How do I convert VHS tapes to .avi,mpeg, etc

[painball]

What do I need and whats the cheapest way to go?

I am gonna add some video to my team's webpage I'm coming out with. I just wanna put some video like us jacking around and so on.

BTW can anyone host my page on their server?? Pretty please? None of those free sites would be big enough and those ads look the page look cheesy-like.

[Hamster Huey]

If you don't already have a video card that has a video-in (eg. an All-in-Wonder Radeon, or one of the VIVO GeForce 4's), the simplest way is probably to buy a breakout box that takes S-video or component video inputs and outputs them to MPEG1/MPEG2/DV on your computer via a USB port. Dazzle and ADS make competing products that do just this sort of thing. They'll run you in the neighborhood of $150.

[beam]

I recommend Pinnacle Studio.

For $99, you get the capture card and the Studio software. I use it all the time and it's awesome. It has a really easy to use interface, tons of cool transitions, and allows you to put audio tracks/voice overs over your video.

When you have it all edited the way you want, you can output it to a vhs or one of many video file formats.

Here is a link for more info:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=P121-4005

[painball]

Originally posted by beam
I recommend Pinnacle Studio.

For $99, you get the capture card and the Studio software. I use it all the time and it's awesome. It has a really easy to use interface, tons of cool transitions, and allows you to put audio tracks/voice overs over your video.

When you have it all edited the way you want, you can output it to a vhs or one of many video file formats.

Here is a link for more info:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?sku=P121-4005

Would I have to switch it out with my current Radeon7500? I really dont want to do that since I just got it less than a year ago.

[cphilip]

..if you had a Mac it would be even easier!

[beam]

No, you don't switch out your agp card. This is a pci card that you would use only to capture video from a AV or DV source (depends on which version you get) and then output video to an AV or DV source. The audio would go through your existing sound card.

[painball]

my sound card (or speakers) is whacked. So I am not sure about this video stuff after all. Would a bad sound card affect the sound on the video for other people?

I might see if my parents will buy the Pinnacle thing for me. Now...a good excuse to get em to buy it.....educational..no..paintball..yes..but not a good reason..

Maybe I could say I wanna be a future FON staff guy

[personman]

I have video in on my card (geforce 4 mx420) what now? What kind of cables or software would I need? Hmm this could get interesting.. you guys could see me talking to santa when I was a little kid!!

[FalconGuy016]

Originally posted by cphilip
..if you had a Mac it would be even easier!

We bought one of those cool new ones just for that


Otherwise I'd reccomend a Dazzle of some sort

[joeyjoe367]

Originally posted by cphilip
..if you had a Mac it would be even easier!

Yeah, but then you'd have to be a "mac convert." They'll throw you in a white room and demand that you praise their products in front of a video camera!

[boomerfoxtrot]

personman had a question... just like me..

I have a yellow video plug in on the back of my computer... along with a red *audio* and a green *audio* ... what now? or do I need to go spend another $100 and buy a card..

[beam]

The yellow plug that you have in the back of your computer is most likely a tv out port. All this does is allow you to output your video signal to a tv instead of a monitor. In my experience, doing this has always resulted in a crappy picture.

If you want to capture video, you need a video capture device. This could be a card, like the pinnacle product I linked to, or some companies use breakout boxes that connect to a card.

The cable that you need depends on which version (at least for the pinnacle products) you get. If you get the AV (analog) version, you need an RCA(composite) or S-Video cable. If you get the DV(digital) version you can use firewire.

Here is a link to all of the video capture devices that Tiger sells: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...page=1&Id=2806

[personman]