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Memories can last a lifetime. That is until your precious video recordings of birthdays, graduations and weddings gone by start to disintegrate. We never realised at the time but the recordings we captured on our Video Home Systems were never built to last.

Despite even the most valiant of efforts to keep VHS tapes clean and protected, the format will begin to degrade over time. Plus, there’s not many of us who still have a VHS player lying around the house to enjoy watching our home videos on. That’s where VHS to DVD and digital conversion can help.

The process can be a little tricky so we thought we would share our top 3 VHS transfer methods:

  1. Our professional VHS to DVD service
  2. Using a VHS DVD recorder
  3. Connecting a VHS player to a computer

The Easy Way: Professional VHS to DVD Service

Using a professional conversion service is by far the easiest way to transfer your VHS tapes to DVD or digital. It’s a great option for those who don’t have much technical experience and don’t want to risk corrupting their valuable memories with at home transfer methods.

As an added bonus, a professional transfer service often works out cheaper than some of the conversion equipment you’ll have to purchase in order to do it at home yourself. Plus, if your video tapes are broken or mouldy, a professional can splice and clean them so that your tapes are suitable for DVD conversion.

This is a service we personally offer at Transfermagic. With 20 years of experience in video conversion, we’re well versed in handling vintage media with care. You can visit us in store in Edinburgh or send us your home videos by mail from elsewhere in the UK for stress free VHS to DVD and digital conversion from as little as £10 per hour.

The At-Home Method: VHS DVD Recorder

If you’re determined to transfer your VHS tapes at home, a VHS DVD recorder combo is the easiest way to go. Much like your tapes, these recorders are a vintage media system in their own right so they can be a little tricky to find. However, if you search for “VHS DVD recorder” on eBay you should be able to find a second hand one.

Once you’ve got your hands on a recorder, the transfer process is reasonably simple. Each model is slightly different so make sure to read the instructions first. However, the general process for all models is to pop your tape into the VHS/ VCR space, put a blank DVD disc in the other slot and press record. Wait a few hours and your VHS to DVD conversion will be complete!

The Fancy Way: Connecting your VHS Player to your Computer

This is by far the most complicated way to convert your video tapes and we wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t have any previous experience. However, if you can’t access our transfer services and you don’t want to shell out extra money for a VHS DVD recorder, connecting your VHS player to your computer is an option.

Firstly, you’ll need to buy a VHS to Digital adapter, otherwise known as a Video Audio Grabber. You should be able to find one pretty cheaply on Amazon. Once it arrives, make sure to read through the manual to learn how to download the transfer software.

Use the adapter to connect your VHS player to your computer and download the software via the manual’s instructions. Once the software instillation is complete, insert your tape into your VHS player (making sure both are properly clean). The next steps will vary depending on the adapter you’ve purchased. However, most should come with instructions so follow them.

Once you begin the conversion, your VHS tapes will be converted to digital format in real time. Once the process is complete, you can either store it on your computer’s hard drive, transfer it to USB or burn your file onto DVD.

Let us know if you try out any of these VHS to DVD and digital conversion methods or download our order form to get your video tapes professionally transferred today!

Photo Credit: Chris Lawton

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Testimonials

  • 5
    "The service from TransferMagic was very fast and efficient. My Super-8 films were taken good care of and the digitised content was supplied in several different file formats. Bob was very friendly and helpful and communication was good. A first-rate service."
    Karolyn Wellings
  • 5
    "Many thanks to Bob at Transfermagic for putting my old Super 8 cine films from the 1970's on to memory stick. Good, quick and friendly service enabled me to see my memories again after all these years on my TV and laptop. Many thanks"
    Brian
    Edinburgh
  • 5
    "Thank you for doing such a wonderful job in transferring my relatives 50 year old slides to DVD this week. The images look as though they were captured yesterday, with perfect clarity. I had been nervous about handing the slides over to someone I didn’t know, but I needn’t have worried. Bob McDougall, owner of transfermagic was very helpful, and professional, and even with a busy workload managed to fit in our slide transfer with a quick turnaround time. I would highly recommend this company and plan to hunt out all our old films for transfer to DVD by transfermagic"
    Lorna Hill
  • 5
    "We had our family videos transferred onto DVD and hard drive. I found Bob's advice really helpful. He was able to guide us on what would be the best format to transfer to for all the family to access. It is great for our whole family to be able to watch our wedding, old holidays, birthday and Christmas videos on the computer and on tv. It was quick and easy to deal with Transfermagic and I would thoroughly recommend them to anyone."
    Mr D Swanson
    Balerno
  • 5
    “Just wanted to say thanks for the great job of converting the old cine films to DVD. My Mum and Dad are absolutely delighted with the result and love the music too. It has brought back so many fantastic memories for them and we can now hand them down through the generations never to be forgotten.”
    Lynn and Paul Bannon
  • 5
    Thanks I’m thrilled with dvd etc.... .wow!
    Sue Robinson
  • 5
    "I thought you might welcome some ( glowing) feedback on the work you undertook on behalf of the Gordon family in transferring my late mother’s cine films to DVD format. All three brothers now have their copies and all, like me, have commented on the excellent job you have done : the “menus” on each DVD and the music were unexpected extras that really help navigate the films. We are thrilled with your service, start to finish and have already recommended you to others. Sincere thanks for the way you have preserved invaluable childhood memories for all of us, for your efficiency and professionalism throughout."
    Diana Nelson
    London
  • 5
    “Recently I rediscovered some early cine film that I had taken, it has lain unwatched in my loft for forty years. I learned that it can be transferred to DVD. The result has been that I’m now able to watch my late wife as a young woman, something that has proved to be very emotional and pleasurable. I’m pleased that I found the cine film, I’m pleased that the work was done to such a high standard by your company. I will end now, I’ve a DVD of a young woman to watch”. Many, many thanks.
    Edward Skelly
  • 5
    "Thanks so much for the DVD's! Brilliant work. Really quick & professional service. The scanned images and discs look brilliant, and all over the space of a weekend! I'll spread the word."
    Dr Michael Norbury
    Edinburgh
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