Times are changing, and video tapes are hardly in use anymore. But are all your beautiful memories on video tapes, such as family films? It can be a challenge to find another working VCR. Fortunately, it is possible to digitize your video tapes yourself, so that you have access to your videos on other devices!
Video tapes slowly deteriorate when you play them, the quality gets lower and lower. Digitizing old video tapes can immortalize beautiful memories on your computer. Of course you can get your own equipment. But is it just one to five tires? The best option is often to outsource it to a company. For example, think of:
Digitize your collection
Make no mistake, digitizing video tapes yourself, there is a price tag attached to that. You need certain equipment and software, so it can also be an (online) search. But if you have a large collection, it can still be worth it, and ultimately cheaper than outsourcing. We leave that decision up to you. It also requires some technical insight. There are actually two different methods for transferring your VHS (Video Home System) tapes.
Way 1: Use a VHS/DVD Combo VCR
There are devices that allow you to play a video tape and record to DVD. These are mainly available second-hand, for example on Marktplaats.nl
Buying new is still possible here and there, although the supply is shrinking. Good searching may be necessary.
Get started step by step
Step 1: Thoroughly clean the VCR before use. This is necessary in some cases, because video tapes are simply outdated. Cleaning will reduce the risk of damage and will likely improve playback quality.
Step 2: Insert a blank DVD into the DVD player for instant transfer of the video tape to a DVD
Step 3: Press ‘start’ on the video recorder and ‘record’ on the DVD player. This way you will record video and it will be possible to convert your video to an MP4 file!
Way 2: Connect your VCR to your PC or use a video grabber
Do you still have a working video camera or video recorder? You can connect it to the computer with a cable. However, if your device does not have the option of cabling or SCART, it will of course be difficult. You can buy a special device to transfer the video tapes. You can use a USB stick called a ‘video grabber’ to copy, edit and save footage.
What is a ‘video grabber’?
A video grabber is a USB stick with cables. So this is a kind of intermediate piece that connects the video device to your PC. There are different types on the market. If you are going to buy one, keep the following aspects in mind:
Check beforehand whether the video grabber is suitable for your operating system. Some video grabbers are only suitable for Windows 10… or only for MacOS, so for an Apple computer.
When you buy a relatively cheap video grabber, the image quality is unfortunately not always good. Therefore, check whether the video grabber has the correct image quality and sufficient production capacity. Read some online reviews beforehand, so that you are sure that the price/quality ratio is good.
Install software
Usually, video grabbeers come with software that you need to install on your PC first. A CD-ROM may be included. Not every computer has a CD or DVD player, of course. Then you can probably also download the software online, most companies now offer that option for their customers.
transfer
Then put the video tape in the VHS DVD recorder or the VHS tape in the video camera. Create a new file in the software environment and give it a name. Then select the video clip you want to transfer and select the desired video format. It is usually possible to convert a video to MP4 or to MP3.
If your video grabber uses free software, you can first select the device in question before you can continue to digitize (VHS) video tapes. Play the video tape on the VHS DVD recorder or video camera. It is important to pay attention to the following, such as:
See if the video from the video recorder or video camera also appears in the software environment. Also check the volume and quality of the image. Isn’t this right? It is often possible to adjust the playback quality in the software environment.
Record the video now
When you have checked everything, it is possible to record on your computer. It is important to check whether the software is recording before playing the video tape. Otherwise you may miss a piece. Does the software record first? Then you have to wait until you can convert the video tape to DVD or to such a file, such as MP3 or MP4.
Video ready? Time to edit
After the video is ready, it is possible to edit it. For example, a black screen may appear before and/or after the video because you did not start the software and video tape at the same time. You can usually remove that space with the software. This can also be done with other software: iMovie is very suitable for both Windows and Mac. You can also usually adjust the sound, as it is not always in sync with the picture. This function is called ‘interleaving’. After editing, save the program again, usually as an AVI file.
Transfer to DVD
Now you have a digital file, which you can use to watch your video again without fear that the quality will deteriorate. It is also possible to burn the video to a DVD. This is possible with an internal DVD burner, if you have one, but external DVD players can usually be connected to your computer. Be sure to test this before you start the whole process. Otherwise, there may be unexpected costs involved. DVD players are also available second-hand.
Source: brakkehond.be
