Out of the camera into the computer:

• Video information going into the computer must arrive as a string of "1"s and "0"s. If the source is digital -- e.g., a MiniDV tape, camera hard drive or memory card from a digital camera -- there is no problem. The transfer is either made by a "Firewire" or "IEEE1394" cable that carries both the video and audio information, and that runs between the Firewire connection on your camera or digital tape deck and the Firewire connection on your computer, or via a USB cable or card reader.
  

  Four pin (top) and six pin Firewire plugs. Both are "keyed" to fit uniquely into the ports on cameras and tape decks.

  Many digital devices do not ship with Firewire or USB cables included, so it's important to verify which kind of plugs your equipment needs before purchasing cables. Also bear in mind that computers may not come equipped with a Firewire card and that most older computers definitely won't have a card. Be sure to ask about this when you purchase a new computer. You can add a Firewire card for about $50 from a computer shop.

• If your source tape is analog rather than digital -- for instance, VHS or 8mm -- you'll need some means of converting the video signal from analog to digital. One way to do this is to use your digital camera as a "pass through." Plug the VHS or 8mm deck or camera into the "IN" connection of your digital camera and plug from the Firewire or USB connection "OUT" of the digital camera into the Firewire or USB connection of the computer. Turn the digital camera to the "PLAY" mode. Be sure there is no video tape in the digital camera.

  When you play the VHS tape, the video signal will be sent to the digital camera, converted into a digital signal by the camera's electronics, and "passed through" the digital camera -- via Firewire or USB cable -- to the computer.

• Don't have a digital camera? There's still hope. Several companies make fairly inexpensive converters that will change an analog signal to a digital signal. The Grass Valley (Canopus) ADVC55 is probably adequate for most amateur needs. If you're planning on working extensively with old VHS tapes, however, it might be worth considering the ADVC300, more expensive but specifically designed to improve the image quality of VHS tape transfers to the digital realm. You'll need to look on eBay for one of these, however, as Grass Valley appears to have stopped production of this excellent device.

• None of this seems cost effective? Sounds too complicated? Bring your analog tapes (VHS, SVHS, 8mm and Hi-8) to VideOccasions and let us convert them to MiniDV tapes for you. For short tapes we can even create avi files and put these onto data DVDs for you, from which you can edit the work in your own computer.