How to Transfer Audio From a Videotape to a Computer

You can transfer audio from a videotape to a hard disk or recordable CD. You'll need a sound card with a "line-in" jack (not just a microphone jack), a specialty cable and recording software.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 RCA Cables
• Hi-fi VCRs
• Sound Cards
• Computers

1. Plug in the VCR near the computer.

2. Connect a cable with two RCA plugs on one end to the back of the VCR (use the left and right audio jacks - labeled Tape Out, Line Out, or Playback). Connect the stereo mini-plug on other end of the cable to the "line-in" jack on the sound card.

3. Turn on computer speakers.

4. Open your sound recording application on the computer.

5. Select "line in" as the source or input.

6. Select New from the File menu or whatever command is used to begin a recording.

7. On the VCR, play the chorus or loudest part of the material to be recorded.

8. Set the recording level to peak at 0 dB, 80 VU, or as high as possible without going into the red portion of the meter display.

9. Listen to the videotape and press the counter reset at beginning of material to be recorded.

10. Rewind tape to before 0:00 and begin play.

11. Right before the counter on VCR reaches 0:00, select Record, Save, Extract to File, or whatever command in your program will start the recording process.

12. Click Stop to end the recording.

13. Save the recording as a WAV file.

Tips & Warnings

• Monitor levels during recording; make subtle adjustments slowly.
• Record to hard disk first, then record the saved file to a CD.
• The VCR is likely to interfere with your monitor. Keep it as far away as possible.
• Broadcast content is generally copyrighted material and illegal to share with others without permission of the copyright holder.