More computing advice needed.....

[Peter B]

Can anyone out there tell me how I connect my comp up to a VCR?

Cheers

[chrisecurtis]

If you are lucky, your graphics card (where the monitor plugs into the computer) will have a "TV out" connection - this is often an S-video socket (looks like a mouse or keyboard connection next to where your monitor plugs in) - many videos accept this input, so you will need an S-video cable and another cable to go from the computer's sound output (usually 3.5mm jack) to the video's audio input (usually phono).

If you are not lucky, you will need to buy some electronics. If you are likely to want to do this regularly the simplest way is to buy a graphics card for the PC that includes a TV out connector - there are lots available and they vary in price from £30 to several hundred, depending on how powerful the other features of the card are. There are some simpler adapters that will take PC monitor signals and produce TV or video signals but you will have to hunt around for these - again the price varies. If it is a "one-off" try to find someone with the gear and beg a favour!

If you are planning to do lots of video editing etc. on the PC look for some proper digital video kit - which can go inside your PC or attach via firewire - not particularly cheap though - I have the kit from Pinnacle that will input and output all sorts of video signals, allow you to edit and polish them etc - about £150 plus the cost of the leads for the particular video and camera etc..

Another option is to forget video - go straight to DVD. DVD burners to install into PCs are getting cheaper and there is lots of software around (including some freeware) that allows you to turn computer video and graphics into DVDs that will work on any player.

[Peter B]

It's VCR ---> comp but thanks anyway

[chrisecurtis]

Oh, that's easier!

You can go down the digital video route (like the pinnacle kit I mentioned) or there are several USB devices - you plug the video in to a little box that connects to the computer - comes with software to do the capture. Cost around £45 e.g. the adaptec one at amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006HYKE/ref=pd_sim_ce_dp_2/026-4686468-0542820

[Peter B]

Have you got that adaptec one yourself?

[brooner]

I have the kit from Pinnacle that will input and output all sorts of video signals, allow you to edit and polish them etc - about £150 plus the cost of the leads for the particular video and camera etc..

probably answers that one

[chrisecurtis]

We have one of the adaptec kits at school - works well enough but slower and less slick than the more expensive Pinnacle kits. The software is a bit basic too compared with Pinnacle but lots of people have copied bits of video to PC using it - the adaptec kit goes out of sync (video and audio) if you try more than 10 minutes at a time, but you can create lots of small takes and join them back together.

[Peter B]

OK cheers Chris
On the topic of video editing brooner hows the jircs one coming along?