Home audio & video forum: Transfering VHS to digital/DVD: hardware and software

(Dell Inspiron E1705
with
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 2
and
1.85 gigahertz Intel Core Duo
53.46 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
CD/DVD drive (NEC DVD+-RW ND-6650A)
Windows Media Player 10 (EMERALDQFE2)
Angel USB TV Tuner with Remote Control TVT2 [320-4257]
VCR: Panasonic PV-V4522 )

Now I have a question on a different track.
After I saw your mention of an ANALOG to digital converter I searched Kim Komando's site for any instructions on Analog. (www.komando.com)

("Most Media Center computers are sold with TV tuner cards pre-installed. They can convert analog signals (TV or VCR) into digital signals usable by your computer. In that case, you'll be able to connect your VCR directly with your computer. Such a connection usually involves a composite video (RCA) cable. You could pick one up at your favorite electronics store or...
You could also connect the VCR to the computer using a coaxial cable. It's the type typically used for cable television."

Once you've connected your VCR to your computer, you'll need some video capture software. Fortunately, Windows XP includes Windows Movie Maker. To find it, click Start>>All Programs>>Accessories>>Entertainment>>Windows Movie Maker.
In Movie Maker, click File>>Capture Video. Under Movie Tasks, click "Capture from video device." Under "Available devices," select your VCR. It should be the only device listed. You'll be prompted to name the digital movie file that will be created. Enter a name and click Next. Then you'll be prompted to select a video quality setting. Choose the high-quality AVI setting. It's best for burning to DVDs. Click Next.
Under Capture Method, select "Capture parts of the tape manually." Do not mark the checkbox labeled "Show preview during capture." The preview feature might overburden your computer and affect the video quality. Finally, click Next.
You'll see the Capture Video window with a button to start recording (Start Capture). Push Play on your VCR. Then click the Start Capture button in Movie Maker. Now you're making the transfer to digital! When you finish recording, click the Stop Capture button.
The resulting video file can be edited in Movie Maker. Use your DVD burning program to make your DVD.)

I bought the Dell Angel USB TV tuner as an add-on when I ordered my notebook.
I tested it and found that using either the rabbit ear antenna or my coaxial from my TV to VCR connection I could watch TV with it.

However, I (and apparently a number of other Windows Movie Maker users) got an error message when trying to use it for importing analog.

I tried using it, with the same coaxial, going from the out to TV connection on my VCR and the other into my Dell Angel USB TV tuner. Then I plugged the Dell tuner-supplied cable into the tuner and then into the USB port of my notebook.

I got to In Movie Maker, click File>>Capture Video. Under Movie Tasks, click "Capture from video device."

and then got the Windows Movie Maker pop-up:
"The video device is currently in use. Close any other application that is using the device and try again". But NOTHING is plugged into it! Its only plugged into the power.
(1)
If I click OK, I get
The video device cannot be used at this time because there has been an error when starting the device.
(2)
If I unplug the TV tuner cable from the USB I get WMM pop-up
A video capture device was not detected. Verify that a device is turned on and connected properly, and then try again.

I got the same first error message when I used the red/yellow/white to red/yellow/white cable from the out set on my VCR to the red/yellow/white connections on the TV tuner.

In fact, if I connect only the TV tuner, using its cable, to my notebook (no coaxials or anything going in to it) I get the same error message!

I tried a suggestion from another sites posting, but still got the same error message.
(Posting:
.but I have the solution.
1. Log on to your computer as an administrator.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type services.msc, and then click OK to open the Services window.
4. In the right pane, click Media Center Receiver Service.
5. Click the Action menu, and then click Properties.
6. On the General tab, under Startup type, click Disabled, and then click OK.
7. Restart Microsoft Windows.
8. Now, capture video in Movie Maker from your analog video camera or VCR
9. You may want to repeat these steps to step 6 then re-enable after you are done capturing.
This will work and you won't have to go buy an rf modulator.)

So at this point, you are still saying that I need a Firewire? Because the TV tuner cable is connecting to my notebook with a USB port?

Wake up and smell the coffee?

Thanks!

Hi Dan --

As a Mac user myself, your reply/advice caught my attention.

I have two Macs to work from...a G4 [still] running OS 9.2 and a G4 laptop with OS X 10.3.9. Both have plenty of RAM (over 1.2 Gigs).

I'm not looking to create fancy movies -- I just want to extract some video footage of my kids from a bunch of old VHS tapes -- so it sounds like I have to find some sort of converter box.

Also, because I'd like to post some to Youtube, I most likely would have to have some type of video-editing software. I have iDVD on the laptop, will that do?

Yes you do IF you are going to use the analog to digital converter or a digital video camera. However, that maybe the best method but it is also the most expensive.

There are many other (and I mean MANY) capturing devices out there in the market place (they range from maybe $70 to $150), but they usually comes with software as well.

Take a look at http://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC55/index.php. I use their ADVC-55 at work and I use the older version of their ADVC-110 at home. The more expensive models give you the ability to record back to a DV camera, but for simply taking analog video from VHS, the model 55 works just fine. These take analog video (from RCA or S-Video) and converts it to DV video. For this, you will need a Firewire. The good thing is that these converters are simply hardware based, no software. You simply depend on your computer editing software to capture and edit the signal.

I read the thread...would I be better off to buy the Canopus ADVC-110 and the Firewire Card to accomplish this OR could I buy a new DV camcorder and do the same thing and have a useful recorder to use in the future? My main goal is to transfer old VHS tapes but it would be nice to have a recorder that is up to date, if I would not sacrifice quality converting my old tapes. (I am not a technical person, so I don't know about this topic, however I can read and follow directions!)

If I decide to buy a camcorder,is the option I am looking for an AV input jack? It makes more sense to me to buy something I can continue to use after converting my 50 or so VHS tapes.