Record VCR to PC

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Record VCR to PC

gazza27

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#19808 2-Mar-2008 12:24

Hi, I have a VCR with RCA outputs and a PC with a Sparkle 8500GT video card which has S Video input by the looks of it. I'm wanting to record a video tape onto my PC so I can edit, burn to DVD etc.

Can I just get an S Video to 3xRCA converter cable and record? Or do I need a video capture card? I don't want to spend too much as this will be for one, maybe two videos.

CYaBro

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#114100 2-Mar-2008 13:44

The S-video on the 8500GT will be a TV output only and won't take an input.

You will need to get some sort of video capture card or a TV card with RCA inputs like a Hauppauge PVR150.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

gazza27

63 posts

Master Geek

#114102 2-Mar-2008 13:47

Ok thanks I'll look into getting that card.

EDIT: $100 is a bit much for what I'll be doing with it. Where could I take videos and pay to have them put on DVD? Or will http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Components/Other-PCI-cards/auction-142511786.htm?p=1 do?

lchiu7

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#114105 2-Mar-2008 13:53

I have done pretty much all of my VCR (VHS and Hi8) to PC conversion using a Canopus ADV110. This device takes composite or s-video input and outputs a video/audio signal in DV format over IEEE1394. So all the conversion is done in the box. Once in the PC it can be edited with most good editing programs since DV format (as in DV camcorders etc.) is pretty universal.

Beats trying to edit the file in MPEG2 format which the PVR150 would do or other formats video capture cards tend to use.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

CYaBro

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#114106 2-Mar-2008 13:53

Yep that should work.
Just check that the specs of your computer are enough.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

gazza27

63 posts

Master Geek

#114110 2-Mar-2008 13:58

You mean that TradeMe one would work?

It says I need a 16-bit soundcard but I'm only running mobo AC'97 audio.

freitasm

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#114123 2-Mar-2008 15:15

Just go to DSE and get a USB capture device for $89.... Product code is XH3371.

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richms

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#114135 2-Mar-2008 15:58

*COUGH* 14day returns *COUGH*

DSE is a great place to shop ;)

Richard rich.ms

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#114137 2-Mar-2008 16:04

*cough* blatent abuse *cough*

I have been using the XH3371's for years never had one fail on me

lchiu7

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#114150 2-Mar-2008 16:37

freitasm:
Just go to DSE and get a USB capture device for $89.... Product code is XH3371.

Does this rely on your PC to do the actual encoding?

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

freitasm

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#114160 2-Mar-2008 17:19

I have no idea. I just think that using a USB device is way easier than opening a PC and installing a new card. Not that installing a new card is that difficult, but still...

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lchiu7

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#114175 2-Mar-2008 18:23

Which is why I really like the Canopus ADV110. With my DVCam footage I just transfer over firewire. With analogue footage, the Canopus converts it all to DV format and I transfer it over firewire again. In neither case do I have to open up the PC.

I also purchased but never used the Hauppauge WinTV USB2.0 video capture device. This is a TV tuner etc. but also a builtin USB 2.0 capture device that does the MPEG2 compression in hardware. So CPU requirements are pretty minimal. It's a reasonabel size box so it's hard to believe that little DSE special does that also. Rather it uses USB to capture the video stream and relies on your PC to do the compression.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.