How To Copy VHS Tapes To CD or DVD

In the eighties and nineties VHS tapes and VCRs were found in nearly every home across America. There was no Netflix and video tape rental stores were new and booming. If you wanted to watch a movie from home, VHS tapes were the only viable option.

Many of us have collected large movie libraries in VHS format. You may have also taped your favorite TV shows that are no longer on the air. Others have family videos or high school football games on VHS tape. The problem today is, no one uses VHS players and they are becoming a thing of the past as DVD is now the preferred video format, with CDs as a close second.

Now if you have a large VHS collection, you are facing a dilemma. What are you going to do with this technology that is growing obsolete? There are commercial places around that will do this for you. But you can also do it yourself.

I warn you upfront, this can be pretty involved. But if you can follow instructions and have some patience, you indeed can copy your video tapes to CD or DVD format. The best instructions I’ve found are in a $39 e-book package and the software tools called, DVDXRipper. It took us about three minutes to set this very easy-to-use software up. After that, it was just point and click.

The guide offers all the information you need on how to copy VHS tapes. But note this, to do so you will need to get a video card with a Video In port for a camcorder or VCR . Also called a TV tuner card, you’ll find many of them online at very reasonable prices.

Here’s one – the Sabrent SBT-TVFM PCI Capture Card – Video Capture, TV Tuner, DVR, FM Radio, Personal DVD/VCD, Remote Control.

Here’s another: the Sabrent SBT-TVFM TV Tuner/Video Capture/FM Radio PCI Card with Remote Control.

Once you have the card, all you need is the step-by-step instructions and software installers and transfer programs are referenced by DVDXRipper.

There’s no way around this: It can be a time consuming process. The time required for decoding will vary depending upon the speed of your computer and the level of detail in the tape you’re copying. Your computer will be processing many gigabytes of data and when you consider the amount of data involved, the time required for the process is actually quite minimal. Faster computers can typically decode a 2 hour movie in less than four hours. Slower computers will take longer. However, the process does not require your constant attention as you can begin the process before you go to bed or while you’re at work. For the average computer, running a Pentium III 850 MHZ with 128MB of Ram, you can expect the entire process to take between 4-6 hours for an average two hour movie.

Once you sign up for this package, the tutorial guides make it easy for you install and learn the ripping tools provided with a collection of software that includes video players that allow you to play the latest video files, CD/DVD burning applications and much much more.

All that you will need to do is download the software and you will need two things, the video card we talked about earlier for your computer, and a camcorder or VCR to play the tape you’re transferring.

Once you download the software and plug your VCR into your computer DVDXRipper makes it easy to do the rest. Their instructions walk you through the process in step by step instructions and before you know it you will have your VHS tape collection transferred to CD… or, if you so want… to DVD.