How To Convert TV to Video Files with Video Blaster Digital VCR

What You Need

• Your VCR or your cable connection.
• Creative Digital VCR (~$149). This is the hardware that digitizes the video signal.
  http://www.creative.com

• EO-Video Converter/Joiner (~$35). This program can convert from the MPEg2 format output from the VCR card to any number of formats.
  http://www.eo-video.com

• MPEG2 Video Codec ($20). These are the "instructions" so that most of your video-playing programs can understand how to decode MPEG2 format. Without this, the EO Converter can not read the files that are created with the Digital VCR. There are other MPEG2 codecs available over the web for free, but the ones I've tried seem to accidently offset the audio content from the video content, giving the resultant video file the feel that it is a poorly dubbed movie. So, I just sprung for the $20 to buy the best codec out there.
  http://www.moonlight.co.il

• MPEG2 Video Player. This program is not really needed, but it is a handy tool for quickly viewing MPEG2 files to see if they are any good. Almost any video viewer will be able to view MPEG2 files if you install the right codec. This players comes for free when you buy the codec.
  http://www.moonlight.co.il

• Other Video Codecs. You'll need to figure out what kind of codecs you want for your system. I prefer to convert my video files to Indeo Video 5.10 AVI format. A wide variety of free codecs can be found at the following website.
  http://www.vcdhelp.com

• Virtual Dub (free). This program is a quick and easy video dubbing program. You will be using it to edit out commercials. It's free.
  http://www.virtualdub.org

• Kinoma Producer ($). This program is needed if you are going to further convert your video into a format that can be played on a Palm-operating system PDA. If you plan to simply view your videos on your computer, you don't need this.
  http://www.kinoma.com

• Kinoma Player (free). This player is needed to view a video on your Palm-operating system PDA.
  http://www.kinoma.com

• Install the video codecs, EO Converter, and Virtual Dub
• Install the Digital VCR card. Hook up your VCR and cable.
• If you want to convert to PDA format, install the two Kinoma programs.
• Run the Digital VCR Software.
• Put a tape in your VCR and hit play.
• Use the Digital VCR remote control and hit "record". Set the record time for the length of the video.
• Wait until the program you want to record is complete.
• Use the Digital VCR remote control and hit "record" and then "stop". This should save your video.
• Use the Digital VCR export program to export the saved file as a MPEG2 file. The file you will need to export is;
  • "untitled", if you are doing the one-touch record.
  • "timeshift" if you are trying to capture something you saw on live TV.
  • The named file, if you are trying to convert a sceduled program.
• Run EO-Video and convert the MPEG2 to AVI format.
  • Select AVI format and Indeo video 5.10 codec.
  • If a multi-part video, select Join as well.
• Run Virtual Dub and edit out commercials. Save as AVI format.
• If you want to convert to PDA format, run Kinoma Producer.
• Drag the AVI file onto Kinoma.
• Select the type of output you want and convert the file.
• Drag the created PRC file onto your Palm memory card into the directory /palm/programs/msmedia/ (or whatever your memory card requires).
• Run the Kinoma application and view the video.