We’ll go over that list first, and then you can join us further down the article once you’ve figured out and gathered everything you need. The process of digitising your VHS tapes should be straightforward enough. Start the recording software on your computer and play your VHS tape from the point where you want the recording to start. A similar solution is to connect the video output on a VHS player to the video input of a DVD recorder.
Lifewire is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family. After confirming you are able to play back the copy, change your VCR back to its tuner so you can record regular TV shows later.
Analog-to-digital video converters cost anywhere from $15 to $75 and can be found at electronic stores or online. The more expensive converters come bundled with advanced editing software. This method also gives you the flexibility to edit the video as much as you want, adding transitions, special effects, music, etc. You should see a new square, outlined in red, appear in OBS’ main window—this is the video it’s reading from your VCR. (Mine was just a blue screen.) If you press Play on the VCR, you should see your video start playing in this red box. Use your mouse to resize the red box so it fills the middle of the black window, and drag it to the middle, as shown above. Then, mute any audio tracks that aren’t from your video capture device.
The number of pins and the shape of a Firewire cable can vary slightly—they aren’t all the same. If you’re using a camcorder, the cable that came with it should connect to your DVD Recorder. If you no longer have it, you can find the right cable at an electronic store or online for $5-$10.
The Direct, At-Home Way: Use a DVD Recorder
Read more about vhs to dvd here.
Change Recording Format
Hardware as well as some type of software to move the files to a DVD drive. This service scans the entire album to transfer physical photos to downloadable formats, without the need to remove photos. In the mid range is the DIGITNOW USB Video Capture Card Device Converter ($21.99) which, in addition to RCA connectors, also has an S-Video connector. It’s compatible with both Mac and PCs, captures video in H.264, AVI, MPEG2, MPEG4 and MP3, and comes with its own capture software. Another low-cost option is the REDGO Video Audio VHS VCR USB Capture Card ($12.99), which can convert both NTSC and PAL video , has an S-Video port, and doesn’t require external power. It’s compatible with Macs and PCs, though Mac owners will need to use QuickTime Player to capture video. If you have analog tapes, such as Betamax, Hi8, and VHS, you’ll need a VCR that plays the type of tapes you have.
How to Choose the Right VHS to DVD Converter for Your Needs
That way they’re safely preserved for future generations. Assuming you have a VHS player and want to tackle the job yourself, you’ll need some way to get the video off your tape and onto your PC.