Download VHS Tapes Onto Computers or Discs
The VHS has become obsolete in the digital world; we now rely on DVDs and digital media to store our memories. So what should you do with that stack of ancient VHS home movies? There are services that will convert your VHS tapes into DVDs for you, but this is often expensive. With the right equipment, though, you can easily do it yourself, using the Windows Import Video feature on Windows Vista.
Instructions
Video Transfer
1. Turn on the DV camera, put it into playback mode, and enable the DV pass-through mode by pressing the button on the DV camera that displays the playback settings menu. This setting is often labeled as "A/V to DV out" or "AV to DV." Exit the playback settings and turn off the camera.
2. Connect the analog video camera or VCR to your DV camera by plugging in one end of the S-Video cable into the S-Video jack on the DV camera, and the other end into the S-Video jack on the analog video camera or VCR.
3. Plug the single Mini A/V connector on the one end of the A/V cable into the Mini A/V jack on the DV camera.
4. Plug the red-and-white RCA connectors on the other end of the A/V cable into the corresponding jacks on the analog video camera or VCR. Do not plug in the yellow RCA connector into the analog video camera or VCR.
5. Connect the DV camera to the computer by plugging in the IEEE 1394 connector to the corresponding ports on the DV camera and the computer.
6. Insert the VHS tape into your analog video camera or VCR, turn the machine on and put it in playback mode. The DV camera should also be in playback mode, and when the Autoplay dialog box appears, click Import Video using Windows Import Video. Follow the steps on the screen, and your video will soon be imported to your computer!
7. If you want to transfer the video to a disc, access Windows DVD Maker (available in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate) and add the video file you want into the work space. Make sure to save the project file, in case you want to burn another copy later, and click the button to burn your DVD.
Tags: analog video, analog video camera, video camera, cable into, Import Video, playback mode
