How to Convert 8mm Home Movies Into VHS Video

After you convert 8mm home videos into VHS tapes, they are easier to store and easier to watch. The conversion process does not require special tools or software. Just get a few A/V cables and read on to begin the conversion process.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A/V cable
• Blank VHS tapes

1. Check the battery life of your 8mm camcorder. If the home movies you want to transfer are short, you can convert to VHS without having to plug the camcorder into the wall. If the movies are longer than the amount of time you have left on your battery, plug the camcorder in to an electrical outlet.

2. Note the available minutes on your blank VHS tapes. The minutes on the tape must be equal to or greater than the length of your home videos so the entire movie will fit on one tape.

3. Plug the A/V cable into the camcorder plug-in marked "out." Occasionally this is marked "line out."

4. Plug the A/V cable into your television. A/V lines are color coded to make this easier for you: Yellow is for video; red and white (or red and black) are for sound.

5. Hook up your television to your VCR. Make sure the cable running from the TV is hooked up to the "out" connector and take the other end and hook it up to the "in" connector on the back of your VCR.

6. Begin recording. Turn on your TV, VCR and 8MM camera. Press play on the camera and record on the VCR.

Resources

• Troubleshoot common 8MM-to-VHS copying problems.