VHS to MPG/AVI/Quicktime conversion?

[Stan Sieler]

Re:
> Anybody on these lists have the ability to digitize/convert video
> from VHS tape (NTSC) to a computer-readable (MPG preferred, but AVI or
> Quicktime would also work) format?

If you look, you'll find that video capture devices range from cheap and
lo-res (< $100 and about 150 pixels across) to mid-range ($200 to $300,
about 250 to 300 pixels across) to expensive ($300+, about 300 to 640 (or
more?) pixels across).

There appear to be 4 basic interfaces:

   1) USB
 
   2) parallel port

   3) backplane  (i.e., card plugs into your system)

   4) FireWire

I found one low cost device in the mid-range performance category, 
made by Belkin.  It's a USB device and cost me about $89.  Not counting the
cable, it's about the size of a pack of gum.  Inputs: SVHS and regular 
RCA jack.  The included software uses your sound card to get the audio.

It captures to MPEG format.

I'm not a video expert...but the quality seems acceptable to me.



Stan Sieler                                           sieler at allegro.com
www.allegro.com/sieler/wanted/index.html          www.allegro.com/sieler