VHS to computor

[Lory]

I've got a massive collection of home video's, I've made over the span of my kids growing up, including a lot of family, who're sadly no longer with us

We've gone through phases.... we watched them a lot when we first made them, then again a couple of years later and basically since then, they've remained in the cupboard, gradually deteriorating

Now my kids have grown up, I'd really like to share those moments again, together with them

But I've got a small problem, I don't actually own a VCR anymore

So, here's my dilemma's

Do I send them off to get them converted to DVD, at the cost of £10 per hour? (cheapest I've found) God knows how many hours I've got and what crap I'll be converting (my filming and editing skills were almost non existent then )

Or do I "try again" and purchase a machine than does it for you? I bought one of these machines a few years ago, and ended up sending it back, as it went wrong 4 times in the first month!

What I'd ideally, like to do, is get them converted to a format, I could edit on my Mac
But I've read some reviews of gismo's which go from your VCR (which I'd have to purchase) directly to the Mac, whihc sounds great and is apparetnly very easy to do BUT, can take up to 16 hours in all, to get 1hour's worth of conversion. (the max you can convert at one time, is 1 hour, if you want to edit in iMovie before saving to disk... you CAN'T edit once its saved )

So lastly, is there a company that anyone knows of, that can convert the tapes to .Mov or Mpegs etc ready to edit, and put them on DVD or a portable hard drive for me?

Thanks

[Lee Bartholomew]

I would go the VCR in to computer route.

It's pretty easy to do on PC and there is loads of easy to use software out there to use that converts it over in realtime and most graphics cards have an s-vid input.

I don't know what software is out there for MACS Im sure there is one that can do it quicker than that.

[Gav]

I've done this with some success using an old VCR and VCR output to USB cable.
It took as long as the tape, plus about 10 minutes to convert.
It was the editing and presentation where my effort went wrong.

[Lory]

I've done this with some success using an old VCR and VCR output to USB cable.
It took as long as the tape, plus about 10 minutes to convert.
It was the editing and presentation where my effort went wrong.

Gav hun, I tried to reply to your PM but you've disabled them

[Lory]

I would go the VCR in to computer route.

It's pretty easy to do on PC and there is loads of easy to use software out there to use that converts it over in realtime and most graphics cards have an s-vid input.

I don't know what software is out there for MACS Im sure there is one that can do it quicker than that.

OK, there's two parts to this then

What VCR?

And what's the best software?

there's this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roxio-Easy-V.../dp/B0025UTM0M 1star rating

[Lee Bartholomew]

OK, there's two parts to this then

What VCR?

Any will do but idealy one with SCART or S-Video out. You would then need the correct cable to go in to the input on your MAC

Im sure you can get VCR's pretty cheap nowdays. infact I might have a decent one in the attic I was going to freecycle.

And what's the best software?

there's this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roxio-Easy-V.../dp/B0025UTM0M 1star rating

MAC software wise I don't know. I guess it depends on what you want to do with it. For the PC alot of people who are new to it use the MAGIX suite (http://www.magix.com/uk/rescue-your-videotapes/). Not sure if you can get that on MAC

[Lory]

Thanks Lee

Fingers crossed, but I think I may have just had all my wishes granted

But if it falls through, I think it might be easier, considering the amount of software available for the PC, to use my laptop, with an external hard drive and then upload to the mac after!

But I'm very hopeful about my other offer!

[Martin]

I borrowed a VHS and bought a $20 gismo from a main electrical store, and it worked real well.. So there are many options...