If you’re one of the many people with boxes of VHS tapes in their basement or collecting dust on a shelf, you’ll want to convert them to a longer-lasting digital format: DVD. Transferring your videos to digital is essential if you want them to last longer and retain their quality.

Luckily, the process for converting VHS to DVD is relatively simple. All you need to do is buy a DVD recorder and follow the steps in this article.

Steps in Converting VHS Tapes to DVD Format

You’ll probably have either standard VHS tapes or the mini ones that go into your camcorder. The same steps are used for each device to convert the tapes to DVD format.

1. Buy a DVD recorder (If you don’t have one already): You should still be able to find one at electronic stores, or you can get one on Amazon or eBay.

1. Make sure you have the correct cable: If you're connecting a VCR/camcorder or DVD Recorder, you’ll need a suitable cable. It could be an RCA with red, white and yellow connectors for one device and four small round pin connectors for S-Video. A quick check of both devices' backs should give you all the info needed. If you don’t have the proper cord, head to your closest electronics store or shop online from $5-$10.

1. Connect your camcorder/VCR to the DVD recorder: Ensure all your cords are plugged into the proper slots.

1. Insert your VHS tape into the camcorder/VCR and a DVD-R in the DVD recorder: If you don’t have them, you will need blank, recordable DVD-R discs. Insert the tape you want to convert to DVD into your camcorder/VCR.

1. Click “Record” on the DVD recorder: Starting the DVD recorder first ensures you don’t miss recording any video on the tape.

1. Press “Play” on the camcorder/VCR: Quickly press play on the camcorder or VCR. The faster you press play, the less blank space will be at the beginning of the DVD.

1. Remove unwanted parts of the video: During this process, you can edit and remove any details you don’t want. Simply press “Pause” on the DVD recorder, and fast-forward through anything you don’t want to include on the new DVD. When you want to resume recording onto the DVD, just start the DVD recorder again to continue recording the VHS tape.

1. Press stop to finish recording: Once the VHS/camcorder tape has finished, come to the end of what you want to record, and press “Stop” on the DVD recorder. Note: If the VHS tape continues to the end of the reel and stops, the DVD recorder will cease recording automatically.

That’s it!

You have now converted your VHS or camcorder tape to a safer and more secure DVD format. Repeat this process until all of your videos have been converted to DVD.

Who Should Use This Method?

Transferring them using a DVD recorder unit is an economical solution for those working on a budget and wanting to preserve their VHS tapes. This method works particularly well for people with limited technical computer knowledge or access, as the recordings can be watched directly from DVDs via HDMI on most Smart TVs.

Conclusion

Converting your old VHS tapes to DVD using a standalone DVD recorder is an excellent way to preserve your old movies and memories. It is also a very economical way to transfer VHS to DVD, especially if you already have a DVD converter because then all you have to buy are the blank DVDs.

However, if you don’t have a DVD converter or don’t have the time to convert all your VHS or camcorder tapes to DVD, you’re better off using a professional video transfer. A transfer service such as Capture can do all the work for you at a very reasonable price, and you can count on high-quality DVDs.video transfer service