Round-up of VHS To DVD (and other analog to digital converters)
I recently got rid of all my VHS tapes, simply because I decided there were only 4 or 5 worth keeping, and I might as well just buy them on DVD if I ever wanted to watch them again, but what if you have hundreds of VHS tapes that you don’t want to throw away? Well, over the years we have featured a few solutions that will allow you to convert your VHS tapes to DVDs for a fraction of the cost of buying new ones. Here’s our Top 4 countdown:
4. Plextor ConvertX Digital Video Converter – The ConvertX allows you to transfer your VHS tapes, and other video outputs, into DivX or MPEG-4 before burning it to DVD. The ConvertX plugs into your computer after a simple installation of the included software, and is a very tidy box. Its built-in compression software allows you to store 2 hours of video on a CD, or 10 hours on a DVD. Buy now – $54.99
3. CopyThis! Digital Video Enhancer – Again, in a smart little box, is the CopyThis! Digital Video Enhancer which not only copies your VHS (or various other formats including 8mm or Hi-8) tapes to DVD, but also gives you the opportunity to enhance them as you go along. The enhancement features include noise reduction to improve picture quality as well as turning the movies into black and white for a vintage effect! No longer sold. Search on eBay for a used unit.
2. Honestech’s VHS to DVD 4.0 Deluxe – We got our hands on this tidy little box, and were very impressed with it when we reviewed version 3.0. The software (screenshot below) can run in 2 modes, beginner and advanced, depending on how au fait you are with computers or how many options you want to control. In easy mode, a video can be converted to DVD in just a few mouse clicks, through the user-friendly interface (see below) and the advanced mode allows you to pick from a range of options included adding effects, and only saving part of the video. If you’re looking for something that’s good value for money and very easy to use, this is the one for you. Buy Now – $59.99
1. Panasonic DMR-EZxxx DVD & VHS Recorders – Panasonic has a line up of DVD to VHS recorders that plays both formats. As it has slots for both, it also allows to record from one format to the other (but we’re not quite sure why you’d want to downgrade your DVDs). This is different from the other gizmos featured here, as it actually acts as a player, rather than just a converter, and has the option to play a variety of formats including all the DVD formats, and even JPG files from a SD card. This unit also has a HDMI connector and can can upscale to 1080p. This has taken the number one spot today for its slew of features, but unfortunately it does have a price tag to match. Buy now – from $170
Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting
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vhs movies…
Can point me to other similar posts on vhs movies? Really appreciate it. Thanks….
[...] to transfer your VHS video tapes to DVDs. Sure it might not have the same features as some of the other competitors (round up) but it does it cheaper and perhaps with less [...]
[...] bit pricier than the other hardware/software options, but you may prefer the easier learning [...]