Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 11/17/2014, 4:06 PM
VHS video is analog video. It was created long before we had digital video. In order to be edited in Vegas, it must first be converted from analog to digital. This conversion is not done by Vegas, which is why you won't find any menus or options labeled "VHS." Instead, the conversion is done by hardware which is inserted between your VHS tape deck and your computer. The easiest and most common piece of hardware which is used for this purpose is a standard definition camcorder. You are looking for either a "DV" camcorder, or a "Digital8" camcorder. Many of these, although not all of them, have the ability to "pass through" video. If you have something like this, you can attach the red, white, and yellow cables from your VCR (the two stereo channels and the video) to your camera, and then connect a Firewire (also called a 1394) cable from the camcorder to your computer. Your computer must have a Firewire connector. Not all computers have these.

It is possible that your husband my have used a more specialized piece of hardware. You will be looking for something which has at least three round connectors labeled Audio L, Audio R, and Video (or something similar) and also a rectangular digital connector.

If you want more help, just click on my user name and send me a private email. We can hook up via phone or Skype. I do media restoration for a living, and I transfer a LOT of VHS tape. Right now I am transferring about 100 LPs and 78 rpm records ...

Kimberly wrote on 11/17/2014, 9:21 PM
Is there a chance you are referring to HDV and not VHS?

HDV is a tape that is about 2 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches wide. Many of the first Hi-Def cameras were HDV based.

VHS, as you may know, is the big tape from yesteryear. In many respects the HDV tape looks like a tiny VHS tape but the technology is different.

If it's an HDV tape, many of us can walk you through that process easy : )

If it's VHS, there are some Gurus here who can certainly give you advice.

Sorry to insult your knowledge if you really do mean VHS tape, just wanted to clarify as I know some of the terminology is new for you.

Regards,

Kimberly
musicvid10 wrote on 11/17/2014, 9:56 PM
A good set-top DVD recorder with firewire input does a remarkable job without a lot of additional steps. The h/w noise reduction makes it better than capturing through firewire to Vegas.
Editguy43 wrote on 11/18/2014, 12:57 PM
That is ok, It is a VHS Tape. Thanks
Editguy43 wrote on 11/18/2014, 12:57 PM
I will do that. Thanks
cbrillow wrote on 11/18/2014, 5:28 PM
"A good set-top DVD recorder with firewire input does a remarkable job without a lot of additional steps."

Assuming that one has a way to output a signal via firewire from a VHS tape...
Chienworks wrote on 11/18/2014, 9:01 PM
The DVD recorder would be the way to get from VHS to firewire, connecting the VHS player Video/Audio outputs to the DVD recorder analog inputs. The recorder will do the conversion to digital and output a DV signal through firewire.

UNLESS... the DVD recorder's firewire jack is input only. Every one i ever saw on the shelves only allowed input through the firewire jack. This seemed extremely useless to me. If i had ever seen one with firewire out i would have snapped it up in a heartbeat.
musicvid10 wrote on 11/18/2014, 9:09 PM
I guess I took the VHS/DVD combo recorder for granted. Mine is, not all of them are.

They also accept composite, s-video, etc.

All my non-VHS stuff goes through a Canon zR30.
I see them at Goodwill.
Geoff_Wood wrote on 11/18/2014, 10:20 PM
... and there is (presumably !) no VHS drive in you computer either !

You need video acquisition hardware to interface your analogue video player (VHS or whatever) to the computer. Vegas will see the interface and you access it through there. I have ADS Pyro which connects via Firewire, but there are many others including USB-connected ones

geoff
GeoffEdwards wrote on 11/21/2014, 11:48 AM
I transferred my VHS and SVHS tapes to my DV camcorder (MiniDV tapes) and then transferred them to my PC later. I needed to buy a SVHS cassette recorder. I think I paid £44 for a new one. Having the precious footage on the mini dv tapes is a convenient way to store hours and hours of VHS/SVHS recordings.
pilsburypie wrote on 11/21/2014, 1:21 PM
My father had a load of old cine film and he sent it away to a company who put it all on DVD. I can't remember the cost but I do remember being very surprised how cheap it was. I bet there a hundreds of similar companies offering this service if you google it.

I would either do this or look on ebay for a cheap mini dv camera with passthrough. I bet you could get one for £40, do what you have to do then sell it for the same amount a week later.
Arthur.S wrote on 11/21/2014, 1:44 PM
The wayIi approached this a while back, was to play the VHS 'out' to the input of my DV cam, then out via the firewire of the cam into PC. Vegas found it fine, but remember to switch off 'device control'. This all depends on your DV cam having 'pass thru' of course.
Editguy43 wrote on 11/24/2014, 12:02 PM
Geoff, I don't know about a program that gets VHS tape. Johnmeyer was able to help me get it transferred through a camopus - hardware that took the Analog and transferred to the digital and then I was able to capture it in to Vegas Pro. I then was able to edit it. I am thankful for your and his and everyone's help.
Geoff_Wood wrote on 11/24/2014, 2:17 PM
Glad you got it done ! It can be a tedious thing to do oneself, and one slip can mean repeating the whole (real-time) excercise each tape.

Vegas is the 'program' , but the necessary adaptor hardware (if you choose that route) goes from 'commodity' available online or from any electronics or computer or photo store, to semi-pro, to pro.

geoff