How to Record VCR Video to My Macintosh

Preserve your old VHS tapes by transferring them to your Mac.

Transferring video from your VCR to your computer requires a device called a "capture card." Analog video is a continuous wave of voltage, but digital video stores each pixel as a numerical value. A capture card converts the analog video and sound signals from your VCR into a digital video stream that your computer can understand. All Macs come equipped with high-speed FireWire ports that are perfect for inputting video. Internal capture cards that connect to a PCI are available, but they are mostly meant for high-end professional use. An external capture card that connects to your Mac via FireWire or USB 2.0 is a simple and inexpensive solution.

Things You'll Need

• Mac-compatible external capture device such as Canopus ADVC series or Pinnacle Video Capture
• FireWire or USB cable
• VCR
• RCA cable with yellow, red and white connectors

Instructions

1. Install the drivers for your device, if necessary, by inserting the disk that came with your device. Some devices, such as the Canopus AVDC-110, work right out of the box without installing any software.

2. Connect the capture device to a FireWire port on your computer. If your device uses USB instead of FireWire, plug it into a USB 2.0 port on your computer rather than a USB hub. USB hubs often provide less power than the ports on your computer and may not provide the speed and reliability needed to transfer video.

3. Connect your VCR to the inputs of the capture device using the RCA cables. Match the color on the cables to the color on the jacks: yellow is video, and red and white are audio. If your VCR has only mono audio output, only use the white cable and leave the red jack on the capture device unconnected. Turn the VCR on and insert a tape.

4. Run your video editing software, open the capture window and press record. In iMovie, for example, go to "File," then "Import From Camera." The "Import" window will appear. Select your capture device from the drop-down menu on the lower-left of the "Import" window, then press the "Import" button.

5. Press play on the VCR. The capture card will convert the video signal to DV video and send it to your software. When you're finished, press stop on the VCR and in your video editing software. The video clip you captured will be available in your software. You can continue capturing and editing video.

References

• Video Maker: Video Capture Card Roundup
• Grass Valley: AVDC 110
• Pinnacle Video Capture for Mac