If you made home movies on an old-style camcorder and had them stored on a VHS tape, those are gems that you certainly want to preserve. Believe it or not, it isn’t that difficult to accomplish this, and there are actually numerous ways to do so.
In the sections below, we will provide several examples of ways that you can digitize your home movies and keep your memories intact on a reliable medium.
Benefits of digitizing
There are numerous benefits to digitizing your videos. These include:
- Preserving your childhood or family memories in a format that is compatible with contemporary hardware. Also greater ease of sharing across diverse formats.
- The ability to touch up and edit videos that might not be very high quality, or make compilations or different segments
- The ability to archive your videos and be able to find them easily in the future
Different ways of digitizing home movies
Let’s now take a look at different ways that you can go about the digitizing process.
1. Use a VHS converter
It is relatively easy to find a VHS converter that will either be external to your VCR and computer, or something that you attach to your computer. As 58% of Americans still own a VCR, electronics companies understand the need for associated parts. You will also need the old-style RCA cables of different colors that connect the two together. Getting the right conversion software will easily allow you to make the conversion.
2. Save the videos on a flash
A quick way to carry out the conversion is to grab a memory card and stick it into your VCR. Keep in mind, though, that not all flash cards will work; you need to find one that is specifically designed for this purpose. When you conduct the conversion, you will be able to see the video on a small window on the drive.
3. Transfer via DVD
If you remember the era of DVDs, you may recall that there was once an option to record material onto them. If you have a DVD recorder and blank, recordable DVDs, all you have to do is connect your VCR and DVD recorder together, and you can carry out the process. It might even work with a gaming console.
4. Record directly while playing
You can always record things onto your phone, whether it be a VHS video, your TV, or something in the same room as you. All you have to do is hold your phone parallel to the screen being played on and press record. Remember, though, that if you choose this option you will have a lower-quality product as a result. Both the audio and video quality will be reduced, and you might have extra noise in the background.
5. Find a professional
You can also hire a professional who knows how to convert VHS to digital. It might cost you a bit more, but if you are someone that doesn’t like to deal with technical matters at all it could be worth your time. Also if you have parts that are fragile or that you are worried about handling, this could be a good option. There are still photo and video stores around that provide these services.
Conclusion
Digitizing your home movies is essential to making sure that your memories remain intact. It is a relatively straightforward process, and there are a variety of different ways that you can go about it. So think about the options and which one might be most suitable for you. In the end, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your memories are preserved in the digital sphere.