Best products from r/VHS

I have solved this problem for myself. New iMac instead of MBP, but still using a USB-C port. It may seem a little intense, but this method works, and it works better than any cheapo Chinese VCR to USB dongle you can buy online.

Here's the hardware and software you'll need to get a good capture:

Hardware

1. A VCR with yellow, red, and white composite outputs. ($10-60 Goodwill online)
   If you're looking to just capture the VHS, ignore all the uber-elite perfectionista online. Get a working VCR, and clean the video heads if you feel confident enough to do so.
   
2. Canopus ADVC-100 or ADVC-110 ($80-100 eBay; I'll sell you my working ADVC-100 for $70 shipped to USA. Msg me.)
   This is the box that your Mac will recognize as video playback hardware, and that MacOS will support for capturing without paying extra for software. Worth the price, I promise you. This is the investment part of the process, and is what enables your Mac to even see your VCR. This is the most important piece of hardware.
   
3. Composite cable ($7 Amazon)
   Don't be tempted into buying composite to HDMI/DVI/USB/USB-C/Thunderbolt. Plugging these into your VCR then into your Mac will result in failure -- your Mac won't detect that it's connected into a VCR. You'll be plugging this into your ADVC,
   
4. FireWire 800 cable, 9-pin to 6-pin ($7 Amazon)
   
5. Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter ($29 Amazon)
   
6. Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter ($49 Amazon)
   
   Capture Software
   
   

• Quicktime Player (Free, included with MacOS)
  
  Hooking Everything Up
  
  

1. Plug in your (#1) VCR to power. Test with a TV that it functions properly.
   
2. Plug in your (#2) Canopus ADVC-100/110 to power.
   
3. Plug your (#3) composite cables into the "out" ports on the back of your VCR.
   
4. Plug in the other end of the (#3) composite cables to the "L - Audio In - R, Video In" ports on the Canopus ADVC.
   
5. Plug in the (#4) FireWire 800 cable to the back of the Canopus ADVC.
   
6. Plug the (#4) FireWire 800 cable into the (#5) Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter.
   
7. Plug the (#5) Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter into the (#6) Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter
   
8. Plug the (#6) Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter into your Mac
   
   Capturing
   
   
9. Power everything on.
   
10. Make sure your Canopus ADVC Input Select is set to Analog In
    
11. Insert your VHS tape and rewind completely
    
12. Launch Quicktime Player
    
13. Click File -> New Movie Recording
    
14. From the dropdown arrow next to the red record button, choose "ADVC-100" or "ADVC-110" for Camera and Microphone
    
15. Press play on your VCR
    
16. You should see the movie playing back (it might have a black screen for a few seconds, just wait)
    
17. If/when you see the movie playing back, rewind all the way
    
18. Hit play again on your VCR
    
19. Click the red record button in Quicktime
    
20. Quicktime will now capture your VHS tape!
    
21. When complete, click the red record button again in Quicktime
    
22. Click File -> Export As -> (the highest resolution available, should be 480p)
    
23. Save your file
    
24. Done!
    
    Here's a video of the Capturing process in action: https://youtu.be/VFy-gAJ3wtk
    
    Good luck!

I use an Archer Video Processor. Radio Shack sold a few models in the 70s-80s from what I gather. They go for pretty damn cheap on ebay. You can probably get something similar at a thrift store, as long as you can mess with color etc. (like a saturation knob on a VCR).

The big problem to tackle is that these old units use RCA cables - the red/yellow/white ones. Most computers and especially laptops don't have an RCA-output port. If you have anything, it's gonna be HDMI. So you need an HDMI-to-RCA converter. I got this. Its quality sorta sucks but if you're making glitch art you won't mind. Also, don't fucking get a HDMI to RCA cable; these don't work even in theory (digital to analog without conversion makes no sense).

Now that feeds into your VCR/processor's input. You also output in RCA. I use a Dazzle DVC100 for this. Takes RCA in and converts to USB, which I then use with their shitty proprietary DVD recorder software. You can probably find something cheaper like an Easycap or something like that, these devices are pretty common unlike that HDMI to RCA box from before.

So once I have everything plugged in, I output my video from computer A (looping in VLC so I can mess around with the board), inputting to my processor, outputting with glitchiness, into my Dazzle then into my computer B, which is recording it.

====
If you get an Archer processor (I recommend it, thing's a dream), there's again a few models but they should stay largely the same. Unscrew the screws on the metal housing and the back panel. Pull the panel out (may need to pry) and the front, attached to the circuit board, should come out easily. I leave my board exposed and it's been fine for a good while now.

So now you're looking at your green-ass circuit board. Watch out for the transformer, don't touch that (mine looks like shiny blue masking tape coils, coils being what tips you off). Compare the top of the circuit board with the underside - mess mostly with the spider feet on the underside, you really won't get an effect with most of the resistors, capacitors etc.

To make my short-circuits I use little screwdriver bits - long, thin, and flatheaded to easier make contact. Just touch the solder on random points and note the effect. Sometimes you'll get a little spark and the unit may reset - don't fuck with those two together or slap a potentiometer on it; I play it safe, don't wanna kill my board.

Once you find two spots you like note their positions (take a pic or just write down text on the PCB that they're near), and then you'll wanna solder them. Be very careful!!!! I assume you know how to solder so I don't mean don't burn your fingers. The PCB contacts are very close together, watch for accidental bridges (and be prepared to fix em). Grab yourself some potentiometers and switches from Radio Shack - remember that one wire must be in the middle of a three-pronged switch/knob. Unplug all your stuff, hold power to runoff lingering electrons. Solder two pieces of wire to your points, solder the wire to the switch, plug it back in. Pray your wire stays soldered. Observe effects with dials turned and switches switched. Enjoy glitchiness!!!

Also a note for my unit. This may have just been mine but it seemed some contact along the circuit wasn't receiving power - my video output showed a very faint picture - recognizable, but visibly wrong even with no effect applied. The picture was also shifted to the right half a screen's worth. I found two random points that, when shorted, completely fixed the problem. Soldered a switch and things have been fine - some of my effects actually vary wildly when the switch is on or off! If you run into a similar problem let me know, I'll send you a picture of my board.

Good luck and pardon my post it's really late as of writing

e: also yeah /r/glitch_art is a low-effort place, it's pretty upsetting

Try a better capture device.


For example, this:
https://www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-1212-Definition-Personal-Recorder/dp/B0018LX0DY


It captures to .ts or mp4. It is better to capture to .ts and then convert that into an mp4 with another program.


Another option is the Elgato Game Capture HD. It is no longer being manufactured but you can still find them out in the wild. They use their own capture software but do a fantastic job. It captures to .ts but you can also use its software to then convert that file to .mp4.


I have used both for transferring VHS to .ts files and have been very satisfied with my results. I use a VHS/DVD recorder combo and use its HDMI out for the El Gato. If you have a VCR with HDMI out (mostly through an upscaling dvd/vcr combo) you can bypass using the DVD-R and capture a higher quality file via the El Gato, but that HDMI connection works wonders. You can do that with the HD60 as well. If you stick with S-Video or RCA/composite cables then the only option is the El Gato Came Capture HD.


I prefer using the El Gato, but I have had satisfactory results using the Happauge as well. It has composite, S-Video, and component inputs, is simple to use and its software offers the ability to do slight color correction for captures if necessary (I prefer to do that in different software, to be honest).


I can vouch for both of those capture devices (as well as the El Gato HD60). If I need to burn to DVD I still capture to my computer and then author the DVD myself. The results are often better than using my DVD recorder, but necessitates a little more time. When it comes to my personal viewing habits I usually just record to a harddrive (and back up the files on another drive) and cut out the physical middleman.

Sidekicks (1992)
Jonathan Brandis & Chuck Norris Karate Flick
I consider this title VHS ONLY as the DVD is OOP and $$$

This is not an elegant solution, but you can check completed ebay auctions to find out titles you might not have heard of before.

Sort sold auctions (not completed) by price, first from high to low for highly sought rarities then from low to high for more common VHS only titles.

Be sure to set a minimum value when searching. I often choose 9.99 to help sort out junk, but you will often find out what works best for you.

I often make sure the search DOES NOT include wrestling (wwe, wwf, et cetera), disney and exercise/aerobics. You will find out works best for you.

Amazon also has many,many VHS titles listed and you just need to use their search function.

Why can't you? Comet might be available OTA in your area, so then all you need is an ATSC tuner, and then you've got a lot of options. If it's OTA in your area it should be on cable too, so if you're a cable or satellite subscriber you could get a DVR through them, or (cable only) you could get a CableCARD-compatible solution. Note that DVRs from your MSO or rental of a CableCARD will likely come with a monthly fee, so it might be worth it to set up an antenna for this DVR if you want to do things on the cheap.

You could get a tuner for your computer, and use some free DVR software to record it that way. There are devices like the Hauppauge WinTV USB sticks, PCIe cards, and outboard boxes, or an HDHomeRun network tuner. Most of them come with basic software that lets you schedule a recording, but there's more sophisticated software like NextPVR and my personal favorite MythTV. There are models of WinTV and HDHomeRun that support CableCARDs.

You could also get a set-top DVR, like a Tablo, Simple.TV, TiVo Roamio and Bolt, or a cheap HomeWorx 150 or 180. Some of those have monthly fees, some don't, some have their own storage, some require you to bring your own disk. TiVo and the Simple.TV both have other models that are compatible with CableCARD.

Now, if you want to do this old school you can get yourself an ATSC tuner set-top (sometimes called a digital adapter) box (HomeWorx makes one, you can usually find one or two wherever TVs are sold) or a "digital adapter" from your cable company, and plug that sucker into a VCR and let 'er rip. VCRPlus codes are no longer a thing, so it's manual programming of start/end times, and the really sucky part is you need to make sure the box is on and set to the right channel before your recording comes up.

Now if you've already got cable your cable box probably has an analog output, either RF or composite. You could always jack that sucker into a VCR and do things that way. Some cable boxes (I can speak at least for the Motorola DCT boxes used by Comcast, but not the X1 boxes) actually support this kind of old school hack by having a "recording" feature where you can tell the box to auto-tune the right channels for you at a given time, but you still have to manually program the box to do this for each showing and program the VCR. Some later model, higher end VCRs support IR blasters just for this purpose.

Thanks for the response

I'm hoping to throw the captions into an srt to be able to search through them. Keeping line 21 as part of the video file would probably be desirable to achieve as original dump as possible. I have a fair bit of tapes, and I want to digitize them myself.

Seems like CCextractor will be useful, so long as I can now find a device that will capture line 21. Looks like quite a few things can do it, perhaps I'll try this and if needed a linux virtual machine.

I'm a relatively broke college student, so preferably the cheaper the better, but my sisters offered to help chip in cause we all want to see what's on these tapes.

Someone suggested this product which seems good, I'm considering giving it a shot:

http://www.amazon.com/Honestech-VHS-DVD-7-0-Deluxe/dp/B00B5P23SG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405978742&sr=8-1&keywords=Honestech+VHS+to+DVD+7.0+Deluxe

Hey guys! Any help would be much appreciated.

I bought a konig vhs-c cassette adaptor but it doesnt fit, my bad!

I have a load of these tapes i'm trying to convert. I have a vcr as well as a cheap digital convertor i got on amazon: External USB Video Capture Card -... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008F0SARC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I use the honestech one that's on Amazon. It's super easy.

The easycap most likely only accepts input from a source (like your VCR in this case). You need something that will output from you computer to the VCR.


If you are just looking to record the audio you can plug this from your computer to the VCR https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-2-Male-Adapter-Cable/dp/B01D5H8KO2/

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If you wanted to output video too maybe get something like this

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7W8HSO/

then just cue up what you want to record on your computer and hit record on your VCR.

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Just curious why do you want to record onto VHS?

Yeah. I would like to edit some of the video. I ended up purchasing a USB dongle and are archiving the files. Thanks! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M7T8T1E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Find a dvd player with a USB outlet on it, if it does, a standard 2.0 usb will be fine.

Play it on your tv with the VCR attached and a blank tape in.

Record it

Use a VHS capture device to record it back to your computer. I have this and it's worked perfectly for all my needs. No need to get fancy, especially if you're going for lo-fi

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00M7T8T1E?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

Hi and thanks for replying. I don't know if it has tracking control or not (or what that even is) but the user manual has no mention of it. I am planning on creating digital copies of my 8mm tapes, this is what the outputs for it: https://i.imgur.com/yyEnuwt.jpg

Will a product like these two be enough for it? https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07C1XGGTL/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza connected to PC with https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0787168RB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A38B5I24LNEQM4&psc=1 ?

I saw some tutorials but none had the same outputs as my camcorder (TRV78E) so I'm not certain.

Elgato Video Capture. Simple interface, works quite well. Note that if you don't have a fast processor or a dedicated GPU, the audio and video can get out of sync over time.

The first question I gotta think a bit about will respond again later tonight after dinner and some thinking.

As far as hooking a CD player into a VCR? If that is what you mean it would be one of these assuming you mean plugging like a portable CD player into the audio in of the VCR:

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-2-Male-Adapter-Cable/dp/B01D5H8KO2/

If the CD player is a stereo component style and not a portable you would just use regular straight RCA audio cables:

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-2-Male-RCA-Audio-Cable/dp/B01D5H8PQ0

Example if it is the large stereo equipment version of a CD player the line out is RCA cables:

http://www.nrpavs.co.nz/archive_2_10/Sold_2_10_htm/Images/Sony_CDP-761E_bk_RCAs_rem_630x432_pixels.gif

If it is this sort of cd player you would have to use the top cable I have in this message:

https://d1aeri3ty3izns.cloudfront.net/media/30/303565/1200/preview.jpg

Picked this up. Worked perfect for what we wanted. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06W9LQDBB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AZxWAbXD9T24M

Something like this that takes an HDMI signal and converts it into Composite: https://www.amazon.com/GANA-Composite-Converter-Supports-DVD-Black/dp/B06W9LQDBB/ref=sr_1_3?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1550462326&sr=1-3&keywords=hdmi+to+composite+converter


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There are better options as well but this is a basic model that should at least give you an idea of where to start.

I just got one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029U2YSA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

A bit pricey for sure, but it's extremely simple and the digital videos are excellent quality. Plus, Amazon returns if you hate it.

I use an Elgato which works well for what I'm doing. You can get one on Amazon if you are in the States, not sure if it's available elsewhere. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0029U2YSA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RR0ZDbF1ADYHE

I would be worried, and to be honest; switch to one of these with a VHS-C camera to output the video.

Its a device that plugs into your computer and can record footage from an array of devices. I used a cheap one off amazon to record some old VHS. If your using windows I used this http://www.amazon.com/TOTMC-Capture-Adapter-Windows-Window/dp/B00M7T8T1E/ref=pd_sim_23_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=41nza0fnobL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=036K537EGJGZXZPEJXE9

Whoops, edited but here's the link https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029U2YSA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Video-Capture-analog-iPhone/dp/B0029U2YSA

You need a capturing device. I personally use a RCA composite to HDMI adapter then go into my Elgato HD60.

You could get something like this if you’re not planning to do any HDMI capture.
Elgato Video Capture - Digitise Video for Mac, PC or iPad (USB 2.0) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0029U2YSA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TGiDCb49T60AX

There are cheaper products out there too, but make sure to check the reviews because a lot of them suck.

What do you use to convert your 8mm tapes?

I tried using this Elgato video capture device but the converted video has an audio lag that gets worse and worse the longer you record:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029U2YSA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1