Capture from VCR in Windows Media Center

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Hari - 13 Mar 2006 19:50 GMT

Can anyone tell me how to capture video from VCR using Windows Media Center?
I have a Toshiba laptop which came with built-in TV Tuner and Windows Media
Center Edition, but I am not sure if we can capture video from a VCR using
it. I tried, but failed. I am able to watch TV and record, but not from VCR.

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Graham Hughes - 16 Mar 2006 19:32 GMT

It shouldn't be any different to doing what you are already doing. Connect
the vcr in the same manner as you do the tv adn you will be able to record
anything that isn't copyright protected.

Signature

Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com

> Can anyone tell me how to capture video from VCR using Windows Media
> Center?
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> it. I tried, but failed. I am able to watch TV and record, but not from
> VCR.

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Hari - 16 Mar 2006 22:34 GMT

But I do not see any settings in Media Center for a VCR. It has settings for
connecting a TV Aerial, but not for a VCR.

> It shouldn't be any different to doing what you are already doing. Connect
> the vcr in the same manner as you do the tv adn you will be able to record
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> > it. I tried, but failed. I am able to watch TV and record, but not from
> > VCR.

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decoder - 16 Mar 2006 23:58 GMT

> But I do not see any settings in Media Center for a VCR. It has settings
> for
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>> > it. I tried, but failed. I am able to watch TV and record, but not from
>> > VCR.

It is doubtful with a laptop, your laptop may have an S-Video port,
but this will be *output* only. - to connect to a TV/Display;
The usual and accepted method of external analog capture is
via an external USB device. Or if you have a DV camcorder,
you can use the "pass through" technique.
This is where you connect your VCR to the analog input(s) of
the DV cam, it does the encoding, and passes a DV signal
via firewire to your laptop (you may require a firewire card-bus
for laptop.)
If you do not have a DV camcorder, you may like to consider
these type of hardware USB capture devices:

http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvrusb2.html

http://www.miglia.com/products/video/director2/index.html

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/uk/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/S
tudio+Family/Studio+Plus+700-USB+version+10

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Graham Hughes - 24 Mar 2006 18:57 GMT

Sorry I'm late back with this. Are you sorted yet? Does your vcr not have an
aerial output which can be connected to the aerial input of your pc?

Signature

Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com

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Al of the North - 31 Mar 2006 17:50 GMT

I have a similar issue with being able to capture video

I have a Dell Dimension desktop with Media Center and an ATI eWonder card.
I connected my cable line to my vcr and the vcr to cable hookup on ATI card.
In Media Center, as long as I go to channel 3 I can watch a VHS tape. I can
even record - although Media Center thinks I am recording whatever is on
cable TV at that time (it also stops recording when that program is over - vs
the VHS tape).

In Windows MM, when I go to capture the video stream, it recognizes the ATI
Capure card, however an error pops up "the device cannot be used at this time
because there has been an error is staring the device" when I select it.

Any solutions?

Thanks

> Sorry I'm late back with this. Are you sorted yet? Does your vcr not have an
> aerial output which can be connected to the aerial input of your pc?
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> >> > it. I tried, but failed. I am able to watch TV and record, but not from
> >> > VCR.

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