How to Convert a VHS to VCD

Before DVD and VCD came along, VHS was the standard way of capturing and watching motion pictures at home. Due to the durability of DVDs, it is no surprise that VHS was easily overtaken by the digital medium. It is virtually impossible to keep VHS tapes from wearing out. Over time the tape wears down and the footage on the tapes becomes unwatchable. It is possible to preserve your old VHS tapes by capturing them into a digital format and burning them to VCD. A VCD is a video compact disc similar to a DVD that holds moving images along with quality digital sound. Instead of burning to a blank DVD, the files are burned to a blank CD.

These easy steps will tell all it takes to achieve this conversion.

Step
1

Connect your VCR to your computer. There are a couple of ways this can be done. If you have a digital video camera, you can use the cords that were provided with the camera to connect your VCR to your camera and your camera to your computer. These cords are available in local computer accessories shops. Just request for an (AV (Audio/Video) Cord.
This allows the analog video from the VCR to be captured as a digital file. If you don't have a digital video camera, you must install an analog capture card in your computer. With an analog capture card, you can hook your VCR directly to the computer with an audio/video-to-USB cord.


Step
2

Capture the VHS video to your computer. This will require video-capturing software like iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, Ulead video studio, Nero etc. In the software, go to "Import," which is usually under the "File" menu. Name the file and designate a destination folder for the file. When you are done capturing, the file will be available in the folder you selected.
You can call me or send an email and I will give you a copy of the software or direct you on how and where to get it on the internet.

Step
3

Install a software that burns VCDs. Most DVD software, such as Nero, Media Now and Pinnacle, also has the ability to burn VCDs.


Step
4
Place a blank CD in your CD or DVD drive. The drive must have CD-burning capabilities in order to create a VCD.

Step
5
Use the burning software you installed to burn your files onto VCD. Select VCD as your disc type, import the video files that you pulled from your VHS and click the button to start burning the files to the VCD. The progress will be tracked on the screen, and when burning is complete, your VCD will automatically eject from the system.

Watch out for how to convert Audio Cassettes to Audio CDS.