Ok, I have a bit of a dilemma. I have a load of VHS tapes (no copyright issues, etc, etc ) but no VCR to play them on so I want to back them up onto DVD/CD so I can watch them on my DVD player.

I have a Pinnacle DV500 DVD card and black box which accepts analogue (S-video or composite) inputs in the computer and borrowed a video player (Sony SLV-SE800) with a SCART output. So I plugged my SCART->composite plug into my composite leads and plugged that into my black box. However, I'm not getting any video signal when I play the VCR, but I do get sound, just can't record it without video.

Anyone know what I'm missing - I suspect there's something about my converter as it came with my camcorder and I think is designed to allow the camcorder to play to a TV with SCART only as it's missing pins? Can get photos of bits if that would help

Annoyingly the VCR has a set of composite inputs but no outputs.

So, any ideas, or any other ways to transfer these to the computer? TV card may be an option.....?

:confused:

Thanks, Chris

The problem is the macrovision copy protect on the VCR the easiest way is to use rgb cables if you can or a simple co-axial lead, although the quality will obviously be less.

I've still got a VCR. So have not yet tried to copy videos on to DVD. (I have a Phillips DVD recorder.) Phillips is DVD+rw I think? Is this the same as your PC? You can use my machines if it helps. How many hours of tape are you copying?

John

Ah right - so if I find an old video with a SCART connector, it should work? Or would it be best to buy a TV card with coax input?

Chris

It sounds as if you've got the wrong kind of scart -> composite lead.

The scart is bi-directional, so you can have a composite -> SCART connection and a SCART -> Composite connection.

If it's a read-made cable with only 3 leads (composite video + audio L + audio R), it's most likely leads -> SCART way, and not the other which is what you need.

Easiest way is to get a bi-directional scart adaptor from maplins which has a rocker switch on it, so you can chose which way it's wired up and switch as required.

Alternatively, one of these jobbies will do, providing the scart and 2 sets of video+audio - one for IN and one for OUT.

Ah right - much as I suspected Ok thanks for the pointers - a trip to Maplins is in order then!

Chris

Np

visit VHS to DVD and transfer your home video tapes to dvd. You can get a pretty good conversion at a reasonable price from a lot of places. But what are most of these companies lacking? Care and attention to detail! Other ways you get totally amateurish product done with domestic equipment.

link: VHS to DVD. Transfer (convert, copy, record) from VHS to DVD!

Chris , when/if you get it all to work can you tell me how good the video looks on the DVD and especially whether the audio stays in sync with the visuals

i've been looking about for ages for a new set up to convert the videos i have

the program i've currently got cannot sync the audio with the visual ,even on best setting, its usually about a second out after just 60 minutes , which is a PITA

Wow this thread is pretty old! IIRC, I did manage to do a couple of my videos using my setup, but just ran out of time (I had to return the video player ) disk space and the will to do it. Don't recall having any issues with sync'ing but the videos I did were Police Squad so 6 x 1/2 hour episodes....

Chris

you're right i just didn't look to see how old the thread was , i'll keep looking then :(

Ric, what methods are you using? It sounds to me as if you have the wrong sample rate for the audio.

If you use msn, I can give you some tips

not on MSN , but what i'm using is an Adaptec encoder which sends it to Sonic MyDVD on my laptop ,with the fault i have (audio out of sync) i've read recently that my software might be corrupted and i need to reload it , but i can't download my version(out of date) or a later version (cost to much) or the other thing that was mentioned was to edit the video in another program linked to MyDVD , can't understand that program though

the Adaptec box will not operate with any other program , i tried Ulead video10 free download , but that recognises the box but wont pick up a video start signal

what i was really trying to do was transfer Mpeg2 files to hard drive , thus saving all the messing about burning DVDs , i bought a Iomega 300gb ScreenplayPRO hard drive last year just for this purpose , but that sits unused

I think my only solution would be newer hardware and better software , but most of the reviews i've read say the software can be problematical/glichy etc

What adaptec box do you have? Depending on the drivers and what they offer, you may have a WDM driver which would allow you to use generic video capturing software. Although from what you say, sounds like you may not.

Have you tried capturing using software like virtualdub? may be worth a try

What adaptec box do you have? Depending on the drivers and what they offer, you may have a WDM driver which would allow you to use generic video capturing software. Although from what you say, sounds like you may not.

Have you tried capturing using software like virtualdub? may be worth a try

its a AVC-2210 , but it even says on the Adaptec website that it wont work with any other software (specifically Microsoft movie maker)

so by the sound of things i will need a new coding box , will look after crimbo , in the sales

My point was if you're not happy with the results or you're having difficulty, you can use an external software coder / editor and use the avc2210 as a capturing device only.