Got old videotapes containing your precious family memories with no way to watch them? You may have some small ones, bigger ones, fat ones and tall ones – also known as mini-DVs, 8mm/Hi-8s, VHS-Cs and VHS tapes.
Well, the purpose of this article is to give you some tips and advice, or at least explain the different options you have to transfer your videotapes from the original magnetic tape format, which is degrading a little more every day, and preserve those magical moments onto a DVD or digital file. I will try to not get “too technical” and explain the choices in the simplest, layman’s terms.
If you have no interest in doing-it-yourself, then skip to the last section for recommendations on where/how to get your videotapes to DVD transferred.
VHS to DVD transfer.
VHS tapes are the largest tape size in the group and was the standard way to watch movies on your home entertainment system before DVD arrived on the scene. VHS tapes play in VCR machines. The problem is, many people got rid of their VCRs once DVD became the norm. As far as home movie recordings, there were video cameras that recorded directly onto full-sized VHS tapes, and other cameras that recorded onto other tape formats (see above) that might have been later “dubbed” onto a VHS tape for viewing.
To transfer VHS tapes to DVD there are a couple of options:
1. Option 1. A dual VCR/DVD dubbing deck.
I. The Pros: Easy to use. An acceptable transfer, though not optimum quality.
II. The Cons: Unfortunately, there are a few.
a. Price. A decent VCR/DVD deck is a few hundred dollars and an extra piece of equipment that you may not really want or plan to use for long. Is there room in your entertainment component cabinet? Or in the home office?
b. No master. If something happens to the DVD you created from dubbing the VHS tape, i.e. it gets scratched and stops playing or you lose it, etc., you do not have any master to create another DVD. You would need to create a whole new DVD by transferring the original VHS tape in your machine again. A full real-time repeat of the process. And this means you can’t (or shouldn’t) get rid of the original VHS tape, so you haven’t consolidated at all! You have to still keep that large box of VHS tapes around, just in case you need to transfer it again.
c. This only works easily for VHS tapes. You can do a similar process for the other tape formats (8mm, mini-DV, etc) by hooking up your video camera’s output to the input of a DVD recorder – machine to machine, and create a DVD in the same type of manner as the combo machine. The further disadvantage here is an understanding of the necessary cables to connect the two (more on this in a future article).
2. Option 2. Tape Machine(s), Computer and Signal Conversion Hardware and Software.
I. The Pros: This is the best way to convert your tapes to DVD, and is true for all the various tape formats above, not just VHS. Unlike option 1, you will have a master burn file which will enable you to make as many DVDs as you want, so you are always protected should something happen to the DVD. This also enables you to have a digital file that can be played on your computer, and allows for editing options, should you wish to edit footage from bits and pieces of your home movies. DVDs created from this process can also allow for the addition of a DVD menu and affords the opportunity to create individual chapters of the footage that was on your tape, thus allowing you to easily skip to different sections on the DVD, rather than merely playing it from the beginning and being limited to fast forward/rewind on your DVD player.
II. The Cons: Well, just the description line of Option 2 says it all. You need a lot of equipment,which can be quite expensive, and the process is complicated and time consuming. What you need is a tape player to playback the videotape such as a VCR if your tapes are VHS, or a deck that plays Hi-8, mini-DV, etc., OR the video camera itself that you recorded with can function as a playback machine, an analog to digital signal converter, a computer, and a DVD burner (which can be built-in to your computer, or a separate component).
As a basic overview, the tape player plays the tape and the signal converter converts the signal to digital information, resulting in a file such as AVI, Mpeg4, or.MOV. Then, the file can be added to applications to create and burn a DVD, allowing for the addition of menus, chapters, pictures, etc. Once the master burn file has been created, an unlimited amount of DVDs can be burned from that file. Look for an upcoming article for a step-by-step tutorial of this process and the equipment options available to you to accomplish.
Don’t want to embark on tape to DVD transfers yourself but wondering where you can pay to have it done for you?
1. Large Big-box Chain Stores. There are a few retail chains that offer tape to DVD transfer services, however, there are some drawbacks. First off, these chains send your tapes out to another facility. Your tapes may have recorded moments of your personal travels, but did you really expect your tapes to go traveling on an adventure themselves? The services offered through these outlet stores is competent, but very cookie-cutter with only a few creative options. Chapter design is often limited to only providing a still image rather than moving footage of your chapters. Acceptable, but limited, as far as the DVD product.
2. The better option is an experienced local tape to DVD transfer company that specializes in transferring videotapes to DVD or digital files. These companies take great care in the transfer of your tapes, will ensure the quality of your transfers by maximizing and “dialing-in” the signal that is coming off of your tape, to capture the best signal (remember, the tapes degrade over time), and will “clean-up” the material on the tapes, meaning they will eliminate the fuzzy snow, or blank blue screens at the beginning, or between clips in the middle, or at the end. A good company will also offer creative, easy to navigate menus and chapter design with moving footage, resulting in a very easy-to-use and enjoyable DVD of your precious home movies.
We hope this article has been helpful. Look for our continuing series on tape to DVD transfers.