Importing VHS to my computer...

[tzikeh]

We had a break-in a while ago, and my laptop and my camcorder were stolen. My camcorder had pass-through capability, where you could hook it up to a VCR on one end with RCA cables and to a computer on the other end with Firewire, and it would just let the playing VHS go right through the firewire into Final Cut as an imported video. As far as I know, they don't make camcorders that allow that anymore, and I still have a lot of VHS tapes I need to convert.

Any suggestions?

Comments

[hubbit.livejournal.com]

I'm anticipating fail here, since I am an audio geek and not a video geek and am thus densely ignorant of the capabilities and pitfalls of various pieces of equipment.

However, would something like this work? I don't know whether it has to be a camcorder or whether a recorder/player machine would be suitable.

Barring that, the only thing I can suggest is searching eBay and/or Craigslist for the same make and model as what you're trying to replace, and I presume you've considered that already.

ETA: After posting this, it crossed my mind that maybe you could either lease or borrow what you need from a film school, or from a film student who might have access to such. That might be less expensive, and you won't have a disposal issue on your hands when the VHS tapes are all converted.

[klia.livejournal.com]

There are analog-digital converter devices, like the ones made by Canopus (that some of us still use for vidding, rather than ripping DVDs), but they're fairly pricey. I'd say the way to go is to check eBay for used ones, and also for a replacement of the same make/model camcorder as the one you had stolen.

[ginamak.livejournal.com]

Dazzle should work. I have an older version of the same thing that I used to import old tapes into iMovie.

[jackiekjono.livejournal.com]

Do you have a standalone dvd burner?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

...

Oh my God, I am so, so stupid.

Of course I do, and I can hook it up to the vcr.

*headdesk*

Thank you!

[jackiekjono.livejournal.com]

If you need one, I have one of those gizmos that get rid of copyprotect so that you can back vhs up to dvd without any trouble. I think they are illegal to buy these days.

[elynross.livejournal.com]

ooooh, what kind of gizmo do you have?

if you still have an VHS player

[ender24]

could you not just use these software/hardware
http://www.nchsoftware.com/goldenvideos/index.html
http://www.altoedge.com/usbcapture/index.html

to conncet your computer with your VHS player, and convert the VHS tapes into your computer?