[Celtic_Daughter]

My 80 yr old father bought the easycap video grabber to salvage old footage from vhs tapes, he's paid $99 for this and found when he opened it there are no instructions on how to set up the leads! does it connect to the tv or the vcr? also, his tv [a new big flat digital tv] the only red white and yellow sockets available are all female... as are the connections on the leads with easy cap! Now are there adaptors available to fix this? how much are they likely to cost and is this programme something that I'll be able to understand and use [I'm his current edumacator as far as puters go and I've taught him just the basics so far] I know how to use software that turns my old vinyl records into cd's if that's any help! hoping to hear something soon, kind reagrds,
Celtic_Daughter

[cwwozniak]

Hi Celtic_Daughter, and welcome to TSG.

If the video capture device is what is shown in the attached picture, then you should be able to find a suitable adapter cable at most stores that sell any kind of audio-video equipment. You would need cables with male plugs at both ends to go from the VCR to the capture device. If the VCR has an S-Video output then use an S-video cable between the VCR and the device and only use the red and white connections for stereo audio.

Did your device come with a CD? If so it may contain documentation along with the recording software.

[Celtic_Daughter]

Hi Chuck, Thanks for your quick response! am impressed! well the video grabber looks exactly like the one pictured. I just wonder why the manufacturer would sell a product with the wrong connector or else they could include an adaptor which would make the device be compatible with all vcr's! [is this too easy?]I did look at the cd and it seems to provide quite a lot of info on it but it all relates to the software and how to access it, install and use it to transfer the video into a dvd format. None whatsoever on how to connect the leads to the vcr, thanks again for your help, will pass on the info onto dad and see what he wants to do, I'm happy ot go get the adaptors but its so darned hot today, don't wanna leave the aircon! so thanks again and all the best, Celtic Daughter

[Celtic_Daughter]

Well, Chuck, spoke to dad and he tells me he's unable to connect the black cable [which is also female] to the vcr either! maybe we should just return this to whence it came! our video grabber is the same as the foto you posted, the black cable has a number of holes on it [similar to a plug in mouse or keyboard cable?] and then there are 3 colour coded cables, yellow, red and white but all ends are female and it appears we need all male ends to work. will give dick smith's a ring and see if they have suitable adaptors, Would really like this gadget to work for Dad. Dad feels it should connect to the tv but I figure if you're wanting to access vhs footage then you need to access the vcr! wonder if you'd have to have the tape in question playing while you upload it to the computer? mm maybe if I get a longer look at the cd I'll find that answer!

[DoubleHelix]

You can use either the black S-Video connection or the yellow video connector.

[cwwozniak]

Maybe the manufacturer figures people can use the same cables they are now using to connect the VCR to their TV and just unplug them from the TV

[Celtic_Daughter]

Have just checked with electronics store and they have cables which have male ends on both ends so that should do the trick, tho they're asking $25 for a set. Might get dad to return his gadget as I've seen cheaper ones online[$39] and if I also buy the other leads it'll still be cheaper than using what he's got! many thanks to you both for your help in this, all the best from a grateful Irish Aussie!

[cwwozniak]

You're welcome and happy hunting for a lower priced set-up.

[Celtic_Daughter]

Chuck that sounds very practical! will get on phone again and thanks again for your patience in handling queries from inexperienced folk like meself!