Converting Your VHS Recordings to DVD

Quaint and retro though they may be, VHS tapes are truly going the way of the dodo. What with the last of the solid gold VCRs slowly wearing out and giving up the ghost, more and more home movie-makers and vintage recording enthusiasts are investing their time and energy in converting their VHS collections to DVD format. You, too, can connect your DVD recorder to your VCR in a media time warp that will bring your old tape collection into the future. Just follow these simple steps.

Directions

1

Connect DVD Player to Video Source

You will want to use a higher-quality S-cable if you have one on hand, but your first order of business is to connect your video source to the DVD recorder. Standard RCA dubbing cables also work, if you connect both video and audio. Your DVD recorder may be connected to either a VCR or a camcorder, and should be connected from the VHS output to the DVD input. Consult the owner's manual for your equipment if necessary.

2

Select Recording Media

Different DVD recorders record in different formats, and you want to select the one that corresponds to your format. DVD-R and DVD-RW are the most compatible commercial DVD players, particularly older models. If you are using a DVD that has already had video written onto it, you will have to follow the instructions to erase that content before recording new content onto the disc.

3

Preview Input Signal

Setting up your DVD recorder to receive and preview the input signal is normally simple and straightforward. The typical procedure requires you to simply press record, then pause.

4

Position and Check Input

This is a vital step, and will prevent you from spending a lot of time recording a poor or partial DVD and wasting a perfectly good disc in the process. Take the time to double-check the position of the tape before you start recording to be sure that you catch every moment of the video. Also, check and double-check the input signal, or you may find yourself with an inferior recording.

5

Press Play and Record

These should be pressed pretty close together, but it is recommended that you press Record first. If you press Record, pause a beat, and then press Play on the VHS player, you ensure that you do not miss the opening seconds of the video. A brief pause at the start of the DVD is better than a shoddy, truncated recording.

6

Monitor Recording

Many people choose to watch along as their DVD records. This enables you to watch for any glitches and errors. It also means that you are present to stop the recording as soon as the VHS ends, so you aren't left with long stretches of useless static on your DVD.

7

Add More Content

Another benefit to being present to stop the recording is that, if there is more room on the DVD, you can seamlessly transition into transferring more VHS material onto the same DVD. Simply make sure that you have it cued up and on hand when the moment comes.

8

Finalize

Finalizing a personal DVD recorded from VHS takes a few steps, but the program will likely walk you through it with ease. Before a DVD can be played in any machine it will have to go through the finalization steps. Among these steps is chapter creation and naming, which will allow you to break your DVD up into easily navigable portions. Take this opportunity to arrange your DVD the way you want it.

Don't leave your irreplaceable VHS tapes on a shelf or in a closet, unused and unwatchable yet unable to be parted with. Bring them into the 21st century. Introduce the DVD to VCR-era home movies and other films that just can't be found for sale. The process of converting your film media is easy and relatively inexpensive. Isn't it worth it to maintain the integrity of your movie collection?