VHS to Firewire video capture

I'm not a video guy, so bear with me...

I have some video on VHS tapes that I'd like to both rip to QuickTime and burn to DVDs.

Do I need this:

Datavideo DAC-200 Bi-Directional DV to S(Y/C) Composite Video Converter

Or is there something more basic?
Or something in a card?


.

Do you have a miniDV Camcorder, if so you maybe able to use it as a bridge and save your self some money.

http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetv250

Is $10 more but will also allow you to watch and record TV shows if you are near your television source

rman said:

Do you have a miniDV Camcorder, if so you maybe able to use it as a bridge and save your self some money.

Click to expand...

This is how I did it until I bought a cheapie ($99) DVD recorder at Wal-Mart. Now I have DVDs of my VHS tapes, and when I want to rip them to QuickTime I use Handbrake.

In fact, I can also use it as a poor man's Tivo since I can record TV shows on DVD-RW and then rip them for iTunes.

Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't the EyeTV EZ work as well? It seems to have RCA inputs. Has anyone tried this?

The EyeTV EZ is no longer produced. And when you are trying to convert formats your best bet for a good conversion is a hardware based encoder

trpnmonkey41 said:

The EyeTV EZ is no longer produced. And when you are trying to convert formats your best bet for a good conversion is a hardware based encoder

Click to expand...

ah, ok. that makes sense. thanks for the fast reply!

similar prob

Everyone told me to get a MAC to do video editing so I did.I have alot of video on 8mm tape from a camcorder, and I need to transfer it to my Mac Mini harddrive so I can edit it.
I used a "capture card" to do it on my PC but it was crappy.
So now I need some help doing it via MAC.

PS Im a total MAC Noob. it took me 25 minutes to figure out how to eject a CD from my MAC Mini lol *sigh*

thx in advance

Well depending on the model of your camera it may have a firewire out, if it does just plug it in and open imovie and capture. You can also try one of the suggestions above.

nope. no firewire.
Is there a MAC version of a capture card?

yes there are, but you will not be able to put then in a mini.

The options above though are very good options for you. I will paste the links below so you don't have to scroll up.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FVMWIW
http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetv250

thank you very much.
I will give them a try.

Daxton said:

nope. no firewire.
Is there a MAC version of a capture card?

Click to expand...

Has it (your camcorder) got a DV port, if so buy a DV to firewire cable.

I just realized last night that my Sony Digital 8 camera allows me to connect my VCR and import to iMovie and Quicktime Pro.
My only disapointment is that the h.264 option for capture in QT does not work with an ipod without recoding.
I did find the standard mp4 option to work but that leaves me with 800k bit rates.

As to the OP, you need either a USB or Firewire option for the Mac Mini, which is what I use.
Firewire is better if you want to edit in iMovie.