Transfer:
VHS: Digital is Better Than DVDs, but…
The simple answer is that if you are comfortable with digital files, VHS to Digital (or any videotape to digital) is the best option.
The only exception to this is if you have family members or others who have no other method for watching videos, then a DVD is still a viable option.
Many customers do both formats for safety, shareability, and convenience.
Reasons to Convert VHS to Digital.
There are many reasons to convert old video tapes to digital, including Hi8 to digital, VHS to digital, miniDV to digital, and VHS-C to digital. A smaller and newer format, microMV, is also a candidate for digital conversion.
Most videotape camera and player manufacturers no longer produce cameras and players. This is the most urgent reason for converting old videotape. As the existing used cameras and decks wear out, there will be no way to play them OR to convert them. Playing videotape is a prerequisite for digital conversion. If decks and players for videotapes disappear, there will be no way to convert them, either.
This is the primary reason for converting videotapes: to preserve them while making them viewable again. VHS players, or decks, play VHS tapes. While decks were available for the other formats, these were usually professional models. Cameras connected to TVs play most consumer tapes after VHS (and VHS-C), using the same camera that produced the videotape.
The complexity of connecting a camera to a TV while having the camera always in its bag, ready for the next soccer game, is inconvenient. Many tapes have never been watched again after taping; conversion is the first time that they will ever be viewed.
Digital File Backup For Safety and Sharing
In addition to preserving videotapes and being able to watch them again, there are several desirable side effects. Once a tape has been digitized, the file can easily be backed up for safety, shared with friends, family, and coworkers, edited to eliminate unwanted footage, and enhanced through modern software.
Backing up video is simply copying computer files. The simple version is to copy your converted files to multiple other locations. Common examples are hard disks, potentially on multiple computers, external hard drives, extra USBs for small projects, and cloud file services.
Cloud services often have a very convenient feature that not only backs up your files but also synchronizes them with a hard drive on a computer, always providing two copies, automatically synchronized, and available on local devices for real-time modification.
Using the internet and/or cloud technology enables you to share video instantly worldwide, wherever there is internet. Shipping is no longer required. This is especially valuable for remote offices that need to view and update common documents.
Benefits to Convert Videotape to DVD
While the benefits of transferring VHS to DVD are fewer than converting to digital, if viewing is the main consideration, then DVD is a great option for those who watch video primarily through DVD players.
The risk is that DVD players will no longer be manufactured, just like VHS and other players.
The benefits of DVD conversion include the ability to watch old videos and worldwide market acceptance.
Sharing DVD videos requires extra copies and shipping, risking damage and loss. Likewise, backup consists of simply making DVD copies.
Editing DVDs is possible but requires extra steps of converting the DVD to an editable format and then recutting a new DVD.
Benefits of Converting VHS to DVD and Digital Formats
Several situations require conversion to both DVD and Digital formats.
- Some viewers watch via digital files, and some on DVD players.
- Some viewers use DVDs but want to preserve files in a permanent format.
While going through the digital conversion process, consider converting to both formats at the same time. Many vendors offer a discount for the second format.
For those customers who use DVDs, the digital format is still valuable.
DVDs come with an increased risk. When needed, the digital format creates new DVDs from the digital backup, without duplicating the conversion process. Creating backups is much simpler with digital files than with DVDs or CDs. Finally, if there are viewers in the future, digital could be the only option.
Click HERE to read in detail how to convert VHS to DVD.
Convert DVDs to Digital in the Future
A growing trend is to convert DVDs to mp4 for the same reasons as converting videotapes to digital. Many new computers no longer offer DVD players, and owners want to share their videos with children and friends.
Click HERE to see DVD to mp4 conversion in detail.
Digital files are cheap insurance if you choose DVDs.
VHS to DVD or VHS to a Digital: Get Started
- Call or text Jamey: 720 204-5464
- Set an appointment (every project receives my attention)
- Drop off your tapes (and records, cassettes, slides, or negatives, too)
- In a week or less, pick up your new digitized video.
