| Do you still have old copies of VHS video tapes | | | | analog-to-DVD converter. You would otherwise |
| stacked on our home and office bookshelves | | | | need to encode it to MPEG-2 format, then publish |
| collecting dust? If you are like me, you have a | | | | your DVD. This provides some flexibility to edit |
| video player sitting disconnected underneath your | | | | the video as you wish by adding transitions, music |
| DVD player. | | | | or special effects. One drawback is that it is time |
| If you are in the same boat, then you will be | | | | consuming. |
| happy to know that the copying process of | | | | You could also capture the video to your |
| switching valuable content from VHS tapes over | | | | computer as an MPEG-2 using hardware capture |
| via DVD duplication is really quite easy. It's a great | | | | devices that will convert VHS to MPEG-2, then |
| way to preserve and also share your old tapes, | | | | author the DVD. Some inexpensive hardware |
| whether personal or business related. | | | | analog-to-MPEG boxes offer good quality because |
| The process of converting to a DVD basically | | | | the analog source video does not have to be |
| requires a VHS tape player, or a camcorder. | | | | converted to DV before it's encoded to MPEG. |
| Simply plug either the camcorder or the VHS | | | | Last, the fastest and easiest way to convert |
| tape player into your PC, as long as your | | | | VHS to DVD is to connect your VHS VCR or |
| computer has the ports for plugging in these | | | | camcorder to a standalone DVD recorder. This |
| devices in. You also need a minimum of 512 MB | | | | works like a VCR, and the VHS to DVD recorder |
| of RAM and a 2 GHz processor, plus about 20 GB | | | | basically gives you a DVD copy of your tape in |
| of hard drive free space. Your computer also | | | | real time. However it is important to make sure |
| requires a CD-RW drive. You will also need a | | | | your analog video is of the best quality possible |
| video editing software program. | | | | because any flaws in the original video tape might |
| There are several conversion options if you want | | | | be magnified when encoded to MPEG-2 and then |
| to transfer VHS tapes to DVDs, and if produced | | | | converted to the DVD. |
| properly, the DVDs can look even better than the | | | | It takes very little time to copy VHS tape to |
| original VHS tapes including formats such as | | | | DVD. If you are not the type to take on this kind |
| VHS-C, SVHS, Hi8, regular, as well as Betas. Here | | | | of project yourself, a DVD authoring and |
| are a few tips on how to do this. | | | | production house will be happy to handle it for |
| First you will need to capture a VHS video to a | | | | you by way of their own conversion and DVD |
| computer video editing program using an | | | | authoring processes. |