How to Transfer Video from a Camcorder to Your Computer Using USB

Plug the USB side of the converter into your computer and the red, white and yellow cables into your VCR. If your VCR is new enough that it has an S-Video port you can use that, as it will give you slightly better quality. If you’ve got the time, you can convert your VHS tapes to digital at home with a few tools. If your tapes are particularly old, or you’re short on time, there are services that will do it for you. Use the software that came with the video converter to “record” the videotape to a digital file. Shooting video on camcorders has been a great way to preserve precious memories.

For example, the Sony MiniDV VCR Player Recorder with model number DHR-1000 was sold for $4200 when it was released. The quality may not be as good compared to direct digital transfer methods.

Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus

So, once you determine which RCA cables you need, it’s time to get connected. Simply put, MiniDV Tapes were Sony and Panasonic’s answer to the limitations of VHS. The VHS Tapes that people were using in their large camcorders were bulky and unwieldy, and people wanted a more convenient and mobile solution. Being smaller than the VHS, the MiniDV was far easier to use to make home movies with, and it even had a brief moment of popularity amongst journalists. A small camcorder that fit a MiniDV tape was surely more convenient in the field than the unwieldy VHS one!

Sony EVO-220 NTSC  Hi8 Video8 8mm Tape Player Recorder

Read more about minidv camcorder tapes to digital here.

However, it’s neither easy nor convenient when it comes to playing back, rewinding, or fast-forwarding your tape. DVD Your Memories has been providing services to preserve precious memories since 2006, focusing on quality processes and customer service. For example, the Sony DCRTRV27 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder comes with a USB port.

The average file size of one VHS-C cassette is approx 4.5GB. This will definitely vary depending on the capture card and software you use.

Now, I’ve created this “Wise Photographer” site to share my knowledge and experience with the people looking for a guideline for purchasing cameras. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. You do not pay anything extra and your purchase helps support our work so we can provide you with more reviews and comparison guides. You don’t need to waste time solving unknown problems with old equipment. AV to RCA cable, or if the AV to RCA is female, then you need another RCA cable with a male connector on both ends .

With the cassette in place you are now ready to place the adapter into the VCR player. I have a post here that will walk you through fixing the tape. Some issues could simply be flat batteries or worse a leaked battery, which given over time can rust over the connections. After such a long time sitting in a dusty box, people find the adapters don’t work for various reasons. Once your camcorder is connected, you will need to verify that the proper driver has been selected by Windows 7. The S-Video cable offers slightly better image quality if your VCR supports it.

For videotape transfer, the price can range from $12 to $35 per tape + a digital copy of your choice. Most of them have a straightforward process from start to finish. After you make an order, you need to send tapes by mail. Choosing professional care for your memories comes with great benefits, and it’s the best approach, especially when you don’t have a camcorder. The simplest way to transfer your miniDV to digital form is onto a DVD via DVD recorder without any software. Your computer needs at least one free USB-A port and software to capture played footage from the camcorder.