How can I record four (or more) VHS tapes onto my PC?

[stevezane]

I'm in the process of digitizing my VHS collection. If I digitize one at a time, it would take too long (I have hundreds of tapes in my library).

So I'm looking for a way to record four (or more) VHS tapes onto my PC. I currently have 4 working VCRs, but can find more if I want to.

I'm in the process of spec'ing out a new PC. I only say this to indicate that the PC running the recording software won't be a dilapidated machine.

How can I record four (or more) VHS tapes onto my PC?

 

[sadams04]

You can install a video capture card in your PC, then play from the VCR and record on the PC in digital format. Honestly, unless you really want to walk through this yourself, there are plenty of professional services that will convert your VHS to DVD for fairly cheap. Outfitting your PC and taking up your time to do this isn't all that fun...

http://www.costcodvd.com/

 

[sadams04]

If you have enough VHS tapes to justify the cost, look toward a DVD recorder / VCR combo...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008243&IsNodeId=1&Description=vhs%20to%20dvd&bop=And&CompareItemList=490%7C9SIA0AJ3ZC1634%5E9SIA0AJ3ZC1634%2C17D-000Y-00001%5E17D-000Y-00001%2C82-116-136%5E82-116-136%2C9SIA0AJ30G7510%5E9SIA0AJ30G7510&percm=9SIA0AJ3ZC1634%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B17D-000Y-00001%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B82-116-136%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B9SIA0AJ30G7510%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

 

[stevezane]

You can install a video capture card in your PC, then play from the VCR and record on the PC in digital format. Honestly, unless you really want to walk through this yourself, there are plenty of professional services that will convert your VHS to DVD for fairly cheap. Outfitting your PC and taking up your time to do this isn't all that fun...

http://www.costcodvd.com/

My goal is to digitize the videos onto my PC, and ultimately to server storage. I don't want to make them into DVDs. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[stevezane]

If you have enough VHS tapes to justify the cost, look toward a DVD recorder / VCR combo...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008243&IsNodeId=1&Description=vhs%20to%20dvd&bop=And&CompareItemList=490%7C9SIA0AJ3ZC1634%5E9SIA0AJ3ZC1634%2C17D-000Y-00001%5E17D-000Y-00001%2C82-116-136%5E82-116-136%2C9SIA0AJ30G7510%5E9SIA0AJ30G7510&percm=9SIA0AJ3ZC1634%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B17D-000Y-00001%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B82-116-136%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B9SIA0AJ30G7510%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

If I could transfer the storage of the DVD/VCR to my PC, that might do the trick. But I didn't see that as an option. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[stevezane]

My goal is to simultaneously record 4 (or more) VHS tapes onto my PC. So far it appears I have two options:

1. Purchase a card for my PC so it has multiple video inputs, and recording software that can differentiate between each video input and record from all of them simultaneously. This card, albeit expensive, is an example of what I might need in terms of hardware. However, I have yet to find software that I can use to simultaneously record multiple a/v signals.

2. I can get several cheap video capture devices, i.e. ION Audio VIDEO 2 PC MKII Digital Video Converter, and record on several separate computers.

Does anyone know of other options to accomplish my goal? Does anyone know of software that can work in the confines of option 1?