Capture Video from Tape in an Analog Camera or VCR

Analog video capture is useful when you have older video content, such as VHS tape, and want to convert it to digital. Or you may have an older camcorder that only provides analog outputs, such as composite or S-Video.

Performing analog capture requires a hardware device that can take video input from a composite or S-Video signal and convert it to digital data.

To capture video in Windows Movie Maker from an analog video camera or VCR

1. Connect your analog camera or VCR to your computer’s capture device, and then set the camera mode to play recorded video (often labeled VTR or VCR on an analog camera).

2. Open Windows Movie Maker

3. On the File menu, click Capture Video.

4. On the Video Capture Device page do the following:

• In Available devices, click the analog device you want to use to capture video. In the Video input source list, click the input line you want to use.

• If you want to adjust and configure the video capture device settings, click Configure.

• In the Audio device list, click the audio capture device you want to use, and then, in Audio input source, click the input line you want to use.

• To adjust the volume of your captured audio, move the Input level slider to the level you want to use.

5. In the Enter a file name for your captured video box, enter a file name for your captured video file. Then, in the Choose a place to save your captured video box, select the location where you want your video to be saved or click Browse to select a location.

6. On the Video Setting page, select the video setting you want to use for capturing video and audio.

7. To separate the video into smaller clips, select the Create clips when wizard finishes check box.

8. To prevent audio from playing over your speakers while capturing video, select the Mute speakers check box.

9. To automatically stop capturing after a time period has elapsed, select the Capture time limit check box, and then type or select the length of time you want to capture. Time is displayed in the form of hours:minutes (h:mm).

10. Using the controls on your analog camera or VCR, locate the video and audio you want to capture from your tape. In Movie Maker, click Start Capture, and then press the Play button on your analog camera or VCR.

11. To begin capturing, click Start Capture, and then press the Play button on your analog camera or VCR.

12. Do one of the following:

• When the tape reaches the point at which you want to stop capturing, click Stop Capture, and then press the Stop button on your analog camera or VCR.

• If you have selected the Capture time limit check box, wait for the specified amount of time for video to be captured, and then press the Stop button on your analog camera or VCR.

13. Repeat steps 10 through 12 for each part of the video tape you want to capture.

14. When you have finished capturing, click Finish to close the Video Capture Wizard.