Transfer Video (VHS) tapes to DVDs

donimmold

I wish to transfer my collection of family Videos to DVDs ,filmed variously with Analogue and Digital cameras, using A Fairly new 'Medion Computer' running Windows XP. Can anyone advise if it's possible please. Don

don9999

Of course it is! :-)

(As I say to friends in the office, 'almost' anything is possible, it just depends on whether the amount of effort outweighs the benefits gained.)

Luckily in your case, the answer is almost definitely yes! I already transfer films from my digital camcorder to DVD (easy) and am in the process of transferring my old analogue films to DVD too (a little more time-consuming).

In the case of the digital camcorder (I assume you mean camcorder and not camera), you should be able to plug the supplied cable straight into your computer (it will use either a firewire - fast!, or USB - bit slower! slot). Of course you will need some appropriate software, but it's pretty cheap at around £50 or lower. I use Pinnacle Studio Plus 9 which is very easy to work with. This software will enable you to transfer the films from your camcorder to your hard disk, and thereafter burn the film to a DVD (assuming you have a DVD writer!). Of course you can also edit the film before burning it to DVD.

In the case of the analogue films, its a little more complex. Firstly, you need an analogue to digital converter to convert the analogue film to digital for storing on your PC. You can buy these as small bits of hardware for a few £10's. If you're lucky, your digital camcorder will have one of these built-in! Mine does, so in my case, I hook up the analogue camcorder to my digital camcorder, and then the digital camcorder to the PC. Hence the analogue film passes through the digital camcorder, getting converted to digital in the process, and transferring on to my PC. Subsequent processing is the same as before.

I've performed both of these processes many times, so if you have any further questions, feel free to PM me.

Cheers,
Don

culpepper

Ive put some of our videos onto DVD.
Mine are home recorded videos from the TV.
I use a capture card to get the video from the video recorder into the pc then the software that came with the capture card changes the video to DVD.
Then it burns it to DVD or VCD depending which option you chose.
The card was about £40.

donimmold

Thank you don999 and culpepper I am looking into your suggestions , very impressed with your speed of reply. Don

Backbiter

I did the job by linking the Video to a DVD recorder with a scart lead. It was straightforward, although I had to read the manual from cover to cover at least twice before I pieced together what to do (muppets write manuals in my experience). I'm happy with the results, which are in DVD+R format which works fine in a DVD player and the PC.
I'm sure using editing software and a capture card on your PC will give you a more professional finish.

donimmold

Thanks BACKBITER gonna try that and see if its good enough for future viewers to enjoy.
DONIMMOLD

sheep69

I am currently looking at an all in one solution to minimise cables below the TV - a DVD Recorder/VCR.

Bush one in Argos/Tesco for 200 quid, JVC for 270 - both have DV inputs to record from Digital Camcorder

Downloading direct to the PC will take up most of it's processing power for quite a long time (real time) If you feel the need to edit, just use the DVD you have burned with the combi and some s/w on the PC.

Just an alternative