Transfer VHS to DVD - What are the Options?

Many of us have a a few boxes full of old VHS tapes that are in desperate need OS conversion to a digital format like DVD. They contain priceless memories that you want to preserve. To transfer VHS to DVD, you have many solutions, your budget and time will help you make the best decision.

There are 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 example or the Yellow Pages) you will find many businesses offering their services. Before giving the nearest business your precious memories, test them with a couple of worthless old TV shows.

Now, another problem is, I know I don't want to keep everything I recorded 10 or twenty years ago. 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. We can probably use our computer if it is less than four years old.

2. Buy a brand name VHS - DVD recorder. You can buy a device that does this for around $250. But I don't want to stack another unit in my already huge mess of cables on my audio/video system. Or the fact that you probably have a VHS and DVD player already installed, then there is little incentive to go spend you hard earned money for a device that will just sit there and gather dust once your collection has been converted.

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 yet another way to transfer VHS to DVD. You will need a DVD burner and the software that allows you to burn DVDs.

4. Since I have to watch every tape to make a selection, I might as well do the conversion myself. But if you are technically challenged or have no time, option number 1 is probably your solution of choice. 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 find another box of VHS tapes, It will be very easy for you to transfer VHS to DVD almost effortlessly.

So, if the prospect of installing software and plugging a VHS player on your computer doesn't make your skin crawl, option number 4 is probably the best to transfer VHS to DVD. You can probably do this for under $200.

There are plenty of software to do the editing and converting for free or almost free. You can even use Windows Movie Maker which is free and comes with Windows XP Service Pack 2. For those on a Mac, Imovie and iDVD will do the same.

Transfer VHS To DVD
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