[Guy 13]

Hi all.
I have more than 20 VHS cassettes (Some 25 years old) with my daughter
from birth to 3 years old on them,
I also have around 10 X Hi8 cassettes of many different precious moments in my life
before my move to planet Vietnam.
Outputs from the two units (Images and sound) are of course analog via RCA jacks.
I would like to make back up on my computer's external hard disk.
Can you recommend a make and model that you have used.
I need something really simple,
because I am a big ZERO when it comes to computer stuff
and if you say to me that it's easy,
it's probably very complicated for me.
Waiting for suggestions.
By the way, my budget would be 150 USD max.

Guy 13
 

[Guy 13]

Hello....
Anybody home ????
I am still searching on the Internet,
but till haven't found any answer to my question.

Guy 13

[dminches]

Are you looking to capture the audio only?

The easiest way would be to record the audio via your sound card and an audio capture program.  However, if you aren't computer savvy it could be frustrating.

[Guy 13]

Are you looking to capture the audio only?

The easiest way would be to record the audio via your sound card and an audio capture program.  However, if you aren't computer savvy it could be frustrating.

Hi dminches,
I want to record video and audio, any suggestions ?

Guy 13

[woodsyi]

Guy,

You need to ADC not DAC.  There are tons of analog tape digitizers.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=626680&gclid=CjwKEAiAzuK0BRCW4tiLpJT-8TISJADV8cw9FCJd_Y0X7xH4YbA_P_TNM7joBhFDcElmfL4nWnfLUBoCoM3w_wcB&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&A=details&Q=

Google vcr digitizer and you will see.

[dminches]

I would save yourself the hassle and bring them to a local shop who will burn DVDs for you.

[Guy 13]

Guy,

You need to ADC not DAC.  There are tons of analog tape digitizers.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=626680&gclid=CjwKEAiAzuK0BRCW4tiLpJT-8TISJADV8cw9FCJd_Y0X7xH4YbA_P_TNM7joBhFDcElmfL4nWnfLUBoCoM3w_wcB&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&A=details&Q=

Google vcr digitizer and you will see.

Hi woodsyi,
thanks for the link.
Below, is what I found on Amazon.
I've been doing business with them from Montreal
and Vietnam and never had any problem, super easy.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=ION+Audio+VIDEO+2+PC+MKII+Digital+Video+Converter+
That's good news, thanks for the help.

Guy 13

[Guy 13]

I would save yourself the hassle and bring them to a local shop who will burn DVDs for you.

Hi (Again) dminches,
when I was on planet I did just that with a local guy
and the copies were not that good and a little too expensive
for something Made in Vietnam.
Thanks anyway.

Guy 13

[dB Cooper]

Elgato 'EyeTV' hooks right up to the RCA outputs on your deck, or to camcorder (may need cheap adapter) and into a usb port on a "pooter", should be obtainable at or below your price point, install their app on your PC or Mac and it practically runs itself. Look on eBay, there are probably gently used ones for next to nothing from people who have finished their similar projects.

Quality/condition of the source deck is important. I did my first few on an Aiwa deck and they were OK but a Panasonic deck I borrowed had much better quality (less video noise).

[Phil A]

For VHS tapes, I used to have a stand alone DVD recorder and output the VHS deck into it to make copies for people.  I gave away the DVD recorder before a move a couple of years back as I picked up one of these a few years back on woot.com for $29.99 and have used it to make DVDs for a couple of people (it also has audio video input jacks on the front) - http://www.amazon.com/ION-Computer-Converter-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B0017PJ5FI

For the first couple I did, the software discs were only for Window XP or Vista so I did them on my old XP machine.  Unfortunately, I only have a CD drive on the XP machine so I copies the file created during the conversion process to my Windows 7 machine and used JRiver to make the DVD.  Then I went their site and downloaded the version for later Windows operating systems - https://www.ionaudio.com/support/downloads/vcr-2-pc

So if your PC has input for analog audio and video, you can also do it and use whatever software you have after the file is created to make a DVD or you can buy something like this and use their software - http://www.amazon.com/ION-Video-Analog-Digital-Converter/dp/B002MT7JFQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1452950689&sr=1-1&keywords=analog+video+to+usb

[Guy 13]

Elgato 'EyeTV' hooks right up to the RCA outputs on your deck, or to camcorder (may need cheap adapter) and into a usb port on a "pooter", should be obtainable at or below your price point, install their app on your PC or Mac and it practically runs itself. Look on eBay, there are probably gently used ones for next to nothing from people who have finished their similar projects.

Quality/condition of the source deck is important. I did my first few on an Aiwa deck and they were OK but a Panasonic deck I borrowed had much better quality (less video noise).

Hi dB Cooper,
thanks for the info.
I never did business with eBay
and I really prefer to stick with Amazon.
Thanks.

Guy 13

[Guy 13]

For VHS tapes, I used to have a stand alone DVD recorder and output the VHS deck into it to make copies for people.  I gave away the DVD recorder before a move a couple of years back as I picked up one of these a few years back on woot.com for $29.99 and have used it to make DVDs for a couple of people (it also has audio video input jacks on the front) - http://www.amazon.com/ION-Computer-Converter-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B0017PJ5FI

For the first couple I did, the software discs were only for Window XP or Vista so I did them on my old XP machine.  Unfortunately, I only have a CD drive on the XP machine so I copies the file created during the conversion process to my Windows 7 machine and used JRiver to make the DVD.  Then I went their site and downloaded the version for later Windows operating systems - https://www.ionaudio.com/support/downloads/vcr-2-pc

So if your PC has input for analog audio and video, you can also do it and use whatever software you have after the file is created to make a DVD or you can buy something like this and use their software - http://www.amazon.com/ION-Video-Analog-Digital-Converter/dp/B002MT7JFQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1452950689&sr=1-1&keywords=analog+video+to+usb

Hi Phil A, thanks for the info,
I think I will go the ION way,
within my budget
and look simple enough for a big computer's zero like me.
Once back on planet Vietnam and reunited with all my analog tapes and vintage machines,
I will order it with other miscelanious stuff I need.
Thanks.

Guy 13

[Phil A]

Guy - no problem - let us know how it works out.  The last link I sent should be easy to use.  I have Ion VCR almost 4 years.  If I had to do it again (it wasn't available or I wasn't aware of it when I bought the VCR for $29.99), I'd get the $39.99 converter as it has stereo audio inputs (mine just has mono jacks on the front if I use an external tape source like a cassette or another video source).  Not that it is a big deal I basically use it to make DVDs for others of VHS tapes.  That's what I did when I had my outboard DVD recorder (I gave that away before a move a couple of years back along with an outboard CD recorder as I figured with the Ion machine I could do DVDs and I make CDs from the PC anyway for a long time and that CD recorder saw no use).

[Guy 13]

Guy - no problem - let us know how it works out.  The last link I sent should be easy to use.  I have Ion VCR almost 4 years.  If I had to do it again (it wasn't available or I wasn't aware of it when I bought the VCR for $29.99), I'd get the $39.99 converter as it has stereo audio inputs (mine just has mono jacks on the front if I use an external tape source like a cassette or another video source).  Not that it is a big deal I basically use it to make DVDs for others of VHS tapes.  That's what I did when I had my outboard DVD recorder (I gave that away before a move a couple of years back along with an outboard CD recorder as I figured with the Ion machine I could do DVDs and I make CDs from the PC anyway for a long time and that CD recorder saw no use).

Hi (Again) Phil A.
I will order it from Amazon when I am back on planet Vietnam,
because now with the Canadian dollar at his lowest ( 1.30 CND$ = 1 USD),
custom duty at approximately 25% and cost of transport
I am better off ordering from Vietnam,
some relative will bring it over,
therefore no transport and custom fees.
I have a JVC VCR (Got it free from my cousin, it's almost new)
and a Pioneer that I paid 10 CND$ (Look new, got it at a garage sales around the corner)
I also have my 30 years old Nakamichi BX100 that need repair
(Can't get it repaired on planet Vietnam, tried with two different repair shop,
because they don't have the replaceent parts),
so I am looking for a cassette player in good working condition that would be 50 USD or less...
Yes I know, I am a cheap skate guy, but that's O.K. with me.
Oh yes, I also have to buy a Hi8 camecorder,
I got mine stolen by the Vietnamese airprort bagage handlers,
that's hart breaking because I paid 2,000 CND $ 20 year ago.
Anyway, I saw some on Amazon that go for 150 USD.
Once everything has beed tansfered and digitilized I won't need any analog player units.
You can be sure I will let you know how it went
and there are good chances that I might have problem with the soft ware,
so you will hear from me... 
Thanks again.

Guy 13