Digitizing Video Tapes: How to back up your old videos

If you want to digitize your video tapes, they are usually transferred to DVDs through various processes. You can then edit the digital version on your computer. Don't wait too long to digitize your VHS tapes, as they won't last forever and the magnetic tapes can stick together if stored for a long time.

Digitizing video tapes: Go to a professional?

1. You can either digitize your video tapes yourself or take them to a professional. The big advantage of going to a professional is that the quality of the digitized videos is usually better than if you do the process yourself.
2. If you want to transfer the old videos by yourself, you will need a digitizing device for VHS tapes and the appropriate software. Overall, it still turns out cheaper than if you have the videos professionally processed by a specialist.
3. If the magnetic tapes are already somewhat damaged, you should bring these tapes to the specialist and not do it yourself. The repair usually costs extra.

Digitizing VHS tapes yourself: What you need for this

1. Suppliers such as Panasonic, for example, offer combination devices that can read both VHS tapes and DVDs. The digitization process with intact VHS tapes is thus not difficult: you insert both media into the combination device and follow the instruction manual to transfer the tape to DVD.
2. Alternatively, you use your VHS recorder as well as a DVD recorder. In this case, you use as a connecting cable best a SCART cable to be able to transfer the sound.
3. Similarly, by the way, can also digitize slides or music cassettes.