Category: Geeks r Us
This weekend, I wanted to record the Twilight Zone marathon, but when I turned on my television, I heard nothing. I am guessing that, at some point, when the power went out for a few seconds, it reset the television, and now, there's an inaccessible menu on the screen. Of course, I can always just go to Youtube and extract the mp3s from the videos and download them to my computer, but I am wondering if there is a way to connect my computer to my television and record things that way. Currently, I have a combination tv-VCR, but I also have some regular televisions and stand-alone VCRs. If this is possible, what kinds of cables will I need? Thanks.
It is possible, but you need more then cables.
Your computer needs to have a video input on the video card.
Next, you need windows 7 or 8 with Windows media center.
It is not completely accessible, so sighted help.
You need a program as well for this service to convert the signal to digital, or on the TV a DVR digital video recorder.
If you just want audio, and RCA cable with a 3.5 male stereo jack at the other end.
Then some recording software, like Gold Wav.
RadioShack has the cable.
Maybe, I'm wrong, but it sounds like you're a bit confused. I am not trying to record from VHS to my computer, nor from my computer to a digital video recorder. I wish, rather, to record files from my computer to VHS tapes. If, however, I did wish to do the reverse, NCH makes a program for that.
http://www.nchsoftware.com/goldenvideos/
As for recording audio to my computer, that's simple. I could use my patch cord with a 3.5 male jack on each end. All I would need to do would be to plug one end into the headphone jack on my television and the other, into my computer, being sure that a y adapter was on one of them, so that I could monitor the recording for volume, etc.
Not confused, just mis read.
I understood you wanted to go from the TV source, to the computer, not from the computer, to tape.
It be the same process reversed however.
Your video card on the computer would need an analog out.
You would use a cable with 3 plugs on it. These are standard video cables.
One is the video source and the other two are audio.
From the computers sound card and video card, you'd go in to the VCR machine.
On the back it has input jacks for this.
It also need to be a VHS recorder.
The video card in your computer must have the output, or you can't do it.
You don't need the two plug jack, but can use the cable I described from the sound card to the VCR.
If you don't have the video card with an analog out, you'll only record audio.
For this you don't need any special softward.
Forgot to say that.
Hmmm! I will need to check my computers now! This will be an interesting project! *smile*
What do the correct analogue outputs look like on the computer? and what are they called. I have seen ones that look like mini parallel ports, and possibly another type, but I can't remember at the moment.
The software would be included with such video cards for this purpose.
Normally people want to go the other direction, but there you go.
I don’t know, but this was on my mind, so I thought I’d offer it up.
Laptops, and desktops come with HDMI ports.
If your machine has one, this is your video in or out, and the cables are pretty cheap.
If your TV has HDMI, is is as simple as connecting them and recording.
You can also with Windows 7/8 use a TV as a second monitor, and some have the plug that looks just like the monitor plug in on a desktop.
So, you use the monitor cable from the computer to the TV, and record.
Here are the instructions for adding the second monitor.
When they say click a blank space on the desktop, you can just go to display by typing that in the search box, if you don’t understand clicking the blank spot.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-add-a-second-monitor-to-your-computer.html
Now with your computer and TV connected, you’d record, because the signal is now going to the TV and your VCR is connected to it, so.
Well, the HDMI port looks like a USB port sort of. Many laptops have them now, so reading your specs on your computer will tell you.
The other connection just looks like the same one you connect a monitor to on a desktop.
My desktop has two of them, one digital, one regular.
If you have the responding connections on the TV audio/video goes through the one cable.
Depending on what cable you are using.
Some have the round type video plug that looks like an RCA jack you have on a VCR, but the color is yellow indicating video, not audio.
At the moment, I don't have any Windows 7 machines available. I am toying with the idea of buying another, but am not sure. But I doubt it will have an HDMI port. Even if it does, I know as a fact that none of my televisions do, as they didn't exist when they were built. But I will look for the normal connections.
Windows 7 or 8.
I remember you got an Assus laptop? You don't have it anymore?
I am in the process of selling it! I hate Windows 8! As for the Elitebook with 7, while it's a good machine, it had some issues that really annoyed me. So I am giving it as a gift to to someone who is truly in need and who could never afford it otherwise. I did have an Acer Aspire One D257 with 7 on it, but the seller put some junk on it that I couldn't delete, so I had to send it off. I think I may sell that as well, since it has the sameprocessor as my D255 with XP. I may either get another netbook or another Thinkpad in the X series. But why must I use 7 or 8 for this in any case?
Because XP is pretty much dead now. Get used to 7 or 8, learn to work with it or you will be left behind. Better yet, grow up some and get 10 once it's out, save yourself a lot of pain and trouble.
That does not answer my question as to why this would not work on an XP machine. The operating system doesn't stop working the minute that microsoft drops support for it.
It will work for a time, but more and more you'll find you have things you can't do anymore, or see online.
Internal stuff and programs will work as long as the machine works.
So I was right then. I can record to vhs using my current machines, provided they and the television have compatible connections. Thanks.
Oh, with XP. Sure.
You'd use the RCA type jacks, or like you said, if the TV has the conection or monitor cable port.
Instead of using the monitor for your computer, the TV would be it.
So any video source that goes to the TV can be recorded at that point.
Windows 7/8 computers likely will have the HDMI port, or for sure have the ability to run second monitors easy, but these OS systems would be best.
An XP would need dual video cards.
Even if they had HDMI ports, did you not say that the television would need to have them as well? If so, then it doesn't matter, as mine doesn't have them. But I know that I don't have a dual video card in any of my machines. This could be a problem!
The television that is currently plugged in, which is the combination tv/VCR, has three jacks in the front. Two are what the man from Verizon called auxiliary jacks. The third is a standard audio jack, which I used to use for recording to cassettes or to my computer. In the back, there is the cord for the wall and the screw-in cable jack.
You know the 3 jacks at the front? One of these is a video in.
In that connection case, you'd need a video card with an video out, or a cable that connected to the monitor port and had 3 RDA like jacks on the other end.
One of these is a yellow video Jack.
RadioShack would be your source for odd cables like this.
You'd not be able to do HDMI, no.
For that reason was why I asked about your Assus, because it might have the HDMI cable out.
In that case, you'll ask if they have a cable that was HDMI and had the 3 RCA type jacks on the other end.
Your TV might only have 2 jacks.
As you learned, one is audio, but the other would be the yellow video.
Last, the VCR on the TV has to be a recorder. If not, it doesn't work period.
I have never heard of a VCR that wasn't a recorder, since that's what the R means. In any case, mine certainly is, as I have recorded with it several times in the past.
Some on the type combination TV's like you have are just players.
That's quite interesting. *smile* I jusd found this page, which explained a bit about the various video connections.
http://www.cnet.com/news/hdmi-vs-displayport-vs-dvi-vs-vga-which-connection-to-choose/
I know that all of my computers have VGA ports. Since this is an analogue connection, it would probably be best for my needs, but as you said, I would need a dual card. They said that television don't have this connection, but then again, they also said that all have HDMI, and that's not true of mine. So perhaps, one of my tvs does have it. In any case, I will see if I can find some kind of external dual video card, since I know there are sound cards, and then look for the correct cables.
You don't need a dual card, just a second video card.
When I said dual, I meant two of them.
It also be internal, so your machine needs an extra PCI port, and probably has that.
It's just a space for the card.
I'd not bother that. I'd just look at RadioShack for the cable that has the monitor pin serial connector on one end, and the round video RCA type jacks on the other.
So, basicly, you are making the TV the monitor.
This setup requires a desktop, unless you've got a laptop with a video out.
Yep. I've got several laptops with video out and a desktop with one as well! So now, I don't need to get the extra card and can do everything with the cable? Cool! Please forgive me if I am not understanding. I'm content, but tired tonight.
ok, humor me. why on earth would you want to record files from your computer onto video tape? please humor me and explain this. I read that and I screamed "WHAT!!!" outloud lol
To play in ones video cassette machine John dear. Smile.
You will need the correct cables. Take the machine with you and explain what you are trying to do.
right, but I still don't understand why you'd want to do that. I mean, the files on the computer are more portible, you wont get the same quality with the DAC from the computer...
True, but as I said on top, if she must. Smile.
The computers going to be far better quality all around, and the signal can be sent to a TV screen, but...
exactly my point....
she never stated weather she just wanted only audio either did she?
Just wants to pop in the cassette and kick back and watch her movie from her VCR.
Well, I want the opposite. I have a load of Star Trek: TNG, I want off the VHS tapes. I want to get rid of them, because I have about 1-and-a-half, small room/s? in my apartment.
When I everr get it done, I may send them, the tapes, to anyone willing to help with shipping. I have too much stuff, and I'm broke. However, I like it here, and if you really want some VHS tapes, pay for shipping, and when I'm done with recording, I'll send them. But, I'll need sighted help, to record first. Maybe at the beginning of next year, I can do it. It's hard to get sighted help, when I want it. But, my neighbors are cool.
Blessings,
Sarah
do you want to record the audio or audio and video to the PC? or how are you looking to transfer these?
her movie that she transferred the audio from her PC from...
uh....
I want audio. No need for visual. But then, maybe if I got enough memory...
I don't think your PC can handle it.
Too old.
I don't think your PC can handle it.
Too old.
I don't think your PC can handle it.
Too old.
I don't think your PC can handle it.
Too old.
I don't think your PC can handle it.
Too old.
I don't think your PC can handle it.
Too old.
I don't think your PC can handle it.
Too old.
Patients John. The page will refresh, and you won't have multiples. Lol
Usually, I like watching things on my computer. But forereel is right. I would like to be able to sit back and just watch a video without needing to use my computer. This could be a film or even a video that I make of myself. Granted, I could always extract the audio to mp3 and play it in my Plextalk, but this just gives me another option, and if nothing else, I could convert dvds.
Sarah, if you don't need the video, you can just use a patch cord to record the audio to your computer. Just plug one end into the headphone jack on your television and the other, with a y adapter for headphone monitoring, into the microphone jack of your computer, a digital recorder, etc. It works perfectly and the whole setup shouldn't cost more than a few dollars. For those who need the video, you may wish to consider this.
http://www.nchsoftware.com/goldenvideos/
! first never use a mick jack for anything unless you most likely want mono and horrible distorted audio. Always use the line-in jack on your computer or make sure if its one of those combo jacks that its set to receive a line signal not a mick signal. second if you have flat RCA line-out jacks use those instead of the TV's headphone output. not all headphone outputs have flat audio, and again using a headphone output could result in distorted audio if the volume levels aren't set just right.
The only computer that I even have with a line-in jack is my desktop. All of my laptops have regular mic and headphone jacks. I use them all the time and have never had a problem with them. That said, when recording to my Plextalk with a patch cord, I do switch the setting to line-in. I'm not sure what you mean by flat RCA jacks.I always check the volume levels via the headphones and the y adapter, or via the microphone monitor feature in the Plextalk, so that's not really a problem either.
I mean RCA outputs on any device have flat audio not audio that has been EQ'd. meaning headphone outputs can have extra base and trouble introduced into the audio path. eleni maybe you don't notice the difference, but seriously switch that mick jack to line if you have a combo jack or use a dedicated line in jack. hell you can get an audio interface pretty cheaply with line level inputs that is powered by USB if your computer doesn't have anyway to receive a line signal.
You know? I think John thinks my computer's old. I can't imagine what gives me that idea, but... LOL
Anyway, right now, it's a dream till I have some more money. Right now, all I have is gone the day it comes in. I don't even go out for coffee, anymore.
But, I'm going to look into things. Thanks from everyone with suggestions, "John." LOL
Y'all keep on posting on this. I find it fascinating, and I'm going to find a way.
Blessings,
Sarah and her "Old computer" *Grins!
hahaha *smile* Trust me. When I say cheap, I mean under $10 if that. Assuming you have headphones, the patch cord and y adapter should cost maybe $5.