Smart TV/Video Channel

[Nitell]

Hello.

I need to convert VHS to Digital.

I have a Video Converter, and the old Saisho VCR recorder.

The VCR Recorder handbook says to locate the Video Channel on the TV, but my TV is the Medion Smart TV. I am wondering if the TV will automatically find the Video Channel.

Thank you for you advice.

 

[sircerebus666]

How are you connecting the VCR to your telly? Scart ? Composite? RF aerial?

 

[Nitell]

Hi.
Thank you. RF aerial.

The VCR does not have Scart.

 

[sircerebus666]

Then you will need to tune your telly on the analogue side to find your video as long as you have an analogue tuner on your telly

Failing that you can buy a RF to hdmi converter but I have no idea how effective they are

Is RF aerial the only connection on the back of the VCR?

 

[Nitell]

The first photo is from the back of the VCR

Second photo is from the TV Handbook.

 

[JohnD]

they both have a composite video connector

usually yellow.

 

[sircerebus666]

As above get yourself one of these

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA_connector

eBay/Amazon will have plenty

Once connected to correct colour coded sockets on your telly and VCR , change the telly's input to component (or whatever it is called on your telly)

Then you will be able to crack on

 

[Nitell]

Super.

But I do not understand , 'Change the telly's input to component'.

 

[Lucid]

Super.

But I do not understand , 'Change the telly's input to component'.

Thanks for the pictures. This is always helpful.

In your case 'component' probably isn't the correct word because your TV has a dedicated composite input. For many TVs now this hasn't been the case for several years.

On those sets, composite video and the Component video inputs share the same input sockets. A software switch in the TV's source selection menu changes the way the TV deals with the source signal between the two options. On my TV for example, the input menu simply gives me the various HDMI inputs and then a generic "AV" label, but once I select AV then there's a further menu step to choose between Video and Component. Not all TVs work quite the same way though. I've seen lots of variations on the theme. @sircerebus666 was probably referring to the source selection he was most familiar with. It's no biggie.

Your TV has a dedicated AV input. The set probably gives you an input option specific to that set of sockets. It looks like you have a manual for the TV. If you're in any way unsure about how to select what's labelled as "BACK AV IN" as shown in your picture then check the manual. TBH though, it doesn't look like it will be that complicated.

Remember to use the correct sockets on the VCR; you want to be connecting to the OUT sockets since you need a signal coming OUT of the VCR to the INput of the TV.

I notice your VCR has just a single audio out connection. It's the white coloured RCA phono socket. This is because the video doesn't have stereo sound. It is mono. Your TV has a stereo audio input. You can simply connect white to white. However, this will give sound only through the left hand speakers on the TV. That may not be important to you, but it's worth perhaps bearing in mind that pretty-much all AV gear is now stereo, so it might be sensible to use an audio splitter cable which will give two outputs from the single audio socket on the VCR. This is the idea. This won't make the signal stereo of course, but you will have audio on both the left- and right-hand sides of any audio tracks.

Question: How are you planning to connect the video convertor mentioned in your OP?

 

[Nitell]

Hi. Lucid.

Your response is most helpful.

In answer to your question,

Please see photos as attached.

The 1st photo shows connections to the Video Converter (VC).

2nd photo shows connections continuing from VC to the TV.

3rd photo shows RF aerial going back from the VCR to the TV.

Having done all that, plus getting a Splitter, I guess I am ready to go?.

Thank you.

 

[Lucid]

I take it then that the VC has two sets of connections. One set for connecting the VCR to the VC, and then the set of connections shown in your latest pictures where the VC is connected to the TV. In essence then, the VC sits in-line between the VCR and the TV. Is that right?

 

[Nitell]

No.

Sorry for the error in my explanation.

1st Photo: The VC came with a set of cables Red/Yellow/White (to connect the VC to the TV).

2nd Photo: The Saisho VCR has a set of cables 1 x Red and 1 x White, as shown in the photo. Whilst I can plug one end of those into the VCR, there are no ports on the TV to plug the other ends into.

 

[Lucid]

'No'?

I think you might need to have another look at your Video Convertor instructions.

The labeling on the top says it's an AV/SCART Video Grabber. From the ones I've seen online which look identical to yours, there are the RCA phono sockets you already know about, but on the opposite end there's a SCART socket. On the side there's a signal direction switch: AV -> SCART and SCART -> AV.

What all this means is the device is designed to have a video signal pass through it. This is what I described in my previous post.

It is possible of course to hook it up to the signal output from the VCR to the VC, then run a parallel onnection using the RF coax cable to the TV. That will work, but there's a catch. You won't be seeing the same signal as the VC is seeing, so if there are any issues with the feed tonthe VC then you potentially* won't know until you come to check the digital copy.

* Some VCs record direct to a memory card

The way your pictures show the connection it's as if you expect the TV to provide the sore signal. That, or you have an incomplete set up. Either way, you won't get anything recorded.

 

[Nitell]

In the Handbook the illustrations they show in the photo is very feint, as seen in the attachment.

So I cannot figure out the wiring.

Having read, and re-read your posts, I am interpreting that it seems I have connected the VC to the TV wrongly.

 

[Lucid]

I'm having no problems reading the description or seeing the illustration; and I'm looking at the picture you took and posted of what you describe as feint image in the manual. Plus, you have the blooming device there, so just what on earth is stopping you from picking the damned thing up and looking at the flipping ends properly?

Yes, you have it connected incorrectly.

I will say that again: You. Have. This. Connected. Incorrectly.

Is that clear enough?

I think I've been very patient with you, but now it's time to call a spade a spade. The manual is clear enough, and I've told you that your device fits inline between the VCR and the TV.

You need an RCA to SCART adapter for the SCART end of the adapter. Get one with a switch on for signal direction (In or OUT) so that there's no chance of ending up with the wrong direction. Add the RCA cables from the VCR to this SCART adapter. You need a yellow video cable and the single to dual RCA splitter discussed earlier in this thread, and possibly a set of extension cables - twin/stereo RCA to twin/stereo RCA. Hook up your USB cable to your laptop for power and digitised signal recording.

This is not a difficult thing. You're making a mountain out of a mole hill. Stop messing around and just get it done.