The transfer from VHS tape to DVD is essentially a process by which the contents of the VHS tape is digitized and transferred onto a DVD disc. However, in processing this transfer, there might be problems relating to the standard and zone constraints. Therefore, this process of conversion could consist of conversion and then transfer. North American countries use NTSC as their standard for video tapes and DVDs. Therefore, if you have a movie video tape from Europe, South America or Asia, you will not be able to playit in your VCR because of the non-compatibility of standards. That VHS tape needs to be converted to NTSC before it can be viewed. Similarly a DVD purchased in one of those countries, would not work in your DVD player, both being from different region. The standards used in Europe, South America, Asia and few other countries are mostly PAL or derivative of PAL. Therefore, converting a VHS tape to a DVD, would mean that the PAL standard be first converted to NTSC compatible standard and then digitized on to the DVD disc. There is no SECAM DVD and perhaps such a DVD will never be produced. There are VHS SECAM tapes which can only be converted to NTSC or PAL standards and then transferred to a DVD. This is a task which is offered by many service providers today.

The concept of transferring VHS tapes to DVD is the same as that of cassettes. The transfer may be affected maintaining the format or converted into another format and then transferred. Transfers are usually done into DVD CDs, either re-writable ones or writable only, playing for about six hours duration, depending upon the specification of the DVD CD. While VHS has NTSC and PAL-N as the standards, VHS-C, S-VHS and MINI DV have PAL, PAL-M and SECAM standards respectively. With NTSC being the basic standard in the Unites States, PAL is the standard in Europe and Asia, PAL-N being the standard in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, and PAL-M is the one in Brazil. The video tapes from all these countries can be converted into any desired standard and then digitized and transferred on to a DVD CD. Once it is transferred, the constraints of the standard or zone specifications will not apply. Upon conversion certain restrictions apply which says that these converted DVD CDs can only be played in a player which plays DVD+R and players with DVD-R cannot play these DVD CDs. It has to be made sure that your DVD player and your TV are suitable to play those converted DVD CDs.

The basic requirement for such a transfer requires you to have a computer and a camcorder or a VCR to play your old tapes. You will also require a device to capture the video signals and software to edit. Then there is that burning process of your DVD CD which is a software driven driver in your computer. The three major components that you would need to transfer old VHS tapes to digitized version on to a DVD CD are as follows:

 You will need the right sort of cables and the required hardware.

 In order to do this you will need to have a correct specification of a video card in your computer and you may add a video capture card in the PCI slot of your computer. Alternatively, you may get a video capture card, which plugs into your computer through one of the USB slots. A video capture card usually comes with a software driver, which you need to load in your computer before the video capture card can work.

 If your computer does not have a DVD burner or a compatible DVD CD drive, you may purchase an external DVD CD drive and load the driver software, which comes along with the device, in your computer. This external DVD CD drive plugs into your computer via a USM port. Some of these drivers may have video capture feature.

In addition to the hardware you would need special software to capture, compress and edit the video footage on your computer. This software assists you to edit, cut, paste, add fun effects like, narration, transitions, menus and background music, etc., to enhance the features of the transferred contents from your tapes. In some instances, the video capture card comes along with the special software. If not, there is quite many free software available, like the windows Movie Maker that can perform some of these functions. If you want the professional ones, Adobe Premiere Elements, Ulead VideoStudio, Apple’s Final Cut and Pinnacle Studio are some of the suggestions.

The Cost of Tansfer

There are professional service providers available to perform a better job in transferring the contents of your tapes to DVD CDs. There are charges involved in this which are payable to those facilitating the conversion and transfer. As an estimate, the average cost of a basic transfer would be around $18 to $20 per transfer. If you need to convert the format first and then perform the transfer, the cost may range from $30 per transfer. If such services are being sought through providers at a distant place, there may be additional shipping charges involved, though some of the companies provide free shipping. There are different modes of shipping that you can choose from, ranging between $5 -$125 depending on mode of delivery within the United States of America. For a competitive price indication for such transfer services, visit http://www.planetomni.com:80/SITE_tape2dvd.shtml

The Contents that You would Transfer

There are copyright laws that you must take notice of when contemplating transfer of your tape contents to DVD. You must take care not to violate the copyright indemnities which may lead to un-necessary litigations. You may very well opt to transfer your personal contents from your old tapes which you had so carefully preserved all these years, to DVD CDs. These may be your wedding video, activities of your children while growing up gradually, materials relating to corporate sales and training, study materials, memorable family events or any other special events. In order to preserve your old tapes in a better form, there is no other alternative than to convert those into DVDs. With DVD conversions being easy and affordable, it is the best way that you can preserve the memories of the past. VHS tapes can also be converted in the same manner and the method is also applied when transferring VHS-C, VHS tapes, Hi8 or any such media to DVD CDs.

Converting tape to DVD – methods

The process of transferring the contents of a tape to DVD disc is through an analog to digital converter, which digitizes the analog signals coming from the tape and converts them into digital information. There are stand-alone analog to DVD converters. One method encodes the tape information into MPEG-2 and then recorded into a DVD disc. Though this method is time consuming, you have the flexibility to edit the video information to your liking before recoding it on to the disc. If you are doing this transferring process as a professional, you would want to have a faster method for this process. There is a second method to capture the video from your old tape to your computer using it as a MPEG-2. Then you may burn the contents directly on to your DVD CD. With this method you have less opportunity to edit the contents except ‘cuts only’ editing. When you have such a tape which does not need its contents to be edited, this is a faster method. There are cheaper methods available where you utilise analog to MPEG converter devices, which provides satisfactory quality of the transferred video.

A faster method would be a stand-alone DVD recorder that works like a VCR. This device provides a real copy of the tape on a DVD CD. This is a faster and easier method which could be handled by anyone, even not conversant with such technicalities. Indeed, the DVD/VCR converter, which has a Fire-wire connection for plugging in a DV/Digital5/DV CAM camcorder, has a much faster rate of conversion with superb quality. However, the contents of your old tape that you are transferring need to be in a good shape to get such quality reproduced in your DVD CD.

There are ofcourse those maintenance issues that need to be taken care of. The video tapes that you contemplate to transfer on to DVD CDs, may have conglomeration of residues and more-over the tape heads of the VCR or camcorder need to be cleaned periodically, that is, if you are going to use the devices for your transfer process. There are controls, which may be used to obtain the picture quality as desired. This would make your MPEG-2 encoder to do a good job. Similarly, a less sharp playback system would be more effective and here also you can use the respective control system of the device used for transfer.

In converting Hi8 and 8mm to DVD, a digital 8 camcorder may be used with a computer. This device has some built in components which controls the noise and cleans the analog video signals before transformation with a result that end product is comparatively of much higher quality. The disadvantage is the time that it requires for such transformation with a high quality MPEG-2 encoder. To avoid this you can always use the system at half-resolution for transfer or conversion, which would mean using a resolution of 352×480 in place of the normal 720×480 for NTSC. The audio would need to be compressed to save space The Dolby Digital/AC3 is one of the superior quality audio compression available in the market. As you try to convert or transfer a DV to DVD, you would require a higher quality MPEG-2 compressor to achieve a compression from 14 GB to 4.7 GB.

With the advent of newer technology, transformation or conversion of a tape to DVD has become easy. Never-the-less, some of the finer aspects need to be taken care of, such as, a good quality converter, Camcorder, or VCR and a high quality MPEG-2 compressor. These may be the exact accessories required to produce high quality DVDs from your old tapes. A DVD CD is much better a media to store your video recordings, which preserves your favourite memories for a long time, so much so, that video tapes have already started to decline and a DVD may completely replace the tape altogether.

Video tape conversion to DVD

Video tapes and cassettes can be transferred to DVD in the same manner as any other cassettes. They are transferred maintaining the video format. They can also be converted to another format. Ordinarily such transfer copies are made to DVD RW (Read /Write) discs and each disc can have videos playable for six hours duration. A VHS video tape can be converted and recorded on DVD disc as NTSC standard. The VHS, VHS-C, VHS, S-VHS, and MINI DV have video standards of NTSC, PAL, PAL-N, PAL-M, and SECAM respectively. While NTSC is the basic standard in USA, PAL is the basic standard in Europe and Asia. PAL-N is accepted standard in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay while PAL-M is the standard in Brazil. All these video tapes can be converted to DVD in the same format or any other desired format and once converted to DVD they will no more have the standard and zone constraints. While converting tapes to DVDs, you should also remember that some companies making such conversion have a restriction that such DVDs can be played only on DVD+R player and not on the DVD-R player. The converting companies also ordinarily do not refund your money and you should make it doubly sure that with your player and TV the converted DVD will really play. Get the technical advice as best as you can.

The Price tag

Conversion from tape to DVD will involve a cost, ordinarily towards service charges payable to those facilitating the conversion and transfer. The average rates for simple transfer of tape to DVD are around $18-19 per transfer. The average rate on the other hand, for transfer and conversion comes in the range of $28-$30 per such transfer and conversion. If you are getting such services from a distant place, there may be additional shipping charges, though some companies provide free shipping. There are different modes of shipping and the charges depend upon the mode and time taken for the delivery. The shipping thus comes in the range of $5 -$125 depending on mode of delivery within the United States of America.

Items that you may like to transfer from tape to DVD

Before you consider about the item you wish to transfer from tape to DVD you must take care of the copyright indemnities. You must be careful not to violate any copyright laws that may lead you into future litigations or trouble. Some of the personal items you may like to transfer from old tapes preserved with care to DVD for a much greater longevity could be your wedding video, activities of your children while growing up gradually, materials relating to corporate sales and training, study materials, memorable family events or any other special events etc. Apart from these, there could be other tapes and videos that you may like to preserve. A most useful way to preserve the old tapes in a much better form, is to convert those home videos to DVD, since DVD conversions are quite easy and affordable. VHS tapes can also be converted to DVD and the same manner of conversion can be applied to VHS-C, VHS tapes, Hi8 or any such media.

Converting tape to DVD – methods

The widely used process of transferring a tape by conversion and transfer to a DVD disc is by using an analog-to-DVD converter. A converter may be a stand alone analog to DV converter. One method is to encode the tape to MPEG-2 and then author a DVD. While this process is time consuming, the best part of it is that it gives you the flexibility to edit the video to your liking and requirements. Sometimes you may feel tired and exhausted since taken together, this may mean multiple hours of work to get each hour of video transfer on DVD. The other method is to capture the video to computer using hardware, as MPEG-2. Then you may author and burn a DVD. You spend one hour for getting video of one hour. With this method you have less scope of editing and can effect only the ‘cuts-only’ editing. When the original tape is good enough not requiring any editing, this may prove to be a faster and less tiring effort. Moreover, even cheap converters like the analog to MPEG boxes can also provide very good quality transferred video. In the other method there is a requirement of converting VHS to DVD and this could affect the quality of video compression adversely.

The Process

A stand alone DVD recorder works like a VCR. It provides the viewer with a DVD copy of the tape in real time. It is a faster, easier, and perhaps the best way for a layman to transfer a tape to DVD. Of course the DVD/VCR, that have Firewire connections for plugging in a DV/Digital5/DV CAM camcorder, the transfer will be much faster, and quality will also be very good. However, you will need to remember the old saying “there is no fruit without the root”. If the original analog video has flaws then they may be greatly magnified while you go through the process of transfer or conversion and transfer as the case may be.

Maintenance issues

We often forget some basic things while using electronic devices and the processes provided by them. Old tapes may have a conglomeration of residues and the tape heads need to be cleaned periodically in the VCR or Camcorder, whatever you use for the purpose of transfer or conversion and transfer of tapes to DVDs. Make use of the controls to obtain a softer image version which will allow the MPEG-2 encoder to do a good job. Similarly, a less sharp playback system would be more effective and here also you can use the respective control system of the device used for transfer. To convert Hi8 and 8mm to DVD, you may use a Digital 8 Camcorder with your computer. They have some built in devices for noise control and cleaning the analog video before conversion and as a result the end product, comparatively, is of much superior quality. Time is also an important factor since long hours of transfer require a high quality MPEG-2 encoder. You can of course use the system of half-resolution for transfer or conversion. It means using a resolution of 352×480 in place of the normal 720×480 for NTSC. Another important item would be compressed audio since it is economical in space and provides a high quality video. One of the best audio compression devices available in the market is the Dolby Digital/AC3. When you try transfer or conversion of a DV to DVD, the MPEG-2 compressor needs to be of high quality since the DV takes almost 14 GB space and it has to compressed to a 4.7 GB DVD.

One last point

With the enormous improvement in digital technology, transfer of a tape to DVD or its conversion and transfer, have both become comparatively easy. However, a few finer points need to be noted, like having a good quality converter, Camcorder, or VCR and a high quality MPEG-2 compressor, which might be the exact accessories required to produce a high quality DVD by way of transfer or conversion from your old tape. All said and done, a DVD is a much better quality media and long lasting. A time will come when DVDs may completely replace the use of tapes which are already on steady decline. Tapes tend to run out of life fairly quickly and at present there is no better answer than a DVD disc for preservation of your loved videos.

A video tape degrades with time because it is made of magnetic media. What you see ten, twenty years later is nowhere as sharp as when the tapes were first created. So, what is the shelf life of a magnetic tape (which includes Betamax, VHS, 8mm and mini-DV)?

If you ask a professional or a photo studio that question, the answer you get can range anywhere between 5 to 10 years. This is because it depends a lot on how 1) you handle it, 2) how you store it and 3) how often you played and rewound it – as opposed to letting it sit for years and years. Here are some tips to extend the shelf life of your tapes:

How to Handle Your Video Tapes

• Never touch the tape itself. Hold it by the side of the cassette

• Rewind the cassette before storing it.

• Keep away from curious kids, avoid dropping or banging the tapes.

• Keep cassettes away from magnetic fields

• Don’t leave a cassette in the car where it will be exposed to heat and cold

• If using a new cassette and it’s still cold, let it warm up to room temperature first.

• Occasionally fast forward and rewind a tape that’s being stored a long time.

Where to Store Your Video Tapes

The conditions in which magnetic tape is stored and used can extend its shelf life. Observe these video storage tips:

• Store in conditions that are stable, cool and dry.

• Stay away from hot, humid and dusty.

• Store cassettes in the cassette case.

• Store your tapes vertically and not flat (see picture) to distribute the gravity pull equally and stably.

But why wait in the first place? The best transfer quality you can get is YESTERDAY. The longer you wait, the more chances you are taking about the tape magnetic media degrading Not to mention video transfer costs don’t go down, they only increase.

Most of us still have old copies of VHS video tapes stacked on our home and office bookshelves just collecting dust. When was the last time you actually used your video cassette player? If you are like me, it has been sitting disconnected underneath my DVD player for more than a year.

If you are in the same boat, then you will be happy to know that the copying process of switching valuable content from VHS tapes over via DVD duplication is really quite easy. It’s a great way to preserve and also share your old tapes, whether personal or business related.

The process of converting to a DVD basically requires a VHS tape player, or a camcorder. Plug either the camcorder or the VHS tape player into your PC, if your computer has the ports for plugging in these types of devices in. You also need a minimum of 512 MB of RAM and a 2 GHz processor, plus about 20 GB of hard drive free space. And your computer also needs a CD-RW drive for the duplication process. You will also need a video editing software program.

There are several conversion options if you want to transfer VHS tapes to DVDs, and if produced properly, the DVDs can look even better than the original VHS tapes including formats such as VHS-C, SVHS, Hi8, regular, as well as Betas. Here are some tips for what to do.

First you will need to capture a VHS video to a computer video editing program using an analog-to-DVD converter. You would otherwise need to encode it to MPEG-2 format, then publish your DVD. This provides some flexibility to edit the video as you wish by adding transitions, music or special effects. One drawback is that it is time consuming.

You could also capture the video to your computer as an MPEG-2 using hardware capture devices that will convert VHS to MPEG-2, then author the DVD. Some inexpensive hardware analog-to-MPEG boxes offer good quality because the analog source video does not have to be converted to DV before it’s encoded to MPEG.

The fastest and easiest way to convert a VHS into a DVD is to connect your VHS VCR or camcorder to a standalone DVD recording device. This works like a VCR, and the VHS to DVD recorder basically gives you a DVD copy of your tape in real time. However it is important to make sure your analog video is of the best quality possible because any flaws in the original video tape might be magnified when encoded to MPEG-2 and then converted to the DVD.

It does not take much time for copying VHS to DVD. However if you are not inclined to take on this kind of project yourself, a DVD authoring and production house will be happy to do it for you via their own conversion and DVD duplication process.

Many of us have boxes of tapes that were recorded onto either VHS or 8mm. If stored properly tapes will last a long time. However there are some considerations that make converting your home videos to DVD a worthwhile process.
–It is easier to share a DVD with friends and family. They make a great gift. –You can create chapters to jump to your favorite scenes. –You can easily add background music or edit out boring scenes. –Many times the you can increase the quality from the original source movie

There are many different methods to convert you movies to DVD. One method is to use your PC and the other is to use a stand alone DVD recorder. The PC offers complete control over editing the footage and creating professional looking menus for the DVD. The DVD recorder is the best solution for simplicity, speed and in many cases better quality.

In order to transfer movies with your PC you will need a fairly powerful PC with lots of hard drive space. Raw video footage can chew up to 13 Gigs per hour of video footage. You can transfer the movies to your PC with a dedicated transfer card or an external device to convert the analog signal to DV so it can be transferred through a firewire port onto your PC.

Once the raw video footage is on your PC you can use video editing software to edit the footage and create DVDs. Video editing software can retail from $50-$200 dollars. Some popular companies include Pinnacle, Adobe, Ulead and Sony.

Another method to transfer you home videos to DVD is to use a stand alone DVD recorder. A DVD recorder looks very similar to the DVD player in your home entertainment system. DVD recorders sell for about $200 and up. Some manufacturers offer DVD/VHS combo units which make transferring movies a piece of cake. Look for a DVD recorder with a built in hard drive. These allow you to edit the movies once they are recorded to the hard drives.

Another nice feature of units with a hard drive is that they have similar features to a TIVO device. You can record and store your favorite shows and even allow you to pause live TV like a TIVO. Depending on the size of the hard drive and the quality settings you can easily store 40 hours or more on the hard drive.

By carefully choosing the model you should end up with final product that looks better than the original. That’s because certain DVD Recorders by JVC and Toshiba, or any models that have an LSI chipset, have filters to reduce grain and chroma noise.

When recording you will want to record in the highest quality settings possible. This means you will be able to fit about 1 hours worth of video onto a DVD. Since most VHS and 8MM tapes are two hours you will need to split one tape into two DVD’s. You can fit more than 1 hours worth of footage on a DVD if the footage is something you don’t care too much about. However if you are converting treasured movies go for the best quality you can.

When preserving your favorite movies or memories, the standard used to be VHS video tapes. But with the advancement of DVD technology, the advantages of DVDs proved to outweigh those of VCR tapes. Video tapes can wear out over time, becoming bent, damaged or dirty. The cassette casings are vulnerable to damage as well, rendering the tape inside useless. Storage is easier with DVDs since they take up less space than videos. Not to mention the quality of picture and sound is higher on DVDs.

So the question becomes, how do I convert my video tapes to DVDs in order to preserve them for my future enjoyment? There are several options. First, you could use a VHS to DVD conversion service that will do the transfer for you. However, if you have a great deal of videos to convert, over time you’ll save money by doing the conversions yourself in the convenience of your home.

The computer savvy among us will use their computer to transfer their videos to DVD. It requires copying the video to a digital file on the computer using an analog converter. The file gets compressed into MPEG-2 format before being burned onto a DVD. This method takes some time, but it does allow you to make changes to the video, like special effects or music, before you burn it to the DVD. Depending on the burning software that you use, you might be able to add a menu or other special features. However, the process can be quite slow because you have to transfer the file twice: first from the video to the computer and then again from the computer to the DVD.

So in order to save time and effort, you can copy the tapes to a DVD without the use of a computer. There are two ways to do this:

• The first involves buying a DVD recorder that allows input from another source. You simply connect your VCR by cable to the DVD recorder. Then while the video plays, it is also recording. If you choose this option, consider purchasing a video processor called a proc amp or a time base corrector. These devices stabilize and improve the quality of the analog video as it is fed to the DVD recorder and can greatly improve the resulting images that you get on the DVD.
• The second option is to purchase a combination DVD/VCR recorder. It does the same thing as the previous option without needing to connect any cables. If you are planning to copy a lot of videos, it is worth your time and effort to find out what kind of processing the machine does to the analog signal from the video tape before it converts it to the digital signal that gets recorded in DVD format. You want the best possible result that you can get.

If you do the conversion yourself, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you capture the video appropriately. Make sure that you have cleaned the heads of the VCR between copying videos. Old tapes carry a lot of dust or other particles that can clog up your VCR. And since you are copying directly from the video to the DVD, whatever picture quality issues you have with the video will appear on the DVD. Understand that if you have videos which are recorded at SLP (6 hours of video on a tape) you will not get the same quality of recording onto a DVD as if the video was recorded at SP (2 hours of video on a tape). If you find the quality is not acceptable for you, consider changing your method of converting videos to DVD. However, for many people, the time and energy saved in converting the videos on their own will outweigh any concerns over video quality.

DVD recorders are devices that record data onto a DVD. DVDs are becoming a very good option for storing data because of their high storage capacities, reliability, cost and flexibility. DVD recorders have already replaced VCRs and CD recorders in most homes.

DVD recorders are ideal for storing all kinds of data including movies, TV shows and home videos. The recording quality is also much better than that from CDs or tapes. DVDs are mostly compatible with most recording formats including DVD-audio, CD-audio, DVD-R (write-once), DVD- RW (re-writable format of DVD-R), DVD+R (write once), DVD+RW (re-writable format of DVD+R) and DVD-RAM (re-writable with random access capability). With attractive options such as surround sound, progressive scan, recording options in DVD as well as VHS modes, twin recording formats (allows recording of two different programs on different channels simultaneously), and live TV pausing, DVD players are becoming a favorite with most people.

There are also DVD-VCR combos, which are ideal for playing both DVDs as well as VHS tapes. They also enable copying of home recordings from camcorder tapes or television recordings. Some of the top DVD-VCR combos are: the JVC DR-MX1S DVD/VCR/Hard Drive Recorder Combo, the LG LRY-517 Super-Multi DVD Recorder/VCR Combo, the Panasonic DMR-ES40VS DVD Recorder – VCR Combination, the Pioneer DVR-RT500 DVD Recorder/VHS VCR Combination, the Panasonic PV-DR2714 DVD Recorder/VCR/TV Combo, the Panasonic DMR-ES30VS DVD Recorder VCR Combination and the Sony RDR-VX500 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo. Samsung and Toshiba are some of the other manufacturers of this product.

Most of these DVD-VCR combos also have other advanced features, such as an 80GB or 160 GB hard drive, analog and Firewire AV inputs, video processing for enhancing image quality, flexibility in recording and playing, ability to record in all formats (DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD+R/DVD+RW/DVD+R DL and DVD-RAM), built-in tuners compatible with antenna, cable or satellite boxes, S-video, DV (iLink, Firewire) video inputs, VHS recording and playback, and most importantly, progressive scan output for playback. Prices of these DVD recorder-VCR combos start from $200, but those with very good quality and more options have a minimum price tag of $300.

If you have all your movies, photos and memories stored on VHS, it may be time to consider converting your VHS tapes to DVD format. More than likely you have a DVD player and use it more than your video player. If you would like to preserve your VHS movies to DVD there are a number of options to consider. It is true that your VHS tapes will not last forever; they are known to be easily damaged and affected over time. More people are storing memories and movies on DVD which can last anywhere from 25 years to 250 years.

One simple method for conversion is if you own a combination DVD and VCR recorder-player, you can record your VHS tape straight to DVD using this electronic equipment. These units are available at any electronics store.

Another easy method is to use a video camera; this can involve one cable to be plugged between VCR video out port and the camera’s video in port. This process can be slow, but it is simple and easy to follow using your video camera’s instruction manual.

Other techniques can include an external electronic device which is connected to your VCR and then into your computer with a USB cable. These products are manufactured specifically for this function so they are relatively user-friendly. With this product the only other important factor is that you need a DVD burner facility on your computer, to allow final recording onto a blank DVD.

Having the file format available to you on your computer can be convenient for editing of movies, using various simple software editing packages which usually come with new computers. This can make your DVD’s more entertaining and memorable to edit out un-wanted information.

There are other, more technical techniques to use for the conversion, however if you are an un-technical type of person – there are companies who specialize in these services. These conversion companies can do all the dirty work for you, allowing you to sit back and enjoy a successful DVD conversion without any effort at all.

Many of us have a stack or in my case a few boxes full of old vhs tapes. They contain priceless memories (like my wedding video) that I want to preserve. To transfer vhs to dvd solutions are many and optimally, your budget and time will help you make the best decision.

There are basically 4 options when it comes to transfer vhs to dvd:

1 – Paying somebody else to do the job. I am sure if you do a little research in Google for “vhs transfer” including your city, you will find many businesses offering their services. Now, It is up to you to find out how professional they are. This is a very expensive solution, if like me, you have a few dozens tapes to transfer. I know I don’t want to keep everything I recorded on my vhs tapes. I could go through watching each and every tape in my collection to select what part I do want to keep and transfer to DVD. There is probably a better option if you already have a computer;

2- Get a VHS – DVD recorder. You can buy a device that does this for around $250. But if the prospect of plugging yet another device in your already packed audio/video unit doesn’t appeal to you. Or the fact that you probably have a vhs and dvd player already installed, then there is little incentive to go spend around $250 for a device that will just sit there when you have transferred all your vhs tapes to dvd.

3- Use a digital camcorder to capture analog video from the vhs player and then convert to a digital format using your computer. This is another way to transfer vhs to dvd. You will, of course need a DVD burner.

4- Since I have to watch every tape and make a selection, I might as well do the whole thing myself. But if you are not technically inclined or have no time, option number 1 is probably your best option. Most of us have a computer at home that we can use to transfer vhs to dvd. All you need is a capture card, some cables, software, a dvd burner and a vhs player. This solution allows for the best flexibility and if later on you discover a few more vhs tapes in a box somewhere, It will be very easy for you to transfer vhs to dvd on the fly.

So, if you are a bit technically savvy and want to make sure your precious video memories are transferred. Option number 4 is probably the best to transfer vhs to dvd. You can probably do this for a few hundreds. You will find plenty of software to do the editing and converting for free or under $50. You can even use Windows Movie Maker which is free and comes with Windows XP Service Pack 2. For those using a Mac, Imovie and iDVD can do the same.

VHS is now the old man of the video formats. Initially starting out in the seventies it gained huge popularity in the eighties and was eventually superseded by DVD in the nineties for movies and remained popular for home recording for a few more years. The advent of PVR systems like Sky Plus and Virgin’s TV Drive along with home PVR systems and DVD recorders has all but eliminated VCR usage over the last five years.

That said, whilst you may not have a VCR any more you likely have a bunch of VHS tapes and odds are some of these contain memories that you don’t want to lose. Your wedding and honeymoon? The kids when they were still adorable? Family members that are no longer with us?

Whatever the reason, the fact remains that VHS tapes will not last forever. The standard quoted lifespan is fifteen years but there are no hard and fast rules and a tape that has seen a lot of use will suffer worse than one that has seen little wear and tear. Equally, a poor quality tape will not last as long as a high grade one.

The DVD format is well established, robust and it stands a good chance that you have a DVD player and maybe even a recorder at home – this makes it a good candidate to be used for preserving your VHS recordings.

So, how do you convert VHS to DVD?

There are a few options and you you may have everything you need without realizing it. As a general rule of thumb, the easier it is, the less flexibility you will have so read on and decide what option is best for you.

1. VHS to DVD Recorder

The easiest option is a combined VCR to DVD recorder. You can’t add menus or edit the video but you have a foolproof solution for getting your videos copied to DVD.

2. DVD Recorder

If you have a DVD Recorder you can just plug your VHS into the back of it and record with it much like how you would copy from the TV. Again, you can’t do anything fancy but it will transfer VHS to DVD.

3. Black Box Solution

There are several systems available to simplify getting video from your VHS tapes onto the computer without cracking the case and you will need a fairly modern computer with at least a USB 2.0 or firewire port. These packages provide you with device that plugs into the computer and your video player then plugs into this device. Generally, they will also provide software allowing you to create DVD’s from your video.

4. Video Capture Card and Software

If you are willing to get your hands dirty and open up your computer you will get the best results with a dedicated video capture card. Beware, this is the most complicated of all options and will require some reading and hair pulling to get it working.

5. VHS Conversion Service

There are many specialist companies that can provide a range of conversion services. This service is available on the high street (at a premium) or alternatively you can use on of the many internet companies.

Ready to get started?

There are plenty of options and everyone from IT wizards to your granddad should be able to find a technique they are happy with. Alternatively, if you are lacking in the time, inclination or don’t have enough VHS tapes to justify a buying some hardware to convert to DVD then there are plenty of companies that can help you.