VHS converting Tips
When transferring your home videos, the advantages of DVDs outweigh those of VHS tapes. VHS film can degrade over time and the tape casings are vulnerable to damage as well as well make the tape useless. Storage is easier with DVDs since they take up less space than videos. In addition the definition of the picture and audio is greater 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 knowledge we know, so you know.
The computer savvy will probably use their computer to transfer their family videos to DVD. It requires duplicating the video to a digital file on the laptop using an analog converter. The file gets compressed to MPEG-2 format before being burned onto a DVD. This task takes some time, but it allows you to make adjustments to the video , like special effects or songs , before you copy it to DVD . Depending on the burning program that you use, you could add a menu or other special options. 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 laptop or desktop to the DVD.
To save on time and effort, you can duplicate the video to a DVD without the use of a comp. There are two possible ways to do this:
The first involves purchasing a DVD recorder that allows input from another source. Simply connect your VCR player by cables to the DVD recorder and while the film 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, make sure that you have cleaned the heads of the VHS tapes between replicating videos. Old tapes carry a lot of dust or other particles that could block up the VCR. And because you are copying directly from the film 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 do it yourself help visit our blog at http://www.vintagevhs.net/Video_Editing_blog.html
Converting home movies from VHS tapes present only minor problems. VCRs and VHS or Hi-8 recorders are with R.C.A. modulation footage 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.
Unlike VHS and Hi-8 cassettes viewed on VCRs and camcorders, older video reels of family movies present a different obstacle to convert them to a digital formats. The older reel projectors do not have video video output jacks. The old movie projectors never converted the movies to any analog signal, what they did was just to basically pass the photo images on film in front of the projector bulb. There's not really an easy way to directly copy this content to a digital format.
Consider using Vintage VHS conversion services to transfer the videos; just $10 a reel this month!!
Reel Conversion to DVD
Depending on how many videos 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.
