How to Transfer 8mm and Hi8 Video Tapes to DVD or VHS

After recording, you can also watch your freshly minted digital content directly on your screen using the play button. Once you have your gear collected, connect the camcorder to the computer using the IEEE 1394 cable and follow the instructions that came with your camcorder. Once the tapes have been transferred, they will be in uncompressed digital video files, which can be huge. Using a program like Handbrake, you’ll be able to compress them with virtually no loss of quality but with significantly smaller file sizes. There are several formats you can convert your VHS tapes to. We recommend choosing the highest quality format your computer can support.

The Best Free DVD Rippers

That helps immensely when the color on your VHS degrades into being too “red” for your taste. If you want to save lots of time editing, make sure to adjust your unit before every tape. Your tapes likely have different kinds of damage and aging, so you want to tailor your transfer per tape. Color correction units are easy to adjust, so it won’t be a problem, even if you want to go scene-by-scene. (some units only accept one of these formats, so double-check that) into the DVD player, then begin the transfer process. Below, we’ll show you how to save your moments digitally on multiple formats, including by DVD transfer, Blu-ray, or digital file. 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.

Change Recording Format

To evaluate how good this parameter is, you can check such video detail as pixelization. Options 1 or 2 are the most practical and cost-effective. If you have them transferred to DVD by a service, have them do one, and then test it to make sure it plays on your DVD player. If all goes well, you can then decide whether to have your remaining tapes transferred using this option.

Transferring to DVD, Blu-ray, or digital file on Windows and Mac

Our FREE guide to preserving your photos, videos, films and more. Some film lasts about 50 years with proper storage, and magnetic tape only lasts from 10 to 30 years before it starts degrading. Expert video technicians know how to dislodge stuck tapes without harming your media or equipment. Evaluate your media before selecting a video transfer service.

They’re sold as external boxes that connect to your playback device, or computer cards that can be installed on your PC. Film to digital converter Wolverine makes all-in-one film converters that read film recordings and turn them into digital video files. The converter comes with RCA cables to connect the video source, and it features a play button for video playback on the device itself. You can transfer the digitized videos to your computer using the included USB cable and edit or burn them to DVD. If you’ve realized the importance of converting them into a digital format, and you’re on the hunt for ways to make it happen, you’ve landed in the right spot. We’re about to explore all the avenues available for turning those analog memories into digital treasures, so you can easily enjoy and share them with your circle of friends and family.

Read more about transfer vhs to digital here.