I am sorry for the dumb questions, but I feel like a dolt. I just began reading this board and find that everyone is well beyond me in understanding WMM. I need some basic knowledge

I want to copy videotapes (VCR and those created with a Canon Hi8 ES2500) to DVD. No editing at this time, but that may come later. My PC – Sony RZ32G – has USB, and video connectors - S-Video, Composite audio/video, and S400 (IEEE 1394) port. I can even input a TV signal I guess – don’t intend to try. But it doesn’t look like it has what I need to do the job.

Do I need to ADD a “capture device” of some kind since it appears that I have only analog tapes to deal with? Must I upgrade my video card (NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X (Sony))? Are there alternative ways to go? Suggestions/recommendations? Thanx, Lee

Leeb,

You can get a conversion device that you plug the analog camcorder into, and
that plugs into the USB connection on your computer. See the Analog Video
Capture section of www.papajohn.org to see some of the devices people are
using and some comments about them.

One of those I use to capture from my Sony Hi8 camcorder is the Dazzle 80.
---
PapaJohn



"Leeb" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1C1CA03E-10AC-4BFC-B1E7-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I am sorry for the dumb questions, but I feel like a dolt. I just began
reading this board and find that everyone is well beyond me in understanding
WMM. I need some basic knowledge.
>
> I want to copy videotapes (VCR and those created with a Canon Hi8 ES2500)
to DVD. No editing at this time, but that may come later. My PC - Sony
RZ32G - has USB, and video connectors - S-Video, Composite audio/video, and
S400 (IEEE 1394) port. I can even input a TV signal I guess - don't intend
to try. But it doesn't look like it has what I need to do the job.
>
> Do I need to ADD a "capture device" of some kind since it appears that I
have only analog tapes to deal with? Must I upgrade my video card (NVIDIA
GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X (Sony))? Are there alternative ways to go?
Suggestions/recommendations? Thanx, Leeb
>

According to the spec sheet I saw for that machine, it comes with TV tuner
card built-in. Nothing else to buy.

You should be able to launch MM2 and select "capture video" and be good to
go.

Good luck!

-Hank

"Leeb" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1C1CA03E-10AC-4BFC-B1E7-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I am sorry for the dumb questions, but I feel like a dolt. I just began
reading this board and find that everyone is well beyond me in understanding
WMM. I need some basic knowledge.
>
> I want to copy videotapes (VCR and those created with a Canon Hi8 ES2500)
to DVD. No editing at this time, but that may come later. My PC - Sony
RZ32G - has USB, and video connectors - S-Video, Composite audio/video, and
S400 (IEEE 1394) port. I can even input a TV signal I guess - don't intend
to try. But it doesn't look like it has what I need to do the job.
>
> Do I need to ADD a "capture device" of some kind since it appears that I
have only analog tapes to deal with? Must I upgrade my video card (NVIDIA
GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X (Sony))? Are there alternative ways to go?
Suggestions/recommendations? Thanx, Leeb
>

Hank
Thanks for the response. Yes, I am quite certain that I have a TV tuner. As I stated, I have never used it, though

I hate to be so stupid, but could I test your patience and ask you to please go through the details of hooking up the whole thing

Thanks, Leeb

There are video-in ports on the TV tuner card, both RCA and S-Video, as well
as Audio-in RCA ports. Plug your VCR or camera into those. You could also
plug the VCR's antenna-out into the antenna-in on the card and tune the card
to channel 3 (or 4, depending on the VCR)

After that, I refer you to this section from MM2's help file:

To capture video from tape in an analog camera or VCR
1.. Make sure your analog camera or VCR is connected properly to your
computer, and then set the camera mode to play recorded video (often labeled
VTR or VCR on an analog camera).
2.. On the File menu, click Capture Video.
-or-

In the Movie Tasks pane, under Capture Video, click Capture from video
device.

3.. On the Video Capture Device page, do the following:
a.. In Available devices, click the analog device you want to use to
capture video, and then, in the Video input source list, click the input
line you want to use.
b.. If you want to adjust and configure the video capture device
settings, click Configure.
c.. In the Audio device list, click the audio capture device you want to
use, and then, in Audio input source, click the input line you want to use.
d.. To adjust the volume of your captured audio, move the Input level
slider to the level you want to use.
4.. In the Enter a file name for your captured video box, enter a file
name for your captured video file. Then, in the Choose a place to save your
captured video box, select the location where you want your video to be
saved or click Browse to select a location.
5.. On the Video Setting page, select the video setting you want to use
for capturing video and audio.
6.. To separate the video into smaller clips, select the Create clips when
wizard finishes check box.
7.. To prevent audio from playing over your speakers while capturing
video, select the Mute speakers check box.
8.. To automatically stop capturing after a time period has elapsed,
select the Capture time limit check box, and then type or select the length
of time you want to capture. Time is displayed in the form of
hours:minutes(h:mm).
9.. Using the controls on your analog camera or VCR, locate the video and
audio you want to capture from your tape.
10.. To begin capturing, click Start Capture, and then press the Play
button on your analog camera or VCR.
11.. Do one of the following:
a.. When the tape reaches the point at which you want to stop capturing,
click Stop Capture, and then press the Stop button on your analog camera or
VCR.
b.. If you have selected the Capture time limit check box, wait for the
specified amount of time for video to be captured, and then press the Stop
button on your analog camera or VCR.
12.. Repeat steps 9 through 11 for each part of the video tape you want to
capture.
13.. When you have finished capturing, click Finish to close the Video
Capture Wizard.
The captured content is imported into a new collection with the same name
as the specified video file.



Good luck!

-Hank

"Leeb" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:FB102A1C-6576-4864-A762-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hank:
> Thanks for the response. Yes, I am quite certain that I have a TV tuner.
As I stated, I have never used it, though.
>
> I hate to be so stupid, but could I test your patience and ask you to
please go through the details of hooking up the whole thing?
>
> Thanks, Leeb