Converting to VHS

We all have many VHS tape recordings that are worth transferring into the digital domain, and with both manufacturers and retailers now turning their backs on the analog video recording format altogether, it's an appropriate time to think about how to copy those cherished recordings onto computer and ultimately to DVD. It could be that you also have a selection of camcorder recordings made not only in VHS but also Video8, Hi8, or even Betamax. The principle for converting these analog formats to digital is identical.

It's a little known fact that many DV, DVD, and Digital8 camcorders can also be used as digital video recorders. In addition to the standard digital output and input connector called FireWire, or i.Link in some cases, all camcorders will have connections enabling you to play your recordings out to TV or recorder. This is called an AV output connection. However, your camcorder may allow you to record back to digital tape or disk in the camcorder via this socket, too. This is called AV-in, and makes it very easy for you to connect a VHS player, camcorder or other device and copy older recordings to the camcorder. Simply press Play on the VHS player, hit Record on the camcorder and your recordings have been converted to digital.
Some camcorders will not only allow an AV-input to tape or disk, but will also allow that signal to be passed directly to a Windows PC or Apple Mac computer via the FireWire connector without first re-recording. This AV pass-through recording is very useful especially when you have large amounts of footage to be digitized and have limited time in which to do it. Normally, only tape based formats like DV and Digital8 camcorders can be used in this way, since DVD, HDD (hard disk drive), and solid state SD (secure digital) Card cameras use a different type of digital recording format.

There are several dedicated devices that will allow you to connect the analog video and audio cables from a VHS player or camcorder at one end and then send a digital conversion signal to a computer via FireWire at the other end. Popular makes include Canopus, Miglia, and Datavideo. They perform the same function as a camcorder with pass-through conversion and are, of course, an additional expense. You don't need to tie up your camcorder for this purpose, however.

Look at the AV connecting cables that came with your camcorder and you'll see that you have a triple cable set containing a yellow, red, and white lead. These carry the composite video (picture) and stereo (Right/Left) sound channels respectively. It's likely that these cables will all merge into one multi way plug that inserts into the AV socket on the camcorder. Consult your camcorder's manual as well as the manual for the VHS player to check precise connections.

If you want to copy recordings from an S-VHS player or Hi8 camcorder, then consider using a special connector called S-Video, which might also be included in the cables that came with your camcorder. S-Video processes S-VHS and Hi8 video signals differently in order to retain the higher quality on offer, though it has no advantage when used with ordinary video recordings.