Comments on: How to: Convert VHS Tapes to a Digital Format http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/ Connecting Your Digital World Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:41:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: autodrivel http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3168 autodrivel Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:28:00 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3168 Sorry - the first line of my post went AWOL, it should read... "I've looked at the Pinnacle Ad..." etc.. Sorry – the first line of my post went AWOL, it should read…

“I’ve looked at the Pinnacle Ad…”

etc..

]]> By: autodrivel http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3167 autodrivel Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:25:57 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3167 Neat device, but the output is MPEG-4 format, which means that burning a standard DVD will require an extra conversion step. This may not bee an issue for many people, since many streaming media boxes will happily play the format. BUT... the additional effort maybe be a dealbreaker if the main aim is to produce standard DVD's to send to the far-flung members of the family. Note that the MPEG-4 files can be burnt onto a DVD as Data files if you just need the files backed up. Neat device, but the output is MPEG-4 format, which means that burning a standard DVD will require an extra conversion step.
This may not bee an issue for many people, since many streaming media boxes will happily play the format.
BUT… the additional effort maybe be a dealbreaker if the main aim is to produce standard DVD’s to send to the far-flung members of the family.

Note that the MPEG-4 files can be burnt onto a DVD as Data files if you just need the files backed up.

]]> By: Jim Clark http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3166 Jim Clark Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:15:39 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3166 @ Chris Smith: Looks nice. It is amazing how technology keeps advancing. That would be a great option. Total simplicity for the initial conversion. In my case, it was my chance to get that TV card! ;) @ Chris: Had to try. MC does lock out the tuner when it is running. It releases once you exit. Might be a differance between Vista and MCE? @ Chris Smith: Looks nice. It is amazing how technology keeps advancing. That would be a great option. Total simplicity for the initial conversion. In my case, it was my chance to get that TV card! ;)

@ Chris: Had to try. MC does lock out the tuner when it is running. It releases once you exit. Might be a differance between Vista and MCE?

]]> By: Chris Smith http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3165 Chris Smith Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:01:47 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3165 Although I can't vouch for the quality (yet...mine is due to be delivered tomorrow), Pinnacle has a device which allows you to connect any video output to almost any USB device (external HD, USB thumbdrive, etc), and record the video stream. It removes the need for a lot of hardware in between the VCR and a storage device. http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/Instant+Video+Recorder.htm Although I can’t vouch for the quality (yet…mine is due to be delivered tomorrow), Pinnacle has a device which allows you to connect any video output to almost any USB device (external HD, USB thumbdrive, etc), and record the video stream. It removes the need for a lot of hardware in between the VCR and a storage device.

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/Instant+Video+Recorder.htm

]]> By: Jim Clark http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3164 Jim Clark Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:27:45 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3164 Actually, I may missed this totally, as I never had this problem. Does the process load when you start the machine, or only after you have started MC? Actually, I may missed this totally, as I never had this problem. Does the process load when you start the machine, or only after you have started MC?

]]> By: Chris http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3163 Chris Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:06:54 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3163 One thing that you missed or glossed over is that if you already have TV Tuners installed and configured for use with Media Center, other software may not be able to take control of the devices to do any capturing. To free up these tuners, it is necessary to stop Media Center, and then stop the ehrecvr process using the task manager. Some of the capture software can also cause problems releasing these tuners back to Media Center when you're finished. Another option is to buy a simple capture (not a tuner) card and add it to the Media Center PC to avoid any conflicts. One thing that you missed or glossed over is that if you already have TV Tuners installed and configured for use with Media Center, other software may not be able to take control of the devices to do any capturing.

To free up these tuners, it is necessary to stop Media Center, and then stop the ehrecvr process using the task manager. Some of the capture software can also cause problems releasing these tuners back to Media Center when you’re finished. Another option is to buy a simple capture (not a tuner) card and add it to the Media Center PC to avoid any conflicts.

]]> By: Jim Clark http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3162 Jim Clark Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:52:46 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3162 Yea, in retrospect, I probably should have mentioned some of the more modern equipment. :) If you have a digital camera, WMM can import directly. Far too many variations of HW out there to have a definitive guide! Just hope that this gives someone an idea or 2. At least you all know it is possible to do. @Saaiberke: Patience is a virtue! Not that I have much of either myself :( Yea, in retrospect, I probably should have mentioned some of the more modern equipment. :) If you have a digital camera, WMM can import directly. Far too many variations of HW out there to have a definitive guide!

Just hope that this gives someone an idea or 2. At least you all know it is possible to do.

@Saaiberke: Patience is a virtue! Not that I have much of either myself :(

]]> By: Saaiberke http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3161 Saaiberke Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:57:22 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3161 Jim, Thanks for the great tips. Already tried it several times but I'm having a problem with the "sit back and relax" ;) Next week during my holidays I will try again :) Grtz, Nic Jim,

Thanks for the great tips. Already tried it several times but I’m having a problem with the “sit back and relax” ;)

Next week during my holidays I will try again :)

Grtz,

Nic

]]> By: Kevin Croft http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3160 Kevin Croft Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:42:44 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3160 Great tips! I would add one tip. Many dv cameras have RCA inputs which allow you to use the camera as your capture device. You can pass the VCR signal directly through the cameral via its analog to digital converter to a firewire port on your computer. Great tips! I would add one tip. Many dv cameras have RCA inputs which allow you to use the camera as your capture device. You can pass the VCR signal directly through the cameral via its analog to digital converter to a firewire port on your computer.

]]> By: WHS: Convert VHS tapes to a Digital format http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/07/22/how-to-converting-vhs-tapes-to-a-digital-format/comment-page-1/#comment-3159 WHS: Convert VHS tapes to a Digital format Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:59:53 +0000 http://www.wegotserved.com/?p=2577#comment-3159 [...] Full Article [...] [...] Full Article [...]

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