VHS tapes may be a thing of the past — but they may still hold valuable memories. If this is the case, you may be wondering how to convert VHS to DVD at home.
Fortunately, there are tools out there that can help you bring the VHS format to the digital age. In this post, we will share a few tips on how to choose a VHS to DVD converter.
What Is the Best VHS to DVD Converter in 2021?
So, what is the best VHS to DVD converter out there? There are actually quite a few options for you to choose from. Here are some of our top picks:
- DIGITNOW Video Capture Converter
- August VGB100 External USB Video Capture Card
- Cleantt Video Capture Card
- UCEC USB 2.0 Video Capture Card
However, before we dive into choosing your perfect VHS to DVD converter, let’s take a look at what you should be searching for.
Most VHS to DVD converters are really easy to use. They come with an S-video and RCA connection and hook up to your PC via a USB cable. Once you’ve hooked up your converter, you will need to use the built-in software that comes with it. This is why it is important to make sure that the software the converter has on board is efficient, user-friendly and up to date. If it’s not, you may opt for using third-party software instead.
Are there free VHS to DVD converters? When it comes to software, there are quite a few free options online that work with a variety of devices.
DIGITNOW Video Capture Converter
The DIGITNOW Video Capture Converter is a solid option if you’re in the market for a VHS to DVD converter cable. It comes with both an S-video and RCA connection, making it easy to connect to pretty much any VHS player. The output connection is a USB connection that lets you plug directly into your laptop or PC.
There is also built-in software that comes with the cable — and it comes on a CD. So, you will need to make sure that your computer has a disk drive. Alternatively, you can use the OBS Studio software, which should do just fine.
August VGB100 External USB Video Capture Card
If you need to transfer old media onto your computer, then go with the August VGB100. This
VHS to DVD converter supports an S-video or RCA to USB connection, letting you connect to older devices, like a VHS player or an older video game console, directly from your PC.
One of the best things about the August VGB100 is that it comes with its own integrated software. This is a huge plus as many VHS to DVD converters rely on older technology, and you won’t be able to run them using modern operating systems — like Windows 10. Fortunately, the August VGB100 is fully Windows 10-compatible.
What’s more, it has other uses too: you can use the August VGB100 to record footage from a video game console — for instance, if you want to upload it to YouTube.
Cleantt Video Capture Card
The Cleantt Video Capture Card is another great option for converting VHS to DVD — and it is very budget-friendly. The Cleantt Video Capture Card features a USB connection for connecting to your PC. Plus, there is an S-Video or RCA connection for your old VHS player.
Using the card is very easy: you simply plug in the device, install the drivers and software that come included, and you are all set.
If you check the Cleantt Video Capture Card on Amazon, you will see mostly positive reviews. However, some users report having issues getting the software to work properly on their devices, so it may be best to have some third-party software options ready.
UCEC USB 2.0 Video Capture Card
On the higher end of the price range, we have the UCEC USB 2.0 Video Capture Card. It works in the same way as the other devices we’ve mentioned in this list: it connects to your computer via a USB interface and hooks up to your old VHS player via either an S-Video or RCA connection.
The software for the card comes on a disc — so, you will need a PC or laptop that has a disc drive.
One of the things where the UCEC card stands out is that it comes with 24-hour online technical support and a one-year money-back guarantee. With this, you can always get help from an expert if you are experiencing any difficulty getting the software to work properly.
The reviews of the UCEC USB 2.0 Video Capture Card are mostly positive. That said, some users report having issues with video conversion quality and color transfer.
Roxio Easy VHS to DVD (an Older System)
The Roxio Easy VHS to DVD is a great option for transferring VHS to DVD — however, it is a bit outdated. Just as with other devices on our list, you can connect the Roxio Easy VHS to DVD to your computer via a USB cable and use the S-Video or RGB connection to link to older devices.
In a lot of cases, the device works great and does its job perfectly. However, there are occasional issues with the software — so, you might want to have a third-party software backup, just in case.
As you can see from above, most VHS to DVD converters come with their own dedicated software. These programs take on most of the converting work here, from capturing the footage off your VHS all the way to burning it onto a fresh DVD. What’s more, many of these programs will also let you enhance the quality of your old VHS tapes so that the final footage doesn’t look too outdated.
However, not every converter comes with special software. Plus, some software may not work exactly the way it’s supposed to on your PC. If this is the case, you may look into some third-party software options that are more suited for your PC or laptop.
Is It Legal to Copy VHS Tapes?
This is, actually, a very good question. Just as with copying DVDs, there are some rules that apply to this process.
If the footage you want to copy belongs to you (and you alone), this means that you own the copyright to it. In this case, you can make as many copies as you like – and you do not need to worry about a thing. You can also share the footage and distribute it as you see fit.
If you are copying a movie or TV show, different rules apply. It is okay to make a back-up copy of a movie or TV show that you own — as long as you have the original. You can copy the video to a DVD or digital file for you to watch and enjoy personally. However, you can’t sell or distribute these copies.
And there you have it. Hopefully, you now have several workable ways of digitizing your VHS tapes to have all your old footage in an easy-to-watch format.
The next thing you may want to do is share the videos you’ve just brought back with friends and family. However, sending large files online is not exactly easy. Gmail has an attachment limit of just 25Mb. Most cloud storage and sharing services come with file size limits. Plus, they also ask you to sign up for long-term subscriptions – even if you need to send one file this one time.
Fortunately, there are other options. One of them is a new service called FileWhopper. FileWhopper lets you send large files and folders online (with no size limits) and doesn’t require you to sign up for a subscription.
There are other things that make FileWhopper a popular choice:
You pay as you go. With FileWhopper, you only pay for the file or folder you are sending at this very moment. This is a great option for when you don’t need to send files on a regular basis and don’t want to make a long-term commitment. Plus, payments are flexible — you can pay for your transfer yourself or leave it to the receiving party.
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Your data is protected. FileWhopper uses zero-knowledge encryption and protects your file or folder with a password that can be generated automatically or set by you. What’s more, your transfer won’t be affected by any force-majeure events. If your transfer gets interrupted (say, because of a poor connection or blackout), it will pick up right from where it left off once things are back to normal.
FileWhopper is really easy to use. You just need to download the tiny FileWhopper app and follow the prompts. Once the process is complete, the app will auto-delete — this way, you won’t have to spend any of your own time searching for it and removing it from your system.
In short, FileWhopper is a very efficient and straightforward file transfer solution. It won’t ask you to commit to a long-term subscription, won’t impose limits on how big your file can be and won’t bug you with extra functionality that you may never need.
All you need to do is head to FileWhopper.com, upload your file or folder, get a quote, and start the transfer. You will then receive a unique link and password to share with the recipient(s) — and that’s it! But the best thing about FileWhopper is that you don’t have to take our word for it — your first 5GB transfer is absolutely free and lets you test out all FileWhopper’s features in full.
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