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On some models, you might need an RCA-to-HDMI converter to connect the two. Once you’ve got the goods, you can hook up the DVD recorder to the VCR by plugging a set of RCA audio/video cables from the VCR’s RCA outputs to the DVD recorder’s RCA inputs. Securing one will likely require the same methods outlined above. Then you’ll need a stand-alone DVD recorder, which can also be a challenge to find these days. You can try looking on Amazon (most options there will be secondhand), but you may need to resort to eBay or even your local Craigslist, though we recommend caution if you go those routes - always make sure your eBay seller has high review scores before proceeding. With the last new VCRs rolling off the assembly line in 2016, used machines are likely your only option. If you don’t already have a VCR, you might be able to find one online for around $70 to $100, but again, it’s not the easiest task. You also can buy the items you’ll need piecemeal. You can find dinosaur models online if you look hard enough - try searching “combo deck” or “VHS DVD recorder” on sites like Amazon or eBay or even Craigslist - but these will typically run you $100 or more (and take forever to ship), so it’ll only be worth it if you’ve got a sizeable tape collection. Today, these are outdated and can be hard to find. The best way to convert on your own is with a VHS-DVD combination player/recorder.
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If you’ve got a ton of videos to transfer, you may want to take on the job yourself to save some cash. Using a VHS-DVD combo or separate VCR and DVD burner Have other analog media, like audio cassettes or 35mm slides? Legacy Box can digitize these, too. Prices start at $59, which includes the conversion of two tapes.
How to convert vhs tapes to digital and dvd plus#
Simply mail your VHS tapes in, and they’ll provide you with DVDs, downloadable digital files, or a thumb drive filled with all of your memories, plus the original tapes in return. Alternatively, there are a couple of great websites that offer the same service for a more affordable price if you feel comfortable shipping the VHS tapes yourself.Ĭompanies like Legacy Box offer similar services. These prices have been trending upward in recent years, so if you’ve been waiting to get your tapes converted, you might want to get on it.Īvailable transfer formats include everything from VHS to Betamax, and most services will allow you to transfer up to two tapes to a single DVD disc before charging you extra. But the price you pay at Walmart or Target could be lower. If you head to the YesVideo website, you’ll find conversion services starting from $26 per tape for the first two hours, and then an additional $26 for every two additional hours of converting. Stores like Costco, CVS, Walmart, and Sam’s Club offer video conversion, and many of them use the same company for their conversion: YesVideo.
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Retail VHS-to-DVD conversion servicesįor those who’d rather forgo the technical hands-on process, many big-name retail corporations offer VHS-to-DVD (and in some cases VHS-to-digital) conversion services through their photo departments. Plus, you usually can pick up a used copy of Top Gun or The Breakfast Club online for next to nothing. If you’re just too busy, we’ve also got a list of the various VHS conversion services, including pricing, to help you preserve that 20-year-old home video of you bailing on your first bike. If not for you, do it for posterity’s sake.ĭisclaimer: It’s illegal to produce copies of commercial films and copyrighted content, but there are no restrictions on copying home videos. Converting well-worn home movies will never be flawless, but it can be done on a modest budget with a few basic tools.īelow, we’ll show you how to save your moments digitally on multiple formats, including by DVD transfer, Blu-ray, or digital file. If your precious home videos managed to survive, you may want to salvage that footage before it becomes lost forever.
How to convert vhs tapes to digital and dvd mac#
Transferring to DVD, Blu-ray, or digital file on Windows and Mac.Using a VHS-DVD combo or separate VCR and DVD burner.
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