What's the cheapest way to post something that is on VCR tape to youtube?

Question

I have a tape of stuff from college that I would love to post on youtube, but I don't know how to get it into a form that I could put on my computer. My computer doesn't read DVD's and I don't have a webcam or a DVD recorder. I have a digital camera though. I know and expect to buy some equipment I just want to know a cheap way to do it.

Answer 1

two ways:

The ease way (not the cheapest):

buy a USB tv capture, the should be around 80 and 120$, just plug the card to the USB, install the software, plug the VCR with a RCA conector to the USB tv card and start record as much as you want to, the usb tv should come with the manual for more detailed instructions.

The hard way (cheapest):

buy a PCI tv videocard, the problem is that you most open the computer and plug the card in the PCI slot in the motherboard, then install the software and is ready to record.

PCI TV cards costs about 30-50$ and again it comes with a manual to help you get it working

good luck!

Answer 2

The poor man's solution is to find someone with a Digital camera that connects to a computer and has an "analog" input (three wires- yellow, red, white). It most likely will be an input that is the size of an iPod headphone jack, and it plugs into your VHS. Then tape the VHS onto that person's digital camera, and ask them to digitize it and edit. Then upload it in the highest resolution you can (up to 1 gig).