IT Question...Video Files
 

How do I convert something from being on a video tape to being a .wmv (or some other format) file on my computer?

What do I need to buy and how can I save money in doing it?

You need to get a video card with A/V inputs. Then you need to get a video capture program to capture the video from your VCR. It will likely be expensive (over 100 dollars) since usually only the newest cards have the A/V inputs.

a lot more in-depth info can be found here -> www.vcdhelp.com

http://www.videoguys.com/started.html is a
good place to start. There's lots of tutorial
information on the site. (And they're reliable
dealers, FWIW).

I've used both Canopus and Pinnacle vid cap
cards with good results.

How can you save money? Buy your NLE in a
bundle with your capture hardware. That's
assuming you'll want to do some editing,
which is more likely than not.

Wow! That was fast. Thanks a lot, folks. I appreciate it.

I have a All-In-Wonder 128 pro and it was only like 20 bucks, it has tv in, s video, and composit in, and composit out, and it supposrts mpeg 2 compression........

an alternative is if you have a DV camera with analog inputs.. A lot of these can be used as an analog/digital converter using the DV software that comes with it. Obviously not much use if you DON'T have a DV camera though! :)