Transfer VHS tapes to PC - there are these options
If you want to transfer your old VHS tapes to your PC, you need a suitable player as well as the right software. We'll tell you how to digitize your old video tapes.
Equipment to digitize VHS
- You need a VHS player or a video recorder.
- To digitize the analog data you also need an A / D converter.
- A / D converters are installed in graphics cards with video-in, in analog-capable TV cards and in video converter cards.
- You also need software with which you can record and save the transmitted video signals.
Transfer VHS to PC
It is worth taking a close look at your existing devices before buying new ones for digitization. There are many connections and devices that are suitable for transferring VHS to the computer.
- If you still have a video recorder, see what outputs it has. Common outputs are scart, antenna cable, cinch and S-video.
- Depending on the video output of your video recorder, you need a graphics, TV or video grabber card with antenna connection, S-video input or cinch input. You can find offers here at Amazon, for example. With an adapter cable, you can easily transfer the video signal from the scart output to a cinch input.
- The wiring of the devices is explained in this CHIP workshop
- Common tools, such as the freeware Virtual Dub, and the process of digitization are described in detail in this practical tip
In particular, you don't have to dub old films and series yourself. Many are already available on DVD or BluRay or can be watched as a stream. Three streaming providers are compared in this practical tip, others in this one.