Question: How can I convert older videotapes that are analog into digital format so I can import them onto my computer?
The IT Guy says:
You need an analog to digital video converter device that you can connect to your older non-DV camcorder and your computer. Prices vary, but you should be able to find one for around $100. WalMart (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3371512) now sells one for less than $90. Prices can vary considerably, and part of the reason is the video quality and compression types that can be used with the converter. You may also need to purchase a firewire or IEEE 1394 PCI card for your computer, if you do not already have one. The converter box will usually plug into the firewire port, but some (like the Plextor model linked above) use USB 2.0. If your computer does not have a USB 2.0 port, you will need to purchase a USB 2.0 PCI card and install it in your computer to use a converter like this. If you are a Macintosh user, make sure the converter you purchase specifically states it is Macintosh compatible. Many converters are designed only to work with MS Windows.After you have the hardware in place and installed, you are ready to convert your analog videos. Open free video editing software like MovieMaker2 or iMovie and import the video onto your computer’s hard drive. Depending on the quality of the video you choose to capture on your hard drive as well as the quantity/length of tape you are importing, a large amount of hard drive space will be required to store it.
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