(Blu-rays are more expensive.) You can start your order online, then take your tapes to a local store. The process takes about three weeks, and you get your original tapes back as well as the files on DVD. Digital files are included at Costco, but Walgreens charges an extra fee for them. “There is another way, but it’s a bit of a project,” says Elias Arias, Consumer Reports’ project leader for audio/video testing. You’ll need a film-reel projector, a digital video camera, and a clean white wall or a projector screen. First, you can buy a film-to-video converter, which looks like a compact version of an old-fashioned reel-to-reel projector.
How to Transfer 8mm and Hi8 Video Tapes to DVD or VHS
VCRs are no longer manufactured and finding one new-in-box is vanishingly rare . Note any other editing instructions you would like to take advantage of.
“When it comes to music, I’m more of a looking-forward guy than a looking-back guy,” Hilton reflects. Arias says that sharing your movies can be another fail-safe. Do that, and if you lose files, you may be able to get them back from friends and family.
Something to note here is that AV has a single pin, while RCA has three separate pins colored yellow, red, and white. Can be complex for those who are not tech-savvy, leading to frustration and delays in the process.
Also the post I wrote What is The Best Way To Transfer VHS To DVD? Will give you ideas on different capture cards and DVD/VCR combo drives. This post explains what capture card and software I use. With the cassette in place you are now ready to place the adapter into the VCR player.
Option 1: Using PlayMemories Home
Plug the USB side of the converter into your computer and the red, white and yellow cables into your VCR. If your VCR is new enough that it has an S-Video port you can use that, as it will give you slightly better quality. If you’ve got the time, you can convert your VHS tapes to digital at home with a few tools. If your tapes are particularly old, or you’re short on time, there are services that will do it for you.
Read more about convert mini dv tapes to digital here.
How to digitize VHS tapes at home
There were hours of concert footage from 2000 to 2003, when Peter’s high school band—Down in Flames—briefly gained a following and toured the country. When recording is done, stop the VCR or DVD recorder and the camcorder. Put the tape to be copied to VHS or DVD in the Camcorder, and put a blank tape in the VCR or a blank DVD in the DVD recorder. Plug the camcorder directly into the VCR or DVD recorder and not the TV. In both cases, record to the target media as the source plays. Don’t waste your time and money by digitizing MiniDV tapes at home – send them to us at KODAK Digitizing and we’ll take care of it for you.
Another alternative is to make copies of your tapes on DVD using a PC or Laptop. This is done by connecting the camcorder to an analog-to-digital video converter, which, in turn, connects to a PC . Or connect the camcorder to an analog-to-digital video converter, and connect this to a computer with a DVD drive. FireWire Card The Firewire cable is necessary for capturing high-quality video from your digital camcorder. You will find DV connectors on almost all camcorder models, providing you with the best possible footage capture. In addition, converting over the DV connection will allow you to capture the highest resolution that the camcorder can provide.