Capturing VHS to DVD - GoFuckYourself.com

Max Potential · 04-19-2012, 07:00 PM

Trying to figure out how to take some old VHS tapes and copy them into my computer and/or burn them to a DVD.

I found this little cheapo usb device that I think will do the mechanical trick, just wondering about what software to use along with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/260994956225... 4.m1438.l2649

Or, if there is a better option all around.

Mostly my wife wants to get her workout tapes off the VHS as the deck we have is old and we dont really want to replace it.

Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks much!

dallasnovelty · 04-19-2012, 07:16 PM

I have done it and they do look OK. I used a USB adapter from the vcr/analog feed to a laptop and let it run because its all done real time. If you have a lot of tapes it takes forever, hence the laptop running it

Max Potential · 04-19-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallasnovelty

I have done it and they do look OK. I used a USB adapter from the vcr/analog feed to a laptop and let it run because its all done real time. If you have a lot of tapes it takes forever, hence the laptop running it

Cool, good to know someone's done it. I'm not necessarily looking for spectacular quality, just want to be able to see and hear it ok. My wife spent a fortune some time ago on her workout tapes and doesnt want to have to repurchase on dvd. We've got an extra machine sitting here that we can just let run with it for as long as it takes.

raymor · 04-19-2012, 07:52 PM

There are basically two kinds of capture cards - frame capture and hardware mpeg. Hardware mpeg is much better. Once you buy one, add some free software like Mythbuntu and you have a kickass DVR. For the frame capture cards, the hardware basically takes screenshots and the software turns the screenshots into an mpeg. The hardware mpeg cards send mpeg directly over the USB or PCIe - no screenshots.

When buying a capture card, one that includes a tuner (with a coax jack) will be much better for future uses, like as a DVR.

04-19-2012, 07:00 PM	#1
Max Potential Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,045	Capturing VHS to DVD Trying to figure out how to take some old VHS tapes and copy them into my computer and/or burn them to a DVD. I found this little cheapo usb device that I think will do the mechanical trick, just wondering about what software to use along with it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/260994956225... 4.m1438.l2649 Or, if there is a better option all around. Mostly my wife wants to get her workout tapes off the VHS as the deck we have is old and we dont really want to replace it. Any thoughts or advice? Thanks much! __________________

04-19-2012, 07:16 PM	#2
dallasnovelty Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,056	I have done it and they do look OK. I used a USB adapter from the vcr/analog feed to a laptop and let it run because its all done real time. If you have a lot of tapes it takes forever, hence the laptop running it __________________ \| Dallas Novelty Blog \| Facebook

04-19-2012, 07:52 PM	#4
raymor Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,745	There are basically two kinds of capture cards - frame capture and hardware mpeg. Hardware mpeg is much better. Once you buy one, add some free software like Mythbuntu and you have a kickass DVR. For the frame capture cards, the hardware basically takes screenshots and the software turns the screenshots into an mpeg. The hardware mpeg cards send mpeg directly over the USB or PCIe - no screenshots. When buying a capture card, one that includes a tuner (with a coax jack) will be much better for future uses, like as a DVR. Last edited by raymor; 04-19-2012 at 07:57 PM..