VHS tapes have gone the way of the dodo, but that doesn't mean you need to give up your old tapes. It's possible to transfer the content onto a recordable DVD, letting you watch VHS movies and shows in a new and more durable format. This is especially advantageous for home movies recorded on a VHS camera, since they're not available for purchase as a straight DVD.
Combo Players and Burners
The easiest and most efficient way to record a VHS to DVD is to use a combo player, which carries equipment for both formats in a single unit. To do so, the combo player needs a record feature on its DVD option, allowing you to burn or record DVD-R discs. If it does, follow the instructions in the manual for transferring tapes to DVDs. With most units, that entails placing the VHS tape in the unit (and setting the TV to view the VHS option), then hitting the "record" button on the DVD side just before playing the tape. Let the tape run from start to finish without stopping; if you pause or fast forward, it will show up on the DVD. When the tape is done, hit "stop" and check the DVD to make sure the transfer took place successfully.
In addition, some companies sell VHS-to-DVD burners, which are designed solely to conduct the transfer. They can be connected very simply to your VCR and can convert tapes much more quickly than a combo unit. This is an ideal option if you have a large number of video tapes and don't wish to tie up your TV with long hours of transfers.
Analog-to-digital Converters
The biggest difficulty in switching over VHS tapes to DVDs is that they were recorded differently. VHS players use analog format, which creates a signal analogous to the source. DVDs, on the other hand, carry their information digitally as a series of ones and zeroes. To transfer them successfully, you need an analog-to-digital converter to act as a go-between. Some converters are simple units placed in between the cables connecting the VCR to the DVD player. In other cases, you can use a digital video camera to facilitate the transfer: hook the VCR up to the camera with a set of RCA cables and transfer the recording into the camera, then connect the camera to your computer or DVD burner to download the information onto a DVD. (Specifics vary by model, so check your camera's instruction booklet.)
Tags: combo player, tapes DVDs
