vcr to pc

[Lowri]

Can any one tell me how I could connect my VCR to the PC to put all my precious stuff into a digital file for transference later to another media?

[Ethel]

Stand alone dvd recorders are incredibly cheap now and it is very easy to copy video to dvd that way. It is by far the easiest way to do it.

You can buy a combined vcr/dvd recorder but really that is unnecessary as you already have a vcr -once you have copied your existing video tapes to dvd it is unlikely you will ever use a VCR machine again.

You can buy a vcr to pc machine for around �150 - a ludicrous and unnecessary expense:
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/vcr-to-pc/index .html?gclid=CKuO2KXszZcCFQ4i3god4lDoDQ

Or for �35
http://www.tvstick.co.uk/products/productinfo. asp?catid=2&prodid=22&gclid=CNSn5-XszZcCFU4g3g odumy9Cw

An in depth tutorial here:

http://www.pctechguide.com/tutorials/VCRtoDVD. htm

[Lowri]

Thank-you Ethel!

[vehelpfulguy]

Also video on a computer hard disk takes up a HUGE amount of space so you would soon run out of hard disk space.

I agree with Ethel, copy direct from VCR to DVD using a TV based DVD recorder.

[Buenchico]

Ethel's answer is excellent. However, it occurs to me that you might want to edit the transferred video data, rather than just copy it. If so, transferring it to your PC might still be worthwhile.

The output from a VCR is in analogue format, whereas your PC only handles digital data. So you'll need a suitable gizmo to convert the analogue signal to a digital one.

You could buy an analogue TV card for your PC. Many (but not all) of these have sockets for accepting an external video feed. (With the switchover to digital TV, many dealers are now selling-off analogue TV cards very cheaply). However, that means opening up your PC to install the card. (It's a very simple job but not everyone is happy fiddling about inside their PC).

An alternative way of converting the analogue signal to a digital one, and getting it into your PC (without having to open the casing), is to use a special gizmo which plugs into a spare USB socket. The only one I know of (and which I can also recommend from having used it myself) is this:
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index. pl?origin=gbase20.3&prodID=494478

Whether you use a TV card or the USB-Live device, you'll need a 'Scart-to-AV' cable to connect between your VCR and your chosen device. These cables (which are also known as 'Scart-to-phono' or 'Scart to composite video') vary widely in price. When I last bought one, the cheapest Curry's could offer cost �19.99. I went to Tesco instead, and paid �1.97. So it's worth shopping around!

Lastly, you'll need some suitable software for recording and editing your videos, but the USB-Live device (and analogue TV cards) come supplied with appropriate software anyway.

Chris

[Lowri]

Thank-you all for your great advice. Im looking forward to this project now rather than dreading it.