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Simplest way to just watch VHS on PC?

Discussion in 'Video capturing from analog sources' started by VCRnewbie, Nov 2, 2004.

  1. VCRnewbie

    VCRnewbie Member

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    Hi everyone,

    I am trying to tackle a project for a friend's birthday present and am very confused! I want to hook up a VCR to her PC (running Windows ME) to she can watch older movies that are only available on VHS because she doesn't own a TV.

    From what I've googled and read on these boards, I either have to purchase a VCR with S-video out and make sure the video card is S-in (which I doubt, it's a Sony Vaio from a few years ago), or purchase an intermediary TV capture card.

    I decided to go the second route since I have no A/V setup experience. There are two cards that look like they will do the job: the Pinnacle PCTV USB2, or the Hauppage WinTV USB. I chose USB because I didn't want to mess around with the PCI cards and fry her computer (I have to try to sneak in and set it up during the day while she's at work).

    I don't need to do video capture nor use the TV tuner, so I'm thinking this is what I need to do:

    - buy a VCR and one of the TV cards mentioned above
    - hook up the TV card to the computer
    - hook up the VCR as the input source

    Does this sound about right? Is there any particular feature in the VCR or TV card that I need to look for? Also, when I set up the TV card can I skip the cable card and just fiddle with the VCR?

    If anyone has done this before, or have any suggestions, I would really appreciate it if more information was posted!

    Thank you! :)
     
  2. wiak

    wiak Member

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    the simplest way is
    VHS player > TV Card
    or if you have Video-In on you gfx card :)
     
  3. VCRnewbie

    VCRnewbie Member

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    Thank you! I guess the best thing is just to buy both and give it a try! :)
     
  4. wiak

    wiak Member

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    you just need to buy one TV card USB or PCI :)
     
  5. wiak

    wiak Member

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    do you have msn? meybe i can help you :)
     
  6. nuclear81

    nuclear81 Member

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    before you go into any of that you need to get rid of windows ME. above all that should be top priority. After that she you can use WinDVD to capture the video(assuming you have some sort of analogue/digital video converter)
     
  7. VCRnewbie

    VCRnewbie Member

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    I purchased a Pinnacle PCTV PCI card today and haven't opened it yet... the box says it's compatible with Windows ME so I'm not sure why it has to be upgraded? Unfortunately, I can't do that since it's not my own computer. It sounds like WinDVD will actually encode and store the video, is there software that will just play the tape instead of encoding it? Apparently the card is bundled with the PCTV Vision application.

    And yes wiak, I do have MSN - I can PM you with my MSN contact if you're still interested in helping a newbie. Thanks! :)
     
  8. FredFurd

    FredFurd Member

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    Wouldn't it be a lot easier to just buy her a TV? That would be a lot cheaper, easier, faster, and simpler to set up and use.
     

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