<p>We pulled out all of our old VCR tapes today. Everything from our 1985 wedding to video of our S throught the years. I need to move these from VCR to DVD. Has anyone else had luck doing this? Our wedding tape was looking pretty old color wise. I am looking for a company that doesn’t mail your tapes out somewhere’s to have it done. I have priceless film of my late dad on there that I don’t think I would survive if the tapes were lost or damaged. Any information would be appreciated. thanks</p>
<p>Check locally. One option is to look at geographically close colleges and universities (even a few cc’s) that have audio and production technology programs. They often have student run services that offer pro quality conversion, duplication (and restoration) at extremely competitive rates and utilize state of the art equipment.</p>
<p>I bought a VHS to DVD converter at Best Buy for just under $200 and did it myself. I didn’t care about color drops or “hissing” (visual “noise”). Best $200 I ever paid. I had all my Ds baby videos, and some rare footage of when I lived in Hawaii. Now I can sleep easy.</p>
<p>Bumping this thread cause I’m interested in comments on this topic too!</p>
<p>I bought a VHS/DVD recorder that allows me to record my tapes onto DVDs in one unit. No hassle.</p>
<p>Yes, I have a converter too. It’s so easy to use - and WAY cheaper than having someone else do it! Operates as a VCR and a DVD player as well…</p>
<p>So is $200 about what you guys paid? What kind of DVD’s do you “record” onto? Is it easy enough for a novice to do???</p>
<p>I have a USB TV Tuner that takes input from antenna or cable tv. It comes with recording software. I just hooked up the VCR to the TV Tuner, hit play on the VCR and record on the computer. I’ve done a number of tapes this way. The TV Tuners run from about $60 to $100 and they allow you to watch television on your computer.</p>
<p>I haven’t bothered to write the videos to DVDs - I just save them on a hard disk and a copy on another hard disk.</p>
<p>This was roundabout, but I was easily able to copy VCR tapes onto my digital videocam. From there, I captured the video onto my laptop and burned a DVD. This was with a laptop 2 generations ago, so probably now it wouldn’t be any problem to go directly from the TV to the laptop.</p>
<p>Costco sells a VHS-to-computer video player (I have no idea if it is any good). We have a HD recorder which also burns DVDs. </p>
<p>It makes sense to digitize the precious tapes on your own, then if further image enhancement is needed, it can be done by sending in a copy of the DVD. I bet the $200 spent on a “device” will be cheaper than the VHS to DVD conversion fees.</p>
<p>I can record onto a DVD-R or DVD-RW, I think (haven’t done it in a while). After the initial setup, which my husband did, it is very easy to do. I do have to refer to the instructions, but it is something like, put the tape in, press the arrow that goes from VCR–> DVD or vice versa, and press play (or something like that). Not a big deal.</p>
<p>If you already have a VCR or VCP, does it make sense to buy another device to do the conversion? I think that a simple USB or PCI TV Tuner would be the easiest and cheapest solution and also provide you with a useful device that can be used in the future.</p>
<p>abasket: I use Phillips DVD -R. And yes, it IS easy. You simply put the VHS tape into the slot, put a blank DVD into it’s spot, and do a play/record. At the end it gives you an opportunity to make a title too.</p>
<p>This is the one I have [Toshiba</a> - Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW Recorder/4-Head Hi-Fi VCR Combo - D-VR610](<a href=“http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8742462&st=vhs+to+dvd&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1202648740010]Toshiba”>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8742462&st=vhs+to+dvd&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1202648740010)</p>
<p>Read the customer reviews. Good machine, great price.</p>
<p>To put a sense of urgency in this, video tapes do lose their images over time - I know that our wedding video is lost forever and some of my kids’ baby videos are also gone. Everything else has now been copied to DVD with a backup on my hard drive.</p>
<p>DVDs will degrade over time too.</p>
<p>Yes they do, and placing the finals onto a hard drive helps, as does occasionally making new DVDs.</p>
<p>Since I would only use the converter once (after I had transfered everthing), I split the cost of a converter with other members of my family who needed it as well. We bought one last year on Amazon for under 200.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advise. We are looking into getting one at either Costco or Best Buy this week. H assures me he can easily do the process of moving these to DVD. Not sure why we did no think of this before. After we complete this project, I will let everyone know how it went.</p>