Record Computer Internet Video

Record any video that you can open and view on your computer, regardless of format, by using a VGA-to-tv converter. Record video and sound on a VCR and play it back on a tv. I took these digital photos of my digital tv's screen during playback of video tape of internet video recorded by this method. Actual playback is more sharp and clear than digital photo of screen. There are numerous computer programs that promise to record those videos that cannot otherwise be downloaded directly onto your computer's hard drive. I find them hard to operate, and they require constant attention in case they stop recording whenever a sharp transition takes place in the video or if the internet link hiccups. My method records the entire video no matter what happens. My interest is in capturing video, at wifi hotspots, for later viewing, using a tiny EeePC netbook computer running Windows XP Home Edition. You may need to make adjustments to the procedure to match your computer and operating system. Disclaimer: I am not actually a computer geek, I merely play one on the internet.
To see my related Instructables, click on "unclesam" just below the title above or in the INFO box to the right. On the new page that appears, repeatedly click "NEXT" to see all of them.

Step 1 EQUIPMENT

VGA-to-tv converter: Vendors offer the ITV-900 PC to TV converter for up to $190, but I bought one new for $40 from HouseOfDeals.com, phone order 800.726.3718. This USB-powered unit is used to display computerized presentations on television sets, and it does not pass the audio signal, as do more expensive units. Several equivalent models and vendors turn up on an internet search for "VGA to tv converter." The ITV-900 has control buttons and an on-screen display that allow you to further adjust the size, color, contrast, etc., of the image being recorded and displayed on a particular tv, after it exits the computer's VGA connector.

Video Cassette Recorder having video and audio input jacks, preferably stereo sound.

Headphones that fit computer's audio output jacks or VCR's audio output jacks.

Cables and connectors to tie everything together, which will depend on what specific equipment you use. See the diagram and the photo of cables typically supplied with a converter.

Comments

[dosguy]

Might this device also work with a DVD recorder? I'm thinking of purchasing one to replace my aging VCR.

[unclesam]

dosguy, yes, this device will also work with DVD recorder, and the images played back will be much better than with VHS VCR. Many new recorders are VHS/DVD combos, so you could also play or transfer your tape collection to disks as well. You need to look carefully when shopping. Some combo units are players only. Some will allow you to transfer your tapes to disks, but will not record anything else, they are still just players. Others will record, but they do not contain a tuner, so will only record from cable box or satellite box, not off an antenna, though they usually will also transfer tapes to disk (these cannot be used with the VGA-to-tv converter). The most expensive units contain a tuner (often two, analog and digital) so they can record from an antenna, and will also transfer tapes to disk (these units can record from the VGA-to-TV converter as well). My experience with the sales associates in stores is that they do not understand these subtle differences between the units, no mater which kind of store you visit, you need to examine the units very closely yourself. A unit that will record from a source such as the VGA-to-TV converter will have inputs marked similar to the outputs on the converter. There will be audio, L and R, and video. There will also often be a S-video input connector that can also be used by the converter and other video devices. On high-end units there may be optical and hdmi input connectors, not used by the converter, but could be used by other equipment you may own. Uclesam

[dosguy]

So, the ITV-900 gets connected between the laptop and the VCR, right? Couldn't you just hook the computer to the VCR directly? One other question--if you do make a VCR recording this way, is it possible to record it back onto the computer's hard drive? Thanks!

[unclesam]

dosguy, the tv equipment industry and the computer industry evolved along parallel lines, and apparently they never had a reason to communicate with one other, so no, you cannot connect a laptop directly to a VCR. That is why folks invented the converter to go between the two, and I created this instructable to let people know how to record streaming video, which you cannot download. As for your second question, I would direct you to the final sentence in the text: "A video once recorded can be transferred onto a computer's hard drive or a DVD in a separate operation if desired. The procedures for these exercises should be intuitively obvious to the most casual observer and are left to the reader." People upload video to their computers all the time, that's how they post all those videos to YouTube, etc. Many p, particularly MACs, come equipped with programs that will accept and edit video, or the video programs can be purchased separately. U.S.

[dosguy]

Thank you for the reply. I've been trying different programs that claim to be able to capture Internet video/audio, but none work nearly as well as advertised, if at all. I'll put the ITV-900 on my "gift list" and maybe wifey will come through for me. :) Thanks again!

[finfan7]

It would be far simpler to get one of those vcr/dvd/tape2disk machines. That could record and then transfer over.