Review: Ion VCR 2 PC VHS digitiser

One of the drawbacks associated with converting old VHS tapes to digital video is the number of cables involved.

The Ion VCR 2 PC, available from Firebox.com, is a VHS VCR that cleverly integrates the capture hardware, so all you need to do is plug it into a spare USB port on you PC.

It’s the video equivalent of USB turntables for digitising your vinyl albums (read a review of Ion’s USB Turntable).

In operation, it really is that simple. Once the drivers and capture software are installed, all you need to do is insert a tape and press play.

The hardware ships with Arcsoft EZ VHS capture software which, in fairness, wasn’t EZ at all. Instead of pop-up menus, selecting from multiple options involves clicking nudge buttons to scroll through a list.

Selecting the PAL-I video option from the numerous alternatives using this method takes forever, as does making any other software choice.

Thankfully, once set up, there’s little to do other than press the record button. The software can then burn your captured footage direct to DVD.

There’s a Scart output socket on the back of the VCR, so you could connect a TV and use it as a conventional VHS deck, though that would probably defeat the object.

You can also connect other input devices, your analogue camcorder for example, via a composite video socket on the front.

If Ion could find software to match the simplicity and functionality of the hardware, this product would deserve to be a runaway success.

But, even though the software took the edge off the experience, the VCR 2 PC remains one of the simplest and most effective ways of transferring your old VHS home recordings to DVD before they are lost forever.