How do I put VHS video onto a computer?

Q I would like to be able to transfer VHS recordings but I don’t know what leads I will need. The VHS recorder has a couple of Scart sockets. My laptop has an HDMI, 7-pin S-video and a 15-pin VGA sockets.
Echo

A The sockets on a computer graphics card or the case of a laptop are almost certainly outputs only and not video inputs. Some more expensive graphics cards have inputs so it’s worth checking the instruction manual. Sadly the extra pins on your S-Video are not inputs but enable it to be used for composite video with the supplied adapter.

There are plenty of video input devices available that will also come with the software required to record the video. USB adapters such as the Roxio Easy VHS to DVD kit that costs £40 are simple and convenient.

Most video capture cards have inputs for the black S-Video socket or yellow composite sockets, so a Scart adapter may be required to connect your VCR. These can be as cheap as £8 from sites such as Maplin.co.uk. Always try to use S-Video if available. It offers better quality than composite.

You can see a video demonstration of the different connectors on our website.

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