Tape to PC to – DVD/USB Stick?

[dwynnehugh]

A friend has some old videos that she has asked me a loooooong time ago to see if I can put on either DVDs or USB sticks – stuff when her kids were young. I have a video player and a Scart socket for L audio, R audio and video out which then goes to a USB analogue to digital convertor.

I was hoping that if I used WMMaker I might have been able to see the output on my monitor but NO!!

Any advice please on how to do it – my first attempt at tape to PC.

Thanks,

The more you meet people the more you understand why Noah took animals instead of humans

[blacklion1725]

What usb device are you using and probably silly question but are the drivers all installed and showing OK in device manager?

VLC and many other free/paid programs will do what you want – as long as the capture device is installed OK.

[dwynnehugh]

Hi Blacklion,

This is where (again) I show my complete lack of knowledge in this field – the A-D converter is a Pinnacle make, Dazzle unit with the 3 inputs and a USB plug to the PC. This is on loan to me and no drivers were provided – I assume that you mean of I can get the drivers for this unit that it should work?

The more you meet people the more you understand why Noah took animals instead of humans

[wasbit]

You will need the device drivers & a programme that will capture the video from the device & save it on the PC. Then another programme if you need to edit the video.

Pinnacle Dazzle drivers – says “Beside the driver, a compatible version of Studio is required”.

– http://cdn.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/Hardware_Installer/readmeHW10.htm

I use a cheap Easycap which does the same job. Mine came with one programme to capture & another to edit the video, included on the driver CD.

– https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=EasyCap&rt=nc&_dcat=3761&_sacat=-1&cc_bn_id=21823996&LH_PrefLoc=1&_fsrp=1

Don’t forget the copy/conversion is done in real time so a 180 minute tape will take 3 hours.

 

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wasbit

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[blacklion1725]

Yeah it will definitely need drivers – there should be (have been) an indication when you first plugged it in to your PC (drivers installing or not found) – there is a chance that Windows supports it natively for basic capture, but you can chack in device manager – look for any unknown devices or devices with an exclamation mark. (Windows-R then type “devmgmt.msc”)

I generally use VLC for capture – Media->Conver/Save->Capture Device

The Easycap device wasbit mentioned I have used before and it worked fine. For the sake of a few quid and may be worth it given that you will have it for keeps and it will come with drivers/software. I use a Hauppauge device which can be picked up very cheap on ebay (make sure you get an analog or hybrid version).

If not though, then your loan device and VLC (or something) should work fine once it is installed (drivers) correctly.

Once you have captured (normally in avi format) you can use a program like DVDFlick if you want to get it on to DVD

[johnbarry]

I use this this

It includes drivers and Arcsoft Showbiz

Once it’s captured you produce (into various formats, including direct to DVD.

I have not tried direct to DVD, I usually create file, save in mpeg and convert with DVD Flick as blacklion suggests. I use mpeg so I can edit cut join with another program, you can’t edit DVD, then burn to DVD

It’s great for analogue devices not so good from digital, but maybe a little pricey for a one off.

Cheers
John

[johnbarry]

re lookin you shouldn’t need a converter

I have a video player and a Scart socket for L audio, R audio and video out which then goes to a USB analogue to digital convertor.

Just plug the Scart-Phono leads in, unless it is a digital VCR?

Cheers
John

[RSB]

@johnbarry Doe’s that device work OK what you have. I have around 100 tapes to do before I bin them. Just ordered a VHS head cleaner to prepare for the task.

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[johnbarry]

RSB I have used it for many a vdeo and find it pretty good (for analogue) not much good for converted digital, but then that’s most likely the converter.

Here’s one I took off my dads video last year using the above, see what you think.

There is also lots more off the same video and others. not public.

Edit: The video is very old

Cheers
John

[Richard]

I used my camcorder to copy a lot of analogue tapes to digital and then a PC package to record them for DVDs. The initial set up can be a challenge, but once set up you can spend many happy hours(?) letting them run through. Whatever you use it is the initial set up that takes the time. The quality is down to the quality of the original plus any errors the set up can stuff  into the flow.

[dwynnehugh]

Just discovered a copy of Pinnacle Studio+ V9 on a shelf, never used or opened. Will try to load that tomorrow and see if it works with W7. Tbh not 100% certain if the VCR is actually working either – but have another spare to try just in case.

Will update as and when, for now thank you all very much for the suggestions and tips.

The more you meet people the more you understand why Noah took animals instead of humans

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