So they'd need to buy one of those as well. I say buy as it could take some time to go through your collection so borrowing one that is still used might not be appropriate

The biggest problem I have found with these systems is that it takes as long as the video to copy it, and with long play thats easily 7 hours.

I've got one of the video to DVD recorders from Maplin a while ago and thats fine for that kind of wish the to pc version had come out earlier!
I did have an adaptec videoh (but earlier) device which was good but found the biggest problem was that video players don't tend to fit into the space around a desktop pc very well!

Opaque · 06-11-2009, 13:57

Interestingly enough just looking at the Firebox link it says this:

Hi - do you have a date for when the new model will be available on your website? (Also, will the newer version support transfer of recordings at LP mode?).
Sabita, Surrey - Feb '09
Firebox says: Unfortunately we don't have any dates at the moment, please keep checking. Sadly, a LP version will not be available. Sorry.

Pretty useless without a LP function!!

RobAnt · 06-11-2009, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opaque

But they still require a video player which the OP says they don't have

Quote:

I do not own a VHS player anymore but can easily get hold of one

Which is why that issue wasn't addressed.

Opaque · 07-11-2009, 14:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobAnt

Which is why that issue wasn't addressed.

And which is why I mentioned buying one might be a better idea than borrowing one. Unless of course wherever the OP could get one from didn't want it back!

RobAnt · 08-11-2009, 01:44

Borrowing one would be ideal. No need to purchase if it's only for transferring current tapes to HDD. Once they're done, they're done. Anyway, I feel the OP made it clear that he didn't want to spend a lot of money, and s/he could get hold of a player easily.

There's no point flogging a dead horse on this issue.

Opaque · 08-11-2009, 19:09

Depends on the number of tapes. I've got hundreds to do.

petestan · 09-11-2009, 02:34

He can probably pick up a vcr off freecycle for nothing or ebay for very cheap anyway.

Mr_Red · 10-11-2009, 16:34

I have had this functionality for over 10 years.
All Graphics cards were ATI All-in-Wonder.
They have RCA in and out and S-Video.
It is the only way I watch TV.
I can if I want, record as an MP2 video (think DVD & Freeview etc) but rarely. I use the screen capture to grab pictures sometimes. Otherwise I watch in whatever size window and happytap at the same time. But then I listen to a lot of BBC7.

zaeon · 12-11-2009, 23:40

There are simpler devices that grab video and audio and send the resultant data via a free usb socket to your computer (usualy in MP4 or AVI format) then all you need is the appropriate software to burn that to DVD.Google the manufacturer KWorld and see what comes up.
This is the one I got, though mine was cheaper from Amazon.http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...720&CatId=1428

Mindee · 20-11-2009, 16:14

Probably this would be suitable.

05-11-2009, 18:28	#1
luvjustin Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 594	What is the most simple way to get old VHS onto my computer I do not own a VHS player anymore but can easily get hold of one. I do not have a DVD recorder. I am willing to spend a bit of money but don't really want to shell out £139 for this http://www.firebox.com/product/2108/...verter?via=cat ..but that does look very simple.. Any ideas/suggestions?

05-11-2009, 18:40	#2
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 19,211	You just need a TV card for your PC, as well as a tuner they usually have direct video and audio inputs, and you can copy from a VHS video through those.

05-11-2009, 20:25	#3
misterbarlow Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wales Services: Virgin 10Mb, Sky+HD. Posts: 355	i bought an adaptec videoh to do the same... think it was about £90..

06-11-2009, 13:52	#5
Opaque Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Cambridge Services: VM XL, 20MB Broadband Posts: 4,155	But they still require a video player which the OP says they don't have. So they'd need to buy one of those as well. I say buy as it could take some time to go through your collection so borrowing one that is still used might not be appropriate The biggest problem I have found with these systems is that it takes as long as the video to copy it, and with long play thats easily 7 hours. I've got one of the video to DVD recorders from Maplin a while ago and thats fine for that kind of wish the to pc version had come out earlier! I did have an adaptec videoh (but earlier) device which was good but found the biggest problem was that video players don't tend to fit into the space around a desktop pc very well!

06-11-2009, 13:57	#6
Opaque Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Cambridge Services: VM XL, 20MB Broadband Posts: 4,155	Interestingly enough just looking at the Firebox link it says this: Hi - do you have a date for when the new model will be available on your website? (Also, will the newer version support transfer of recordings at LP mode?). Sabita, Surrey - Feb '09 Firebox says: Unfortunately we don't have any dates at the moment, please keep checking. Sadly, a LP version will not be available. Sorry. Pretty useless without a LP function!!

08-11-2009, 01:44	#9
RobAnt Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South West Services: Virgin Broadband, TV, Phone Posts: 8,670	Borrowing one would be ideal. No need to purchase if it's only for transferring current tapes to HDD. Once they're done, they're done. Anyway, I feel the OP made it clear that he didn't want to spend a lot of money, and s/he could get hold of a player easily. There's no point flogging a dead horse on this issue.

08-11-2009, 19:09	#10
Opaque Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Cambridge Services: VM XL, 20MB Broadband Posts: 4,155	Depends on the number of tapes. I've got hundreds to do.

09-11-2009, 02:34	#11
petestan Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: lancashire Services: sky+, Freeview, 16 gb O2 broadband Posts: 814	He can probably pick up a vcr off freecycle for nothing or ebay for very cheap anyway.

10-11-2009, 16:34	#12
Mr_Red Forum Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28	I have had this functionality for over 10 years. All Graphics cards were ATI All-in-Wonder. They have RCA in and out and S-Video. It is the only way I watch TV. I can if I want, record as an MP2 video (think DVD & Freeview etc) but rarely. I use the screen capture to grab pictures sometimes. Otherwise I watch in whatever size window and happytap at the same time. But then I listen to a lot of BBC7.

12-11-2009, 23:40	#13
zaeon Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: County Durham Posts: 204	There are simpler devices that grab video and audio and send the resultant data via a free usb socket to your computer (usualy in MP4 or AVI format) then all you need is the appropriate software to burn that to DVD.Google the manufacturer KWorld and see what comes up. This is the one I got, though mine was cheaper from Amazon.http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...720&CatId=1428

20-11-2009, 16:14	#14
Mindee Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The ♥ of rural England Services: Tree hugging Posts: 820	Probably this would be suitable.