Memories have a lifespan. That's why we do our best to capture the most precious moments from birth to graduation through photos and videos. In terms of aging, old photos are pretty easy to digitize. Scan, upload and save on your computer, USB stick or in the cloud. On the flip side, digitizing old videos can be a little trickier, at least when it comes to footage captured on the near-dead medium Video Home System, also known as VHS.
The format should never last forever and will deteriorate over time. If your precious home videos have survived so far, you may want to save the footage before time takes its toll. Converting worn video will never be bug free - the slightest hiccup can break the broadcast signal - but it can be done on a modest budget with a few simple tools.
Below we are going to show you how to digitally save your moments in a variety of formats including DVD, Blu-ray or digital file. If you're just too busy, we also have a list of the various VHS conversion services, including prices, so you can keep the 20 year old footage of you getting off your first bike. If not for you, do it for posterity.
Disclaimer: It is illegal to make copies of commercial movies and copyrighted content, but there are no restrictions on copying home videos. You can also usually pick up a used copy of Top gun or The breakfast club online for next to nothing.
VHS to DVD conversion services for retail
For those who prefer to forego the technical process, many well-known retail companies offer VHS to DVD (and in some cases VHS to digital) conversion services through their photo departments. Stores like Costco, CVS, Walmart, and Sam's Club offer video conversions, and many of them use the same company for their conversion: YesVideo. If you visit the YesVideo website, you can find conversion services starting at $ 26 per tape for the first two hours and an additional $ 26 per two hours additionally Hours of conversion. However, the price you pay at Walmart or Target could be lower. These prices have seen an upward trend in recent years. So, if you've been waiting for your tapes to be converted, you might want to access it.
The transfer formats available include everything from VHS to Betamax. Most services allow you to transfer up to two tapes to a single DVD before charging additional fees. Alternatively, if you want to ship the VHS tapes yourself, there are some great websites that offer the same service at a cheaper price.
Companies like Legacy Box offer similar services. Just send in your VHS tapes and you will receive DVDs, downloadable digital files, or a USB stick with all your memories and the original tapes. Prices start at $ 59, including converting two bands.
Use a VHS-DVD combo or a separate VCR and DVD burner
If you have a ton of video to transfer, you can do the job yourself to save some green. The best way to do the conversion yourself is with a VHS-DVD combo player / recorder. These are now out of date and difficult to find. You can find dinosaur models online if you look carefully - try searching for "Combo Deck" or "VHS DVD Recorder" on sites like Amazon or eBay or even Craigslist - but these usually cost $ 100 or more (and it takes forever to ship)) so it's only worth it if you have an extensive collection of bands.
You can also buy the items you need piece by piece. If you don't already have a VCR, you might be able to find one online for around $ 70 to $ 100, but this isn't the easiest task either. You can try looking on Amazon (most of the options are available second hand) but may have to resort to eBay or even your local Craigslist. However, we recommend caution when choosing these routes. Always make sure that your eBay seller continues to score high ratings beforehand. Then you need a standalone DVD recorder which can be a challenge nowadays too. Securing one will likely require the methods described above.
Once you have received the goods, you can connect the DVD player to the VCR by plugging in one Cinch audio / video cable from the cinch output of the video recorder to the cinch input of the DVD player. Some models may require you to have one RCA to HDMI converter to connect the two. This is essentially the same process that you would have to use on an older video camera with tapes. Simply connect the output of the camera to the DVD recorder using the cinch cable or, if necessary, the cinch-HDMI converter mentioned above. Obviously, the process is easier with a combo player.
Next up is the transfer process. Put a tape in the VCR and an empty one DVD + R. or DVD + RW (some devices will only accept one of these formats, so check again) into the DVD player and then start the transfer process. The method differs between models, but should be relatively simple. You may need to follow the manufacturer's instructions, but most manuals can be found via a Google search if your components didn't come with your kit.
Pro Tip: It's always smart to clean your equipment and the tapes being transferred. The effectiveness of different cleaning methods is a point of contention. The easiest way, however, is to open the cassette case and carefully remove any visible dust or dirt with a soft cloth or cotton swab. You can also use a to clean the heads of your VCR VHS head cleaner.
Transfer to DVD, Blu-ray or digital file on Windows and Mac
This process is more laborious and requires some additional materials, but it has its advantages. In particular, you can transfer your tapes to digital files directly from a VCR, as opposed to some other physical format, so you can keep them on a hard drive or even in the cloud. You can then copy and save the files wherever you want and transfer them to DVDs or Blu-rays.
Assuming you already have a VCR, the first step is to buy a digital to analog converter if you don't have access to one. There are many models, but models like the UCEC USB 2.0 Video Audio Capture Card are specifically designed for VHS transmission.
Tear
If you have one, connect the digital-to-analog adapter to your computer and VCR or camera. Most adapters come with software that will walk you through the entire transfer process, including importing the resulting footage into a more complete video editor or burning it directly to DVD. For more information about installing the software and downloading the necessary drivers, see the installation CD, the operating instructions, or the manufacturer's website.
As with the previous method, we recommend that you check your tape and VCR to make sure they are all clean. Particles on the tape can cause errors in the video during transfer, while dirty heads can ruin the entire project.
Now for the main event. Insert the tape into your VCR and a blank DVD or Blu-ray into your computer (or external player / burner). The exact steps for the conversion depend on the device and software you are using to record the video. The capture and digitization is done in real time, which means you have to carefully go through the entire length of the footage (or do something else for a while) before you can complete the project. Once that's done, however, the content will be forever preserved in digital format.
combustion
If you just wanted the digital file at this point, you're done. You can edit, move and name the file as you wish. Of course, if you want to burn the file to DVD or Blu-ray, there is one more step you need to take. Most conversion programs have an option to burn a DVD or Blu-ray after the footage has been transferred. If not, find the resulting file on your computer and open it in iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, VLC, or a similar program that allows you to burn your footage to DVD. (You can also use these programs to edit the length of your videos.) The burning process depends on the software you choose. Please see the instructions for more information.
Alternatively, you can try a direct digital conversion tool for easy copying of VHS footage directly to a microSD card for digital use. Note, however, that you may need additional cables and a larger SD card (try 64GB).
VHS on Blu-ray
Converting VHS to Blu-ray can get complicated. You'll need a computer with a writable Blu-ray drive - or an external drive if your PC lacks a built-in drive. You will also need third-party software to complete the conversion. Windows users can run the free program ImgBurn , which we still recommend despite years of lack of updates. The alternative is to pay for a non-free option like Opencloner or BurnAware . For Mac we prefer Leawo Blu-ray Creator for its ease of use.
However, we have to comment that converting from VHS (or any other tape) is usually not worth it. VHS picture quality is usually poor, so your conversion won't do much to improve the viewing experience. Keep in mind that Blu-ray players and writers usually work for DVDs too, so you don't necessarily have to waste your money there.
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