If you're thinking, "I can't afford a digital camcorder," you can still use your old analog equipment to get video onto your computer. Get yourself an analog-to-digital converter — usually called an A-D converter by those who dislike $5 words. The A-D converter freshens up the signal from a prehistoric analog TV, VCR, or camcorder, and — bam! — you've turned that analog signal into digital video.

One of the most popular A-D converters on the market is the Hollywood DV-Bridge, from Pinnacle Systems, Inc.. This alchemist's magic box costs a mere $200 or so on the Web, yet it can do the following:

• Connect your computer, your analog devices, and your DV devices in perfect harmony with a full set of ports (including a FireWire port)
• Convert digital video to an analog signal so that you can use your VCR to create tapes from a DV source
• Monitor your DV feed on a TV while it's being converted
• Mix both DV and analog material in one production

You also get two different types of Windows video-editing software. Devices like the Hollywood DV-Bridge can allow you try your hand with digital video while still using your old analog equipment.