You’ve probably heard about how you can save a digital movie from your PC to a
digital camcorder, but did you know you could save it directly to a VCR as well?
The benefits of this are many. First is that
there’s no need for a digital camcorder to do it. You most likely already have a
VCR that you can output your video to. The tapes for VCR are fairly inexpensive
too, unlike digital tapes.
Converting video from PC to a VCR yields many
benefits
Connecting VCR to PC is a simple process as
you’ll see. Once you know how to connect VCR to PC you’ll probably use this
technique over and over again.
Step 1: Check Your Hardware
The first step in your VCR to PC hack technique is to check your
hardware. That usually goes without saying, but both software and hardware are
needed to connect VCR to PC and get the results we’re after.
You will need to check out your graphics card. Get behind your
computer and look at the output connections. Connecting VCR to PC requires that
you have what’s called a 'TV Out' connection. This should either be labeled
'S-Video' or 'Composite'. Either of these will do.
If you’re at all familiar with video connections, you probably
know that there are many different types of connections that you can use.
Between 'S-Video' and 'Composite', S-Video is generally regarded as providing
the better picture quality. S-Video works by separating the color component of
the picture from the brightness of the picture, giving a better-looking final
image. Nonetheless, for our purpose, either connector will do.
Step 2: Figure
Out Those Cables
Okay, you’ve found your connectors and they fit in one of the above categories.
Now we have to take the next step. To connect VCR to PC we need cables.
Cables
come in a wide assortment so you need to find the one that fits into your
connector. How do you exactly which cable you need to connect VCR to PC? Check
both the connectors on your graphics card as well as the connectors on your VCR.
For example, do you have S-Video connectors on both the graphics card and the
PC? If so, you need an S-Video to S-Video cable. However, if you find that the
resulting picture on your monitor is black and white, you may need some help
with a S-Video to composite converter. Beyond the graphics, you need to connect
the audio.
Find the output connectors on your soundcard. You will use a 2 x RCA
female to 3.5mm phono Jack cable to connect it to the audio connector on your
VCR. Check online for the cables you need or go to your local electronics store.
Step 3: Get the TVTool Software
Now we’re going to the software part of connecting VCR to PC, but first let’s
check our results so far. If you’ve hooked up everything properly, go ahead and
turn everything on. Turn on your TV and switch it to VCR channel, and make sure
the video recorder is set to the right AV channel.
No magic yet, just a black
screen. The next important step in your VCR to PC connection is a software tool.
It’s called TVTool, and you can download it from
their website.
You can install a trial version of their software.
Once it’s installed, it will
present you with a tabbed control interface. To see your video on TV, click on
the big green 'TV Mode' button. Once done, toggle back to your PC using the F2
key on your keyboard.
Now, how do we record? It’s simple. Find a video player
for your PC. I recommend the Zoom player because it lets you manipulate the
final image for a correct fit to your TV. Then, click 'Record' on your VCR and
you’re done!
Conclusion
Connecting VCR to PC might seem a bit outdated to some people, especially in
this age of digital camcorders. However, there are simply times that you need
your digital video creations output to the tapes you play in your VCR.
If you were to use your digital camcorder to accomplish the same feat, you would
first have to record back to your digital camcorder (from your PC), and then
record from your digital camcorder to your VCR. It’s a two-step process. But if
you connect VCR to PC, you can do the whole thing one fell swoop!
Create
Great-Looking Digital Videos
Roxio VideoWave Professional is a video editing
program that could be the answer to your video editing headaches. If you have
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