DVD to Laptop help. Is there a way I can record old VHS tapes from my DVD player, to my laptop to upload?

Question

Ok so I have this video of me and friends as a kid and it's funny, so I want to upload it to Youtube to show them. The problem is when I was that age they didn't have digital, so I have a big VHS tape that goes in my DVD player. Now my question is, is there a way to plug my laptop in to the DVD or TV to record that old VHS tape onto my laptop? I have an S-video cable that works when I plug my laptop into my TV if that helps.

and please dont tell me that I can buy a VHS/Mini DV transfer station and do that, I know I can but that's a lot of money.

Answer 1

The S-Video connector is most likely an output, not an input connector.  I think you need a capture card or something else.  I bought a DVD recorder for only $100 USD.  Also, some places, like camera stores will convert you VHS tapes to DVD for like $10.  You could try that.  Once on DVD you could probably figure out how to convert to something to post on YouTube...or just copy the DVD and send it to them.

Answer 2

Now, sorry to bother you, I do not understand one thing -  Big VHS tape in DVD player? That sounds funny.

Or is it a dual deck for both VHS and DVDs? In  that case, isn't that a DVD recorder so you can actually record a DVD disc from VHS tape? If so, then record the DVD, pop the disc into your laptop and just copy the files. Done. Or then actually  you need to compress and cut them into a reasonable size for YouTube, but that is a different story....

If not and the "DVDplayer" works / behaves like a simple VHS player when tape is inserted, you need a digital video converter. Without this hardware it is NOT possible in any way. So you would have to spend SOME money for gadget to capture analog videosignal into your computer as a digital videofile. There is many different ones for different prices.  

Now, I do not want to repeat myself again and again, so if this is the case, check my answer here:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

and you'll get detailed info about it.

And yes, s-video cable is laptop OUTPUT only (to play DVDs on Tv if you don't own DVD player for example)....  Very few high top expensive laptops have actually s-video input. If you'd had that one,. you wouldn't be concerned about the price of VHS/MiniDV transfer station:-))

Have fun.. Johnny