Can the VHS recorder be connected to a computer? If so, how is it done?
I know this is somewhat off topic but I asked the question in a PC newsgroup and couldn't get an answer so I came to people who do answer questions.

Thanks~

Check these out.
VHS to PC

I don't really want to convert the VHS to DVD, I just want to be able to play some taped programs and movies on the computer.

When the TV sat unused for almost a year, I decided to get rid of it. But there are these tapes and the VCR still around that I might want to see again. Or maybe not. I'm more a reader anyway.

Thanks~

Is the VHS connection S-video? Do you have an S-video connection on your computer video card? S-video doesn't carry sound, but there might be connectors that also plug into the sound card. I'm thinking Windows would also need a "player" of some kind to recognize the video format. Not really too sure of any of this. It's definitely possible to convert them to DVD so they could then be watched on the computer.

Perhaps this article will help
Watch VHS on PC

I have not tried this I converted my old tapes to DVD using a connection from VHS player to a stand alone DVD recorder.

It is much easier to play audio cassettes on your pc. Simply plug your tape player into your sound card and turn the tape player on. To put anything on your pc it must be converted into digital format. To simply play it you will need a program to do it. For video a tv tuner or capture card may be required.

For audio recordings Goldwave is an excellent reasonably priced program. You get free lifetime updates. It has enough filters to do amazing things. Remember the pops and ticks heard on Lps? How about the hiss and hum on tapes? I was able to remove all of that using Goldwave. I had a 1973 tape of an album I liked that was never released on cd. Managed to record it on the pc and Goldwave removed all the noise. The resulting cd is surprisingly clean.

Rather than S-Video connector the three stereo cable connectors on your vhs will carry both audio and video avoiding the synch required for separate connections. Of course a capture card having the appropriate connectors can be pricy. It my be a better choice to buy a stand alone DVD recorder. You can get them for less than two hundred and use it with your tv just like a vcr.

Any Tuner card (with the appropriate inputs) ought to be able to handle that one.

Check out Hauppauge's line - Hauppauge

Hello,
You need something called a "Video Capture device". This device converts the analog signal from the VHS to a digital signal that the computer can understand.

That's what I was wondering - how do you get the computer to recognize the VHS format and then play it?

The devices will accept analog input and convert it to digital - they also come with software that allows you to either view or capture (record) the video.

I've owned several, they never let me down.

Just so I can keep my brain straight, will sarahandus be able to watch her VHS tapes straight from the video capture device or will she have to convert it and save it as a digital file somewhere in order to watch it?

The Hauppauge cards that I've used will play or capture the video. Mine were basically "tuners" with analog inputs, so there was no difference between running the input from the VHS player to a TV or the card. WinTV can be configured to play either over the air, or from external device sources.

This one ought to work -

Hauppauge - USB-Live2

Watch, capture or record live video from your VCR, camcorder or video camera!

That looks like exactly the thing the sarahandus needs. I'm so glad she started this thread because I've wondered about this since I got some software and a special cable to convert a bunch of old music cassette tapes to digital files. Saved some real oldies, but goodies from the early 1980's.

Thanks for all the help, I knew the great folks here could explain things in the detail even I could understand.

InlandAZ, that device looks like just the ticket and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Checking with Newegg they have several, some cheaper. including the Hauppauge one. I know Newegg and trust them, don't know Hauppauge. However since you say you have had good luck with that brand I'll give it a try.

Thanks again~

Let us know how it works out. I'm very interested to see what you think of it.

You know Newegg's speedy shipping, it should be here tomorrow. Then it's whether I'm smart enough to figure it out and clear enough space for the VCR. Looks like house cleaning time.

Thanks~

I decided to order the KWorld device instead of the Hauppauge on reading the ratings. However I have run into the same problem a lot of device users encountered - no sound.
The picture came in a 4" window, rather washed out though. Nothing I could do would get any sound to go with the video.
The "manual" is a joke, how to install and hookup, but nothing about how to use the thing.
The stuff will go back into the box and get dropped off at the Good Will store.
I'm glad some managed to get this thing to work, but I'm past the age of enjoying the challenge of making things work properly.
Thanks for the suggestion though, at least now I know what is involved in getting movies from tape to PC.

Thanks~

I've never used the KWORLD devices, but it sounds like you need to plug the RCA jacks in.

Is there no sound, or is it out of sync?

Hello,
There is usually a quality option on these devices. The higher the quality the shorter the time you can fit say on a dvd.People usually chose the highest quality that can still fit a movie on a dvd.
The 4" screen is probably a preview screen used to edit and is not the size of the final output.

InlandAZ, I did use the RCA cables. There was just no sound at all.

I've watched those movies so many times I know them by heart. So I'll just watch them in my mind until something else comes along.

Those ultra thin TV do look interesting though.

Thanks~

The older I get, the more I love the crisp, clear picture on my LCD TV. I was working on a computer at a friend's house and they have one of those older huge TV. To them it looked nice and clear, but to me it was blurry compared to what I'm used to.

Although it's not what you had in mind, you always have the option of turning those tapes into digital files and burning to a DVD to watch on your computer.

I was just in my local tv shop today and when ailing middleaged eyes (which also features a building flaw, one in both eyes...) fell for a 200hertz philips tv...with the option to record a tv-program or tv-show when I'm away. I don't think the option to record from the LED/LCD tvs have gone as far as allowing us to watch a program and tape/record another - just in the good old video days.

Speaking of video, I have an old video and some old video /VCR/ tapes I would like to put onto my computer. I have a dazzle recorder thingie....

Is it as easy as plugging the dazzle's usb stick into my computer and the scart cable to the scart outlet? on my video..? I think I have the software lying for the Dazzle luying around somewhere...

Karsten

I am not sure which Dazzle version you have. Perhaps this will help

How to Dazzle

What I did with stacks of old vhs tapes was to copy them on my DVD recorder burning them to DVD's. There are multiple units available in the under $200 price range. Some even have a VHS player built in.

Here is site offering reviews
DVD Rec Reviews

For those of you who have the equipment there is another way to accomplish this. I have not tried it because of the DVD recorder. If you have an upscale Camcorder you can record vhs to that. I have a high def Canon with 150 gig hard drive. Plugging your vhs player into that would allow you to record to the cam's hard drive then upload it to your computer. I would not run out and buy one of those things because a DVR is a lot cheaper.

Finally broke down and bought the Hauppauge device. After several tries at figuring out the less than great instructions, and plugging the cords into the right sockets, I've got movies on my PC!. The sound wasn't great, but then this was a taped recording of a borrowed movie.

Now at this point, with your help, I've gotten to my original request to see my movies again. But, there's always a but , I can't figure out how to make the program burn the movie to a DVD.

Never satisfied are we~


Thanks~

Those I've used generally have had a record button on the player. It won't burn the captured output, but it will create a file on your PC that can be burned.

Which device did you get?