But no, I have to install one and go through the convoluted setup for a
non-existent set-top box before I can copy a personal VHS tape to digital.

Suggestion for future releases: If nothing else, the user should be given a
choice, and, after being advised as to what features won't work without one,
be allowed to proceed without having one installed.

Oh, and having to go through setup all over again to be able to switch from
antenna input to composite input is just plain wrong. Countless other
devices and software packages integrate the composite input as if it was
just another channel, Mediocre Center should be able to do so as well.

Thank you, Microsoft, for yet again giving us what (you incorrectly think)
people want.

Ferd

Ferd

I have never used Media Center to copy a VHS tape to a digital file. I
don't think thats is one of the specific targets it was intended for. Rather
than complain about it why don't you just use Movie Maker it is indended to
be used to digitize VHS, camcorder, and other devices. It's easy, why don't
you just try that next time.

B.D.

"Ferd Burfel" wrote:

I haven't actually wanted to capture a VHS tape using Media Center, but I
certainly have had the desire to watch one, or to watch a video camera
output, or even a Portable Media Player (Zune, Ipod, etc.) output. I agree,
and have agreed for years that Media Center should allow access to the
ubiquitous S-Video, and RGB video inputs found on virtually every PC that
ships with Media center. My HPs have them on the front and back for pete's
sake, but once in MCE land, it's like they don't exist. There are multiple
audio in jacks as well. Why can't I listen to records off my turntable, or
old cassette tape deck, without dropping out of the MCE interface? Why isn't
there an External Video 1, External Video 2, External Audio 1, External
Audio 2, available from the MCE interface? If it wants to be the center of
my media experience, it should at least suupport the ports available on the
hardware, as completely as possible.


"Bill Davis" <BillDavis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5D422490-A8BA-46CB-88E9-878F63EC9DDB@microsoft.com...

I already did. Movie Maker doesn't seem to want to recognize my tuner card
as a "Digital Video Camera". Which, since it isn't, I really don't think it
ever will.

I know that composite video and audio is "old school", but I've always had
much better results using that instead of an RF link between devices. And
as pointed out, some devices only have composite video and audio outputs.

BTW, I did solve my problem. My card is an HP ExpressCard Tuner, which is
actually a Hauppauge. I managed to find the WinTV software for it, and it
doesn't seem to have a problem integrating digital channels with analog
channels, composite input and even s-video inputs without having to
reconfigure the whole program everytime I want to change between them.

This is something Media Center should be able to do as well if, as Sven
pointed out, it wants to be the "Center of My Multimedia Experience".

I know I shouldn't really be surprised that this. Every now and then MS
does something so inane that you wonder what they put in the water in
Redmond.

Ferd


"Bill Davis" <BillDavis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5D422490-A8BA-46CB-88E9-878F63EC9DDB@microsoft.com...