Family video converting to DVD
When transferring your home videos, the pluses of DVDs outweigh those of VHS tapes. VHS film can degrade over time and the tape 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 definition of the footage and sound is greater on DVDs.
So how does one convert video tapes to DVDs to salvage them for the future? There are many options. For starters, you could use a VHS to DVD conversion
But if you are computer savvy you can do it yourself, and even though we are in the converting business , we also like to help out where we can and share the info we know, so you know.
The computer savvy will probably use their computer 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 reduced to MPEG-2 format before being burned onto a DVD. This method takes some time, but it allows you to make adjustments to the movies , like special effects or music , before you copy it . Depending on the burning program that you use, you possibly 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 copy the tapes to a DVD without the use of a computer. There are two possible ways to do this:
The first involves getting a DVD recorder that allows input from another source. Just connect your VCR player by cables to the DVD recorder and while the footage plays, it records.
You could also purchase a combination DVD/VCR recorder. It does the same thing as the previous option without needing to connect any cables.
If you do the conversion yourself, be sure that you have cleaned the heads of the VHS tapes between duplicating films. Old home movies carry a lot of dust or other particles that could block up the VCR. And because you are copying directly from the video to the DVD, any picture quality problems you have with the video will show up on the finalized DVD. Knowing that if you have videos 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 quality 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
Converting home movies from VHS-C tapes present only minor problems. VCRs and VHS or Hi-8 camcorders are with R.C.A. modulation video and sound 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 software.
Unlike VHS and Hi-8 tapes played on VCRs and camcorders, older home movie reels of family videos present a different obstacle to convert them to a digital formats. The older 8mm 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 mainly pass the photo images on footage in front of the projector light. There's no easy way to directly duplicate this content to a digital format.
Consider using Vintage VHS conversion services to transfer the videos; just $10 a reel!
http://www.vintagevhs.net/8mm_conversions.html
Based on how many videos you have and your budget, hiring a professional to do it may be the best option . 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.
