How to Create Digital Copies from Old VHS Tapes! | Preserve Your Memories
Learn tips and new ways to create, preserve and share your recorded memories!
Pin This: How to create digital copies of VHS tapes! Memory keeping with video made simple. Learn new ways to create, share and preserve your memories.
When my sister and I were small, my mom used a hand-held JVC mini-camcorder to record 30 minute mini-VHS tapes of us. Those mini-VHS tapes were then slotted into a full size VHS adapter and played in our home VCR. To this day, there are so many memories stored on those little tapes. Memories of my grandparents who have now passed, hearing their voices, seeing their faces… Memories of childhood friends, school events, birthday parties… There are memories recorded on VHS tape that were never documented in film so we have no pictures of those special events and they have been long forgotten. Since VCRs are no longer a household staple, my worry was that the VHS tapes would deteriorate and we would lose hours of precious, moving memories!
Note: Some of the following links are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission based on sales generated via these links. I only promote products and companies I use and trust.
I expressed my worries to my techy husband who brought to light devices that are sold (and reasonably priced!) for converting VHS tapes to digital format. Then on Christmas this past year, he surprised me with an ION Video 2 PC Analog To Digital USB Video Converter for PC. Basically, a whatchamacallit that allows me to record VHS tapes to my computer!
If you're interested in learning the process I used, I've included it below. Also, you can follow along with me on Instagram this week for tips on how to name, store, back up, and share these memories!
How to Create Digital Copies of Videos from VHS Tape
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
A working VCR
Pre-Recorded VHS Tapes
Computer with a disc drive and DVD/RW capabilities (only if you wish to convert to DVD)
STEPS TO FOLLOW:
Install the Power Director software on your computer
Connect the device between your computer and VCR
Insert a VHS Tape and press play
Using the Capture mode in the software on your computer, click record.
When the VHS tape stops playing, the software will automatically prompt you to name the file and save it.
Voila! Just like that, the memories are transferred to your computer's hard drive in .mpg format. From here, I was able to name the files by date, save them on an external hard drive for backup purposes, and even burn them to multiple DVD’s, making copies for myself, my mom and sister to enjoy. One of my favorite parts of this process is that not only could I transfer these memories to DVD, but I could easily transfer these movies to my iPhone using iTunes and then create little snippets to share on social media!
