2022
pm
How to Convert Your VHS Tapes to DVD Written by: Brandon Harris, Smooth Photo Scanning Services
Have a collection of VHS tapes you want to preserve? Or want to explore your options into how feasible it is to convert VHS to DVD to take up less space and be easier to access? Then, there’s good news for you.
Today, finding VHS to digital solutions is easier than ever before. Even people with large collections of VHS tapes can get them digitized because the cost to convert VHS to DVD has become very affordable. What’s more, there’s an abundance of VHS to DVD service providers ready to take over the entire process, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to achieve the best results possible.
But what are your options when you want to convert VHS to DVD? And which way to convert DVD to digital makes the most sense in your situation? Let’s explore a few of the best approaches below.
Do-It-Yourself Route
For some people, doing something on their own is a big enough reward to justify putting in a lot of time, effort, and money. And when you want to convert VHS to digital formats, there are a few DIY ways that you could consider, each coming with its benefits and drawbacks.
One of the most popular methods for converting VHS to DVD is to use a DVD recorder. You can connect it to your VHS player and record the video in a digital format in real-time, essentially copying the materials manually, which you can then store in a digital form however you like.
The problem with this approach is that you don’t control how good the quality will be. VHS tapes tend to get distorted and damaged over time, so copying the footage without any editing will not produce great results. This method can take a lot of time, especially if you have a larger collection.
Finally, most people don’t have DVD recorders anymore since DVD technology has become obsolete. And getting one just for the purpose of transferring your videos might not be the most practical choice.
The same issues arise with VHS to DVD recorders, which might be more convenient because it’s a single device but is also more challenging to find.
Finally, you could get a VCR to USB adapter and connect your VHS player directly to your computer. That way, you would get the digital files that you can edit right away, potentially getting the best results that you could get yourself.
However, while this method can be feasible and require less equipment, there’s still the issue of going through each tape manually and then finding a way to improve the quality of the footage. Even buying professional editing software is a significant investment, not to mention learning how to do it, which makes the overall money and time cost to convert VHS to DVD simply too high for most people.
Do-It-For-You Services
If you’re already feeling anxious about going through the approaches listed above, the good news is that you don’t have to. Today, there are many VHS to DVD service providers ready to step in and take over the entire process for you.
There are a couple of options you could consider.
First, the VHS to DVD services is provided by nationwide retailers like Walmart and Target. They have a packaged service that will typically cost around $12 for the first 30 minutes and then about $5 for any additional 30 minutes. You can leave your entire collection, they’ll go through the digitization process, and you can pick it up in DVDs or USB drives.
However, these services are typically designed to spend as little time as possible on each tape. So, while the convenience is excellent, the quality and consistency of the digitized footage can be lacking.
Therefore, the best option for most people is to consider an independent VHS digital services provider. These companies specialize in the digitization of various formats, have the cutting-edge technology required to ensure the best results, and have the expertise of effectively dealing with multiple issues that might arise during the process.
When you work with a professional provider, you can even recover and improve the footage that might have gotten damaged at some point in time. Using advanced software, technicians can optimize and enhance the viewing experience, allowing you to enjoy the digitized footage at the best quality possible.
At the same time, these services offer flexibility and can handle even larger orders with ease. By leaving everything to professionals, you minimize the risk of something happening to the footage and ensure that the memories stored in the videos will remain with you and your family forever.
My father has been in the document scanning industry for as long as I can remember. I worked for his company Smooth Solutions, Inc. during summer breaks growing up and for a couple years after college. Wanting to venture off on my own, I gained experience in several careers including wholesale seafood sales as well as owning and operating a bakery for several years. When my father approached me with the opportunity to expand upon his already successful business by providing high quality, professional scanning services to the general public, I jumped on board. From personal experience, I recognize how important it is for most people to have their family memorabilia preserved for future generations and I want to be a part of helping others do that.