How to copy a VHS tape to hardrive?
 

I need to copy a few VHS tapes for a class I am teaching but I can't figure out how to do this.

I tried XAWTV but it just sucks. Can't get any video to play if I choose NTSC (which is what it should be). It will only record in PAL in black and white.??

I really don't want to use XAW and I'm wondering if anyone could give me a few tips in recording from a VCR (composite in)?

Also just wondering if you can record a VCR input with MythTV? That would be my preference so I can edit out commercials.

Re: How to copy a VHS tape to hardrive?
 

I use streamer to record TV shows. It works pretty well. It may work for recording VHS. I have to chage to the appropriate channel in tvtime first (setting it to composite video in XawTV should do it), but it works alright.

I've been using "Mencoder" (MPlayer)
Here's an example of one with high bitrate/high quality:

This gives about 1GB per hour.
This is just an example, you may be using v4l2, and you can always reduce
the bitrate and resolution.

I normally edit afterwards with "AviDemux".

I had actually been trying to figure out how to get mencoder to record TV. Up until now, I'd been using streamer, then using mencoder to rencode into divx-compatible format.
I tried the command you suggested, and it gave me the error:Any clue why it might say that? I copied the command directly from your post.

Yes, the problem is the -tv "suboption":

adevice=/dev/dsp

I use this because I use "oss emulation" for sound.
When I set up my card with "alsaconf" it picked this
up automatically and loaded the correct modules.
I've never had any reason to change this, so that's
what I use.

If your using straight "alsa", perhaps a

would help.

I tried this and didn't get any errors:

Just a guess.