VHS to DVD with a DVD Recorder
When transferring your movies, the pluses of DVDs outweigh those of VHS tapes. VHS film can degrade over time and the cassette casings are vulnerable to damage also as well make the tape useless. Storage is easier with DVDs since they take up less space than videos. In addition the quality of the picture and sound is higher on DVDs.
So how does one convert VHS tapes to DVDs to salvage them for the future? There are several options. For starters, you could use a VHS to DVD converting company that will do the transfer for you. We are one of those companies. Visit our conversion page today at http://www.vintagevhs.net/vintagevhs_services.html
But if you are computer savvy you can do it yourself, and even though we are in the converting company , we also like to help out where we can and share the information we know, so you know.
The computer savvy will use their laptop to transfer their videos to DVD. It requires reproducing the video to a digital file on the computer using an analog converter. The file gets compressed to MPEG-2 format before being burned onto a DVD. This process takes some time, but it allows you to make alterations to the footage , like special effects or music , before you burn it . Depending on the burning software that you use, you could add a menu or other special features. The process can be very slow because you have to transfer the file twice: first from the video to the computer and then again from the comp to the DVD.
To save on time and effort, you can copy the tapes to a DVD without the use of a comp. There are two options to do this:
The first involves getting a DVD recorder that allows input from another source. Attach your VCR player by cables to the DVD recorder and while the movie plays, it records.
Another option is to purchase a combination DVD/VCR recorder. It does the same thing as the previous option without having to connect any cords.
If you do the conversion yourself, be sure that you have cleaned the heads of the VHS tapes between copying films. Family videos might carry a lot of dust or other particles that could block up the VCR. And because you are duplicating directly from the footage to the DVD, any picture quality problems you have with the video will appear on the finalized DVD. Knowing that if you have movies which are recorded at S.L.P. you will not get the same quality of recording onto a DVD as if the video was recorded at S.P. If you find the definition is not acceptable for you, consider changing your method of converting.
For more info visit our blog at http://www.vintagevhs.net/Video_Editing_blog.html
Unlike VHS and Hi-8 tapes viewed on VCRs and camcorders, older 8mm reels of family movies present a different obstacle to convert them to a digital formats. The older reel projectors do not have movie video output jacks. The older film projectors never converted the movies to any analog signal, what they did was just to basically pass the images on video in front of the projector screen. There's no simple way to directly copy this content to a digital format.Converting home movies from VHS tapes present only minor problems. VCRs and VHS or Hi-8 recorders are with R.C.A. modulation video and audio outputs that can be easily connected to a DVR or a DVD Recorder as well as to a computer port such as U.S.B. using an adapter and video program.
Depending on how many movie reels you have and your budget, hiring a professional to do it may be the best choice . Family members might usually are more than happy to chip in for the conversion if they end up with copies themselves. Getting a group of contributors could make this option even more affordable.
Consider using lVintage VHS conversion services to transfer the videos; just $10 a reel!
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