Posted by Olin K. McDaniel on 12/30/06 00:05

I just checked posts in this group, for the first time in nearly 3
years, so this may have been covered numerous times in the past. If
so, I apologize for wasting the time of you regulars, but I would like
help on the subject. Some years ago I tried converting a few old VHS
tapes, and bought some devices to assist - only to recognize that what
I bought then was really not effective. So, now maybe there have been
newer devices more suited to the job, and that's why I'm here.

As to my existing equipment, I have several VHS recorders scattered
around the house atop various TV sets. All have analog video and
audio outputs, and of course all can play the tapes I wish to convert
to DVDs. I have two computers, each with its own DVD recorder
installed. (In addition, I have two DVD "off the air" recorders at a
couple of the TVs, but don't believe they enter this subject.) It is
no problem to move one of the VHS recorder/player to feed to either
computer. As to software, both computers are running Windows 2000,
and I have recent versions of Nero, plus several older software
packages such as Roxio Easy Creator 6 and 7 which I use infrequently
and several other even older, like Vegas 4.

My basic problem is - I don't have anything as a hardware interface
within the computers. Perhaps, what I lack is something I used to
know was called a "capture card". If this is what you experts feel is
needed, please give me some recommendations, but cost is of some
importance since I'm not doing this work as a business. Just trying
to save some old family video tapes for passing on to other family
members as DVD disks. Many of these tapes come from old VHS
camcorders, some from recordings off the air. Being retired, the time
required to do this work should be readily available, assuming I live
a while longer. So, any useful suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Olin McDaniel

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