vhs to hard disk

H

hhpeter

New Member
I have some 8 mm tapes family movies want to transfer them on hard disk and eventually on dvd.
I've been reading some threads and found out that I need a capture card.I have no experience with capture cards if someone can tell me which one should I buy my budget is up to 100$can. I'm running windows xp media center.
Looking on the internet I found this one:
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=006803&cid=CC.344
and this one:
http://www.logiccomputerhouse.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=9456
Which one is better?
Is there other card that offers me better value for my money ?
Thank You!
 
First of all you need to be familiar with the type of output source you will be using for this. Will it be S-Video or another type of connection. If the camera is tape that would be seen as composite or analog with any capture card's setup options. Many are recommending the brand name at the first link for the make they would choose a model from.

The Hauppauge model seen there at the first link uses the standard RCA video and audio type input plugs as the typical VHS recorder you connect to your tv. Yellow on most cables is for video while the red and white are generally for the left and right stereo channels. This model also includes the S-Video input seen in the center of the card and 75ohm for cable tv input.

The Asus model seen at the second link is simply a tv tuner card and won't work for capturing video from an external source. The software will have a vcd timer for recording on a schedule from a cable source but lacks the versatility you will need there.
 
I have the 2nd one and I've transfered some old VHS recordings to DVD. The quality has been near perfect!

Also, I don't beleive the Asus has an onboard encoder. See the white connection, I beleive that's audio out. That means it uses the sound card for audio and can get out of sync quite easily. The WinTV encodes audio and video onboard.
 
So I guess the Win TV its better. Is there other card you can recommend me?
Do I need to install any software to use this card?
 
WinTV is a little complicated when it comes to loading the software, but trust me, it's worth it..

As for other cards, I don't know of any others right off. WinTV is one of the better brands, and I really don't think you could get much better quality captures than the PVR150 delivers...
 
The AverMedia PCI1500 MCE card is used here for XP while only one driver and NO software patches came out for Vista! Yet the site's listing of Vista capable cards shows the same model? For XP it works great and looks like the same card as the Hauppauge model with the twin 75ohm, S-Video, and RCA phono jacks seen. Other capture cards see the input jacks but no tv tuner. The main problem will be when and if you upgrade to Vista as your main OS. Make sure the software enclosed is "VISTA READY" not "Vista compatible".
 
Just curious... in your subject you mention VHS while in your post you mention 8MM. if you are transfer analog video, you will need to capture it like others have said here. If your source is digital, you can use a firewire cable. Make sure you know what your source is. You will need a lot of HD space either way. Good luck

Mako
 
Generally the output from a camcorder with magnetic tape is either through an adapter with RCA type analog jacks there or by way of a cable plugged into the camera for direct output to a standard home vcr or 75ohm connection.

Talk about hard drive space needed for capturing video try about 3.9gb to 4.2gb for a 1hr. mpeg II file on average. With surveilance cameras here the composite footage from an analog source takes up that much space easily. Gee I'm glad to have those two 500gb sata drives in now! :D
 
69mako said:
Just curious... in your subject you mention VHS while in your post you mention 8MM. if you are transfer analog video, you will need to capture it like others have said here. If your source is digital, you can use a firewire cable. Make sure you know what your source is. You will need a lot of HD space either way. Good luck

Mako
Click to expand...

My mistake
I know its different technology vhs and hi8 but I thought it doesn't make difference because either way you go is analog signal that you need to capture.
I made this videos a while ago so I don't even have the camcorder anymore. Is there a hi8 camcorder that has firewire input?
 
hhpeter said:
Is there a hi8 camcorder that has firewire input?
Click to expand...
Do you mean output? There's a standard called Digital8 which records to Hi8 tapes digitally(basically miniDV quality on Hi8 tapes) These camcorders are also backwards compatible with 8mm and Hi8 recordings. I have used my Sony Digital8 to download some of our old Hi8 tapes to my computer though firewire.
 
First you have to know the format(digital or analog/composite) when deciding on the type of card. The two different models seen at the links are both analog primary with the Hauppauge seeing S-Video. Both also see the standard 75ohm common with video cassette recorders. If analog or you can convert the signal to that when going to 1/2" vhs tape you can patch a vcr to the capture card.

But that's when you would start losing the crisp original signal strength. For the hi8 and not digital patch to the RCA phone type input should see the best results. Your other option is the new line of dvd recorders where you patch directly to them. You just can't pre-edit the video prior to direct burn there however.
 
OK so lets say I have a digital8 camcorder which has a firewire output do I still need a capture card? even if I have a firewire input in my computer?
 
If you go with a pci device it would have to the dv input to begin with. Other types of capture devices are usb as well as using the 1394 fireware concept. Some video cards are seeing the dv in type as well as analog capture capability. But I tend to shy away from combined display/video capture combos especially if you later want a better gaming card or simply plan to upgrade to a DX10 card that eventually catch notice.

Studio DV has one set of tips showing how one setup works seen at http://www.aapvrf.cornell.edu/Mediatips/StudioDV/capture/Index.html

Once you know the type of video you are going to be working with the next step is deciding on the best input method onto your system. The link there is simply for one program used for digital. When working mostly with analog here for the most part usb devices seemed to prove unreliable and saw software related problems most often.

Besides the obvious one software only page seen above the best place found with step by step guides for working with digital formats is seen at http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/capture/dv.htm
 
69mako said:
Just curious... in your subject you mention VHS while in your post you mention 8MM. if you are transfer analog video, you will need to capture it like others have said here. If your source is digital, you can use a firewire cable. Make sure you know what your source is. You will need a lot of HD space either way. Good luck

Mako
Click to expand...

i dont think hd space is a problem, he has a 200GB hd
 
yes, but he hasnt really specified that he games, nor does he download too much, he isnt a designer, he doesnt work from home, i think that 200gb is plenty... (lol and im a gamer with an 80gb and a 40gb. dont talk to ME about how fast memory goes up ;) )
 
Where was the mention of downloading anything? We are talking about capturing video from a camcorder direct to the hard drive on the system. From there "home movies" the actual type of video is then burned preserved on dvds. But the larger capacity also allows some degree of storage space. Here videos are backed up in the event a burn fails or a disk is lost or damaged. This is not the case for all but certain specific files. In fact I'm currently helping one family get familiar with capturing from their own security cameras onto hard drive and then burn to disk IF?
 
i was merely going off of what he HASNT told us, and i figured that all of those were reasonable assumptions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top