How to Connect a DVD Player to a Computer
If your computer is equipped with a video capture card you will be able to connect your DVD player to it and play movies. Setting up your DVD player to play directly from your computer requires RCA wires. These wires come with most players, however if you do not have them, they can be purchased at any local electronic store.
If you do not already have a video capture card, you will need to purchase one. The card should come with a built-in MPEG-2 DVD decoder and motion compensation. Locate one that has S-video or better inputs, this will increase the video quality. Also, try to find one that comes equipped with audio inputs. If you cannot find one, you will need to purchase a sound card that has stereo input jacks. You can purchase external video-capture devices, such as the Lomega Buz. They usually include a SCSI card, composite and S-video in and out jacks, stereo audio in and out jacks, and full screen playback. Once you installed the hardware and any software that it included you are ready to connect your DVD player.
- Plug your DVD player into an electrical outlet that is located near your computer. Place the player two to four feet away from the monitor. This will ensure no magnetic feedback is received from the monitor as this can ruin the monitor pixels.
- Connect the color-coded cables to the audio RCA jacks located on the back of the DVD player. Some smaller DVD players may have them on the front also. Connect the opposite ends of the cables to the line-in jacks located on the sound card or external video-capture device.
- Use the best technology that is common to both the video -capture card/external device and DVD player: S-video, composite video, progressive-scan component video, or interlaced component video. The DVD player is now ready for use.