# What do I need to do to convert VHS to VCD on my computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000 "2003-01-16T16:42:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/1 "2003-01-16T16:42:43Z")
I have many VHS tapes that I tend not to watch because rewinding them is such a chore in rewinding them. I want to convert as many as I can over to VCD’s (I would say DVD’s but I don’t have a DVD Writer) to prolong their life a little. Tarnations! I would even do it with my own home made porn (not for your viewing pleasure…only mine you pervs). I know that it is possible since I inadvertantly bought a bunch of pirated VCD’s off of ebay (RRRGGHHH!) a while back and would like to convert my real VHS to my own personal VCD’s. [ul] [li]Are there cords available that can go from the cable part of the VCR to a USB port?[/li][li]If not, will I have to buy some special type of video card that will allow VCR input?[/li][li]How about programs… What type of program will I need for the conversion process? I assume Windows Media player may be able to handle this.[/li][li]Anything else that I should know?[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/2 "2003-01-16T16:45:37Z")
This might help… [http://www.vcdhelp.com/](http://www.vcdhelp.com/) Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/3 "2003-01-16T17:30:06Z")
It’s more complicated than your OP suggests, in that you will need a special video card, not just a USB cable, and you’ll need a separate program, not Windows Media Player, for the capture and conversion process. The good news is that much of the software is free – go to the link **zev\_steinhardt** posted, it really has everything you could possibly need to know. Very good site. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/4 "2003-01-16T18:41:25Z")
Thank you kindly. I guess I will have to invest in a tv in/out card. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/5 "2003-01-16T20:05:10Z")
If you have a firewire (1394) port, you can use this: [http://www.dazzle.com/products/hw\_bridge.html](http://www.dazzle.com/products/hw_bridge.html) I’ve got one, and it works pretty well. I’m on a Mac, so I use iMovie to edit down what I’ve recorded, and then Toast to convert and burn into VCD format. I’m sure you can do the same on a PC. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/6 "2003-01-17T00:00:22Z")
I use a cheap ATI card & Nero. ATI comes with software to capture & make vcd format files. This takes me only ten minutes more than the length of the video to create a vcd. BTW, have you ever thought it in the future if there are going to be vcd players? ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/7 "2003-01-17T08:12:00Z")
- - - I bought a middle-priced ATI graphics card (Rage Pro Fury 32meg?) two years ago for about $120 US that has a video-in, and came with software for capturing still and video images from the input in a number of different formats. The sound can be from the soundcard’s mic, line-in or a pre-recorded sound file on the computer. It supports a number of different (worldwide) video input standards and also has a “digital VCR” that you can set to record, but I ain’t used any of it yet so I don’t know how well it works. Now something similar very likely costs even less. ~ ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/8 "2003-01-17T16:33:40Z")
" (Rage Pro Fury 32meg?)" Yep, thats what I got & it makes vcds nicely. But ATI drivers suck. I think that VirtualDub (free) is a better vcd capture program but you have to find the ATI drivers for it. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/9 "2003-01-17T17:51:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*BTW, have you ever thought it in the future if there are going to be vcd players? \*\* This is a very good point. Once DVD burners get a bit cheaper and start shipping standard with new computers, I’m sure VCD will disappear entirely. I myself currently have about 40 gigs worth of dubbed MST3K episodes sitting on my hard drive until I can afford a DVD burner. I’ve burned a few to VCD just to see how it works, but I want to keep these for a long time, and I know VCD won’t be around forever. So, consider either waiting until you can buy a DVD burner (they cost around $350 right now), or if you have a big enough hard drive, keep copies of the captured video files so you can burn them to DVD later. ---
**Author:** ![mske](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mske](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mske)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-convert-vhs-to-vcd-on-my-computer/149000/10 "2003-01-17T18:04:17Z")
My DVD player has the ability to play VCDs. Not sure if this is a common feature or not on a DVD player, but I imagine that the format can continued to be supported.