Like with the pager in my previous post, while going through old boxes at my parents place I also found a bunch of old Video8 camcorder tapes. Luckily I also found my old camcorder and although the battery no longer works, the camcorder still functions properly when plugged into power. So last night I decided to digitize some old tapes.
If you want to digitize your old videos that are on VHS tapes or camcorder tapes, its actually not that complicated to do so. I’m using the Elgato Video Capture which I bought around 7 years back and it works on both Mac’s and PC’s. The way it works is also pretty simple:
1) Plug the Elgato device into your computers USB port
2) Connect your old VCR or camcorder to the Elgato just like you would to your TV
3) Run the Elgato software on your computer and press record
4) Press play on your VCR or camcorder
5) Thats it. Once your’d done click stop and the software saves the file
So if you’ve got old tapes lying around it’s really not that hard to digitize them and if its important stuff, I’d try and get it done as soon as possible. Here is the Amazon link to the Elgato video capture device I use [Link]
16 replies on “Digitizing Old Videos”
Thanks! I have some really old camcorder cassettes lying around and will give this a try.
Where can I buy a VCR in Kuwait? I prefer brand new if possible.
Friday Market usually have some VCRs in mint condition.
great post thanks
I have some old camcorder tapes (both in DV and mini DV sizes), but I don’t have a camcorder. So is there a way to get this done without the camcorder? Or do you know where they sell used camcorders in Kuwait? I prefer to do the conversions at home, so I don’t want to take the tapes to a shop and have them convert it for me.
you need a player and your best bet would be to get one on ebay or maybe even the friday market. make sure they come with a power supply since the battery would most likely be dead.
wow i just realized i have 3 miniDV tapes and a quick amazon search of my previous orders revealed I had bought a miniDV camera back in 2005. I wonder whats on these tapes?
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0029U2YSA/2406d-20
Is this locally available in Kuwait?
https://www.mrbabu.com/elgato-video-capture-device-10020840.html
thats not local, MrBabu orders from Amazon…
Do you know if there’s a shop of some kind that does this locally?
if its an old sex tape i’d be willing to digitize it for you
Check dm 😉
Can you burn the old mini DV/VCR tapes on to DVD with this gadget?
nope, i mean technically you could digitize the files onto your computer and then use a dvd writer and software to burn the videos back onto a dvd. but then in a few years you’ll probably want to digitize the dvds since they’re going extinct.
Bro can I rent or borrow this device for 1 or 2 days? I have a bunch of old Mini-DV tapes and a working camera.