Using Digital Camcorder to Convert Analog Movies

coateslr wrote on 8/12/2004, 7:54 AM

I have a Pinnacle DC10 analog converter but would like to know how to convert my vhs tapes to digital using my Canon ZR70 digital camcorder. I want to keep the dv tapes with the footage instead of burning it to DVD. How would I hook it up and what connectors do I need?

Thanks

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 8/12/2004, 12:15 PM

Actually, you're going to find it much easier than working with analogue!

All you need is a firewire connection. Your DV camcorder has a jack for it built in. A firewire cable might cost you $20. Most newer computers have a firewire jack. If not, you can drop a card into your computer. (They cost less than $50.)

Once that's done, MS3 (or any editing software) will feed it right into the computer -- and right back out to your tape when you're done.

Set up the software to save the files as NTSC-DV (PAL-DV for Europe) and the transfer quality should be nearly lossless.

Steve Grisetti wrote on 8/12/2004, 12:18 PM

Sorry. Guess I misunderstood the question.

You want to turn your VHS tapes into digital, right? Okay, that's not so hard either. Just run AV cables from your VHS tape player (Video out, Audio out) to your camcorder (Video in, Audio in) and record.

Note, however, that the quality, even though it will be digital, can't be any better than what's on the original tape.