How to Capture Audio

Computer users may find it useful to know how to capture audio files from an analog recording device, such as a videocassette recorder (VCR) or an analog camcorder. The process of capturing taped analog audio recordings should not be confused with analog or digital audio recording. The term "Audio Capture" generally refers to converting analog audio recordings into a digital file. This new digitally formatted copy can then be edited, transferred to CD or DVD, uploaded to the Internet or played back on your computer. Many of the digital recording devices manufactured in the last several years support DV pass-through technology, which allows users to capture video and audio files without installing any specialized video capture hardware components. In this article, you will learn how to use the DV pass-through technology in a DV camera to convert analog audio to digital using Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie.

Steps:

Convert Analog Audio to Digital Using a DV Pass-Through Compatible Camera

1. Change your DV camera settings to DV pass-through. Select the DV pass-through setting on your camera to enable the analog to digital conversion feature.
   
   
2. Connect your analog device to your DV camera using a composite video cable or an S-Video connection.
3. Capture the analog audio to your computer. The DV camera will now convert the analog video tape from the connected device into a digital video, and may be imported to your computer using the Windows Movie Maker record feature.
   • Set your DV camera to VCR/VST mode.
   • Click Import Video in the Autoplay dialog box.
   • Type a name in the Name field.
   • Choose a format for your video file. You have the option of choosing the default format or you may select a higher quality format from the menu, such as DVD or wide-screen quality. The higher quality format you choose, the larger the resulting file size will be.
   • Choose a location on your hard drive to store your audio/video file.
   • Click on "Import the entire videotape to my computer," and click next. The converted digital file is now imported to the specified location.

Convert the Windows Media Video file into a WAVE Audio File

1. Open the control-panel from the Start Menu.
2. Change the control-panel folder view to Classic and click on the Folder Options Icon.
3. Click the view tab and locate the "Hide extensions for known file types" box in Advanced settings.
4. Clear the box and click "Apply" and then "ok."
5. Replace the file extension .wmv on the converted video file with .wav to create an audio-only file.
6. Return to the default folder view by accessing the Folder Options menu from the Control Panel.
7. Click the View Tap and place a check by clicking in the "Hide extensions for known file types" Box.
8. Click "Apply" and then "ok." The file has now been converted to a WAVE file.

Convert Analog Video to Digital Using a DV Camera and iMovie

1. Import the video file. Set your DV camera to VST/VCR mode and connect it to the computer using a Firewire cable. The import window will open automatically.
2. Convert the file. Click import, making sure that the switch on the left side of the import window is set to "Automatic." Select a location to store the project using the "Save to" pop-up menu. Type a name for the project in the "Create new event" field and click OK. The analog to digital conversion is complete.
   Source: www.wikihow.com