Once you have your playback sorted, you’ll need an analog converter to connect the VCR to your computer. If you get your hands on one, test it with a commercial tape to make sure it works well.

Check out eBay and consignment stores to see if they have any second-hand VCRs in stock. Tracking one of those down may actually be the hardest part of the entire process if you don’t have one laying about in the attic or garage. The first thing you need is a good VHS player. So, let’s ‌look at what you need to digitize your VHS tapes at home – here are the 8 steps you need to know: That being said, make sure you are careful with the media as it get more fragile over time. Doing it yourself also gives you more options in terms of final file format and storage. Yes, you can take your tapes to a pro service, but you can also do it at home without spending a fortune on sophisticated digitizing software and state-of-the-art equipment. This is still a lot of degradation as time goes by, especially if you’ve got older videos that you want to preserve. At best, you’re looking at around 20% every 25 years. At worst, the quality of the footage will degrade by around 20% as each decade passes. It’s quite important to get to it as soon as possible because VHS tapes can degrade over time. You can digitize and store them on your computer quite easily, but you have to ask fast. The good news is, those videos aren’t lost forever. If you were born before the mid-1990s, the chances are that you likely have lots of home movies on VHS tapes ‌you haven’t looked at in years. Technology moves at a rapid pace and some of our most treasured memories are stuck on old tech that we just can’t access anymore.

Here with an overview of the DIY transfer process for old VHS tapes is guest blogger Carmen Docampo! Old VHS tapes is something that most people have, and it’s one of the most urgent memories to digitize since acetate tapes shrinks and gets more and more fragile with age.

Convert vhs to digital software