Capturing VHS video to DVD

[sjj1805]

I think there is some confusion creeping in here.
By "Pass through" they mean that they have an anologue VCR, they connect the VCR to a camcorder, then connect the camcorder to the computer.
This means that the video will "pass through" the camcorder.
That is one of many available methods of getting analogue into a computer.

A totally different method is to use a conversion device - such as those StarTech cables mentioned. There are numerous devices of this nature available. Whilst I suppose you could call that "pass through" it is not the "Pass through" that members of these forums tend to mean.

Yet another method (the one I use) is to install a TV card into a computer and connect the VCR directly to the TV card.

Members of the forum discovered there was a problem with the VCR --> Camcorder --> computer (Pass through) method from VS11 onwards.

[zelopes]

Black Lab, Ron, Trevor:

The third tape is running... Like Ron, says, "before VS gets grumpy and changes its mind"...

At this point, I do not even bother to go through the other steps of editing, trimming, adding chapters, menus, burning... I'm concentrating on converting all my tapes (they are about 20 in all) even though I will need to start doing something with them, for lack of space in my laptop's hard drive.

I may have to transfer these converted files to an external hard drive and then work with them from there, one by one, as I complete each task into the DVDs. It's a big job, just thinking of all the time it will take to move them back and forth between drives, but one has to do what one has to do...

I'm intrigued with the sudden silence around here, though...

Cheers!...

[sjj1805]

.......

I'm intrigued with the sudden silence around here, though...

Cheers!...

You haven't read my post above yours!!!

[zelopes]

I think there is some confusion creeping in here.
By "Pass through" they mean that they have an anologue VCR, they connect the VCR to a camcorder, then connect the camcorder to the computer.
This means that the video will "pass through" the camcorder.
That is one of many available methods of getting analogue into a computer.

A totally different method is to use a conversion device - such as those StarTech cables mentioned. There are numerous devices of this nature available. Whilst I suppose you could call that "pass through" it is not the "Pass through" that members of these forums tend to mean.

Yet another method (the one I use) is to install a TV card into a computer and connect the VCR directly to the TV card.

Members of the forum discovered there was a problem with the VCR --> Camcorder --> computer (Pass through) method from VS11 onwards.

Hi Steve,

What you say is exactly what I understand. Except, I did not know about that problem with the "pass through" method. Trevor says he used it and do not recall his mentioning any major issue with the process.

However, I happen not to read what Black Lab and Ron have been saying as referring to the "pass through" method only. I think they meant to say "not doable", period.

Since I keep adding converted tapes, it seems that, at this point, the issue about any possible misunderstanding is resolved.

I learned a lot in this process, not only with this several people who stepped forward to provide their help but also with what those things I learned from them made me go out and search for more information.

I'm not naive to the point of thinking I suddenly became an expert in this subject matter, by any stretch of the imagination. I just learned a lot, and thank each and all of them for that. Actually, if it weren't for their support, I most likely would have given up fast.

Cheers!

[sjj1805]

Glad we were all able to help - that's what this Web Board is here for - teamwork. With such a wide variety of different hardware at our disposal It is inevitable that we all misunderstand what the other is saying.
Add to that we are also on a world wide stage. I remember in one tutorial I created - I called it "Number Plate Blur" to which someone asked "What's a number plate?"

[zelopes]

Glad we were all able to help - that's what this Web Board is here for - teamwork. With such a wide variety of different hardware at our disposal It is inevitable that we all misunderstand what the other is saying.
Add to that we are also on a world wide stage. I remember in one tutorial I created - I called it "Number Plate Blur" to which someone asked "What's a number plate?"

Of course, Steve, I didn't mention your name but I'm well aware that you were the very first one who came forward to help...

And by the way... What the heck is a "number plate"?...

[sjj1805]

Its those square things on the front and back of a vehicle. in the UK we call them number plates, in the US I think they call them licence plates, probably got all sorts of names in other parts of the world.

[Black Lab]

However, I happen not to read what Black Lab and Ron have been saying as referring to the "pass through" method only. I think they meant to say "not doable", period.

I only asked how you did it. I do not like X2s preview screen quality while capturing, so I do not use it, instead doing all my capturing with v10 which, btw, captures analog just fine whichever method you use.

[Ken Berry]

...And just to be even clearer, when talking about "passthrough" we are specifically talking about passthrough using a mini-DV digital camera or Digital 8 camcorder which has *Firewire*. Firewire gives far and away better capture quality than USB connections as they give you high quality DV/AVI, rather than the mpeg-2 from most USB devices such as yours.

But it is the Firewire connection using passthrough which for most of us -- apart now from Trevor -- which has consistently, since VS11 first appeared, proved to be 'not doable'...

[zelopes]

I only asked how you did it. I do not like X2s preview screen quality while capturing, so I do not use it, instead doing all my capturing with v10 which, btw, captures analog just fine whichever method you use.

You are absolutely right. My generalization was a bit excessive and I apologize for that. I didn't mean to be rude.

As for VS10, that's exactly what Ron was also saying, if I recall correctly. My problem is that VS10 seems not to be compatible with W7 and, even though I have VS10 installed in a Windows XP machine, this machine does not have any firewire connection, has only 1 USB port and, being a six+ year old machine, it lacks the speed and other functionalities we find in newer machines.

Be it as it may, at this point that is a moot issue for me, as I'm finding no issues with my current solution.

Best regards.

[zelopes]

...And just to be even clearer, when talking about "passthrough" we are specifically talking about passthrough using a mini-DV digital camera or Digital 8 camcorder which has *Firewire*. Firewire gives far and away better capture quality than USB connections as they give you high quality DV/AVI, rather than the mpeg-2 from most USB devices such as yours.

But it is the Firewire connection using passthrough which for most of us -- apart now from Trevor -- which has consistently, since VS11 first appeared, proved to be 'not doable'...

Clear enough, Ken, but there is still one little point I would like to ask you to please clarify. Do you mean to say the issue stays solely with the Firewire connection and, should one opt for using a USB connection (if available), the problem will not arise?

Thanks and regards.

[Ken Berry]

That is probably so for many devices such as yours. But there are quite a few USB capture devices which only work -- or work best -- with the software supplied with them for capture. So we normally recommend, with USB devices, to use that software as Video Studio is not tweaked to work with them or lacks the specific drivers.

Firewire, on the other hand, was developed originally by Sony (and Pansonic?) as a high quality means of transferring video from their (then) new DV camcorders, and the necessary drivers were included in Windows...

But in a similar vein, since DV capture from analogue sources using a passthrough device stopped working with VS11, we now recommend people use either VS 10, if they have it and it works on their system, or else WinDV or Windows Movie Maker...

[Black Lab]

Case closed.

[alanball]

Just one question zelopes, what format is your finished captured video AVI or mpeg?

I capture all my VHS direct through my DVDrecoder whch of course captures in Mpeg.

[rguthrie]

Strange to hear talk about VS not capturing analog video. I've never experienced any problems, even with (what was the most recent version until about a week ago) VSX2. I have an HP Media Center PC (XP) and simply plug in the yellow RCA composite jack into the front along with the red and white audio plugs and I'm set!