VCR to computer?

I just realized I have hours of classic porn moments on a few VHS tapes. How would I go about transferring these to some kind up digital formt? I don't have a DVD recorded, and then even if I did I wouldn't know how to rip from that to some other format. Is there some kind of inexpensive converter I could use, like RCA audio and video ins to firewire or USB? And then what about recording software for Mac? Any recommendations appreciated - and everyone here will benefit by seeing my resulting uploads :D

im wanting to know the same thing, i havent went to best buy, but someone told me they have a 50 dollar thing that lets you put vcr tapes on computer , i find it strange no one invented a vcr for the computer, hope that helps some.

Jzzr,

The process of converting analog media like VHS or Beta video requires a Video Capture card like a Television card, the appropriate cable adapter and the software to operate the card. There are a large number of manufacturers for the cards with an equivalent number of prices. Just google "capture card" and you'll see what I mean. My capture card was made by Pinnacle Systems and while it performs fine, I'm not endorsing Pinnacle over other systems because I've never compared them.

You need a reasonably fast computer (rendering take a long time) and quite a bit of hard drive space. At minimum, I wouldn't even consider the endeavor without at least the following:

1. 1.5 GHz processor (I run a 3.1 GHz machine and it's still demanding)
2. AT LEAST 512 M of memory, a Gig would be better
3. A hard drive with several gig of available space. If you're just making short clips rather than feature length videos, you can work with a lot less.
4. A decent quality Video Card (needs to be Direct X compatible) Radeon or GeForce II or higher recommended.

The cable adapter is nothing more than an RCA to mini jack stereo adapter. This is used for the audio output lines from the VCR to the audio input on your sound card.

The software will come with the capture card and will require a reasonable amount of competency on your part. Having a basic understanding of video resolution, frame rates, encoders/decoders, compression formats, etc. is very helpful. The software will doubtlessly have some sort of help or tutorial, but I would suggest that you visit some of the web sites that focus on video topics such as http://www.videohelp.com/ and the Doom9 forum to acquire a working knowledge of the basics before you jump into this.

Remember that the video quality of your captured video will never be better or even as good as the original. So, if your VHS tapes are copies like mine are, the results will be less than thrilling. I hope this helps you out.

hashman

Remember that processor speed is not the last word on computer performance. I have one of the last Mac G4s ever made; i bought it because it had an extended level 2 cache that boosted its performance above other processors at the same speed. I also maxed its memory out to 2 GB (The max available at the time.)

The result? I can transfer video from miniDV, hi-8, or VHS tapes through my Miro card onto this Mac G4 1.25 Ghz with NO hangups or crashes, using iMovie.

In the PC world, one would definitely need at least 1.5 GHZ or more to counteract the tremendous bottlenecking that is prevalent in Windows environments. But OS X, combined with iMovie, requires far less blunt processor speed for the same performance. Just get a good A/V input card that handles firewire and USB2.0 and you should be fine. Remember that the speed of the drive you're WRITING to also plays a very important role. Do not settle for anything less than 7200 RPM, and look for a short seek time (11 ms). Lacies are very good.

cw

Jzzr,

This discussion got me wondering, and I did the google thing on Video to Usb adapters. Apparently, there are adapters out there that you can use to connect a VCR to your computer without the need of a capture card, but they aren't what I'd call cheap.

Understand that the purpose of the capture card is to convert an analog video signal to a digital signal. You can't take a couple pieces of wire and slap RCA connectors on one end and USB or Firewire on the other and transfer the signal. Aside from the fact that the video signal will not be converted, both USB and Firewire have specific protocols that must be met.

Anyway, after doing some looking, there are adapters available that have an in line converter between the VCR and your PC. Most that I saw were in the 50 to 70 dollar price range. That's actually not too bad if you don't have to buy the capture card. There's one called a GrabBee X, but I don't know if it supports Mac. I saw another one: Model GA-VD200 USB port Video/Audio Adapter that does support Mac OS 8.6 / 9.0 / 9.1 / 9.21.

I don't know how the inline converters size up against capture cards, but they might suit your needs. Were I in your position, I'd do some homework and weigh the pros and cons. If you just run out and buy the adapter and the results suck, well, then your butt's going to be bleeding because you'll have to spend at least that much to get a decent capture card. Good luck.

By the way, Casswood made a valid point with reference to the processor's L1 and L2 cache, but most folks that I know would have their eyes glaze over at the mention of such things as the L2 cache, the FSB, hyperthreading, etc. Which is why I didn't bring it up. But, if your machine is on the slow side and since you can't change the size of your cache, the more memory you have the better off you'll be.

hashman

I hope my recent purchase of Pinnacle’s “Analog-to-Digital” converter helps Jzzr, Neohawk182 and all others like us who have VHS clips which are worth preserving and hopefully posting? Old Timers like me, have fond and melancholy memories of how the original platinum blonde, Seka, would so willingly take that that big creamy load from Big John Holmes on her willing tongue and cheeks. But I digress . . .

Americans can go to Office Max, Staples, etc and repeat my success: $45 on sale for the “Studio Movie Box” from Pinnacle is what Hashman and Casswood were referring to earlier in this thread. It’s just a simply egg shelled box with the traditional A/V plugs in, and the USB out. Click (or paste) below for all the details:
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSit...tudio+MovieBox

The short version is that you’ll need Windows XP, 1.4 Ghz speed and 512 Mb RAM, which most of us have by now? Hope that helps, as we’ll be checking in the Retro section for the “Oldie Goldies”. In fact, in our Retro Section, I hope to show young Peter North from his VHS days when he would show his face and giggle after one of his signature massive facials . . . and maybe even some of Dr. Fellatio’s most memorable clips . . . Hope I don’t get my 1980’s polyester lime green jump suit VHS video clip mixed up with Annette Haven or Little Oral Annie . . . Not a good X-Mas memory session with the family . . .

Hope this low cost suggestion helps converting, as we move from the 20th Century Analog, to our new Digital Millennium . . .

Another nice option is to use a digital video camera to convert the signal, alot of them have passthrough inputs that will convert it right to firewire for you. So you plug your vcr into your digi-cam and stream it right to you computer then you can edit/cut etc... I use this with my Mac and it works like a charm, otherwise as said above your best bet is to get a analog to digital converter.

Good luck!

I do have a 1.5 GHz processor with 512MB RAM. It's a G4 laptop. If "something in the 50 to 70 dollar range" were available to accomplish this, I'd get it. But it seems more like $200 which I'm not willing to spend.

Iactually just checked out the main old tapes and realized the quality was crap since they were so old and were dubs from the real tapes anyway. So I jerked to them one last time and threw them out.

However I do still have some commercially available tapes in great condition (deep throat this #18 and #19, plus a big tits flick, as well as a bunch of non-porn) I'd love to xfer but obviously this is a big project.

Thanks for all your help everyone!