Conversion of VHS cassettes is in real time.
A 90-minute tape will take 90-minutes to convert. Please allow additional time to save your project to a USB flash drive or to burn it to a DVD.
Look at the End Session box in the lower right-hand side of the monitor to see the amount of time you have left at the VHS transfer station before you start your video transfer. Make sure you have ample time to complete your project before your session ends!
If you need to step away from the computer, minimize any windows that may block the lower right-hand side of the monitor. Hover over the box that says End Session until you see the words Lock PC. Click on Lock PC and you will be able to step away for a few minutes. This will prevent anyone from trying to access the computer while you aren't sitting there. When you return, you will need to ask a staff member to unlock the computer for you.
NOTE: Please also be aware that some instructions for the transfer devices may not be exactly the same from one Memory Depot location to another due to:
- variations in equipment
- recent software updates
Headphones must be used to listen to the audio from your video. Plug your headphones into the jack on the front of the PC to listen while you convert. Click on the icon of the speaker on the lower right side of the task bar on the computer monitor to make sure the sound is set for your headphones rather than the speakers.
Remember, locations for buttons and USB ports may vary slightly depending on the model of VCR at each Memory Depot location.
Elgato does not always recognize high-capacity external hard drives. Bring a backup USB flash drive, just in case.
Get Started: This is where you can give your video a name and if you know it, choose the approximate length of your recording. If you select a length of time, Elgato informs you approximately how much space you will need to save your video recording. There is a more complete list of the time/space correlation under the Tips Tab.
Connect Video and Connect Audio: Video and Audio connections are already selected for you; simply click Continue until you get to the screen with the red Start Recording button (Record will be highlighted in the left menu).
If you wish to change the aspect ratio, you can do so on the Connect Video screen. Click on the Additional Features Tab for more information.
Record: There is an option to Mute sound. The sound will be muted only while recording so that you can't hear it during the conversion process; the video will still transfer with sound (This is useful if you have forgotten your headphones!). You can check the box that says 'Automatically stop recording after xx minutes' but if you are unsure of the exact length of your video recording, just leave the box unchecked. When you are ready, click the red Start Recording button.
NOTE: Remember to press Stop on the VCR if it is still playing - clicking the Stop Recording button only stops the transfer process!
Trim: You can trim unwanted video from your transferred movie but only from the beginning or end of the recording. There is a bar below the viewing window; move the little triangles below the bar to the points where you want your saved movie to start and end. Freeze frames from the video will appear in the viewing window as you move the arrows. To make sure the trim is exactly where you want it to be, you can position (click and drag) the downward facing arrow above the bar to the potential start point or any other position and then click the Play button to the left of the bar. Please be aware that no other video editing options are available at the Memory Depot.
The Elgato Video Capture software saves the captured movie to the computer's Videos folder. NO files are kept on the computer after your VHS recording session ends. Now you need to burn the transferred file to a DVD or sync it to your device, or upload to YouTube before the end of your session. Select one of following options in Elgato to save the file:
While there is an option to play the video recording with Windows Media Player, this will not save the file to your device, it simply allows you to view the transferred video file.
Remember, no video editing options are available at the Memory Depot; Windows Live Movie Maker is not available on this computer.
If you do plan to transfer another video, make sure you have enough time left in your session to complete the transfer. If your session time has run out, the transfer will be lost. You can make a reservation to come back another time. Look at the box in the lower right-hand side of the monitor that says End Session to see how much time you have left before you start another video transfer!
NO files are kept on this computer after your session ends and you are logged off the computer. Make sure to save the converted film files before you log off!
Please continue in the Windows Media Player Tab.
Burn to a DVD: You will be able to play your movie in a DVD player or DVD drive on a computer.
Sync to a Device: The video will save in a data format that will play your movie on a computer or other portable electronic device.
Instructions for these two options are listed below.
To complete your session at the Memory Depot, close Windows Media Player and Elgato on the computer. After ejecting your VHS cassette, turn off the VCR. To log off of the computer, look for the box in the lower right-hand side of the monitor that says End Session. Click End Session and then click OK.
Remember to take your VHS cassettes and your new DVD with you!
To complete your session at the Memory Depot, close Windows Media Player and Elgato on the computer. After ejecting your VHS cassette, turn off the VCR. To log off of the computer, look for the box in the lower right-hand side of the monitor that says End Session. Click End Session and then click OK.
Remember to take your VHS cassettes, flash drive or external hard drive with you!
Movie length = Approximate amount of storage space needed:
10 minutes = 178 MB
30 minutes = 535 MB
1 hour = 1 GB
1 1/2 hours = 1.6 GB (845 MB for lower resolution)
2 hours = 2.1 GB (1.1 GB for lower resolution)
2 1/2 hours = 2.6 GB
VHS-C cassettes are smaller in size and shorter in length than a regular VHS cassette; VHS-C tape is the same 1/2-inch width of a standard VHS cassette tape which means that with the use of an adaptor, YES, you can play and view a VHS-C cassette in a regular VCR. VHS-C video and audio are recorded in the same format and have the same playback speed as a regular HVS cassette. Need to borrow a VHS-C adapter? Ask when you come to the desk to sign in. (Please check under your branch's Accessories for Equipment or call the library to verify that one is available before arriving at the branch.)
Take a close look at your cassette. If it has a VHS-C or S-VHS-C logo on it, you will be able to transfer your video recordings! If your cassette doesn't fit in the VHS-C adapter, it is not the correct format to play on a VCR.
NEW! For Video8 or Hi8 film cassettes, please select Camcorder Film Conversion. You will need to bring your own camcorder, as we are unable to provide one for transferring your film.
You probably won't need to, but you can adjust your preferences before transferring your video.
From the Get Started screen, click on the Preferences button. A smaller box with three tabs will appear.
They are titled General, Video and Audio.
VHS cassettes were generally recorded at 4:3 to fit the standard TV screen. DVDs are more commonly available with a widescreen option, 16:9. If you convert 4:3 aspect ratio to 16:9, it will stretch everything horizontally. To view the difference, press play on the VCR. When you are at the Connect Video screen, switch between the two options by clicking the radio buttons next to 4:3 and 16:9. Watch the video in the viewing screen to see which aspect ratio looks best for your VHS cassette. Chances are that you will stay with 4:3!
When you have made your selection, click Continue until you get to the screen with the red Start Recording button; click the button to begin recording.
