How to Copy From Old VCR to DVD

Digitize old videotapes before they self-destruct.

Copying videotapes from an old VCR onto DVD requires an intermediate step: converting the analog signal on the tape into a digital format that can be burned onto a disc. With the help of a computer and an analog-to-digital converter box, available at electronics stores, old videos can be copied onto the computer's hard drive and burned to a DVD. The advantage of copying to a computer before burning a disc is the ability to edit the video, if desired, before making a permanent copy on DVD.

Things You'll Need

• Composite AV cables
• Analog-to-digital converter box
• USB cable
• Computer with video recording sfotware and DVD burner
• Videotapes
• Recordable DVDs

Instructions

Connect the Equipment

1. Insert the yellow, white and red plugs on one end of the composite cables into the color-coded playback or AV OUT jacks on the VCR.

2. Connect the plugs on the other end to the matching jacks on the converter box.

3. Attach the USB cable to the port on the converter box and to any free USB port on the computer.

4. Turn on the equipment and open the video recording software on the computer by double-clicking the name of the program.

5. 

   Dead videos can find new life by copying onto disc.

Copy the Video to the Computer

1. Insert a videotape in the VCR and press the "Play" button on the front panel if the video does not begin automatic playback.

2. Click the "Record" button on the video software to begin the digital conversion of the videotape.

3. Click "Stop" when finished recording, then select "File" and choose "Save" to type a name for the new file in the box provided. Click "Save" to store the new digital video recording onto the computer's hard drive.

4. 

   Long-lasting DVDs can hold hours of precious video memories.

Burn the DVD

1. Open the computer's media tray, insert a blank DVD and close the tray.

2. Launch the software that manages the DVD burner.

3. Click the "File" or "New Project" tab and select "Open."

4. Click "Add Items" or "Add Video" and select the desired video file by clicking and holding the left mouse button, then drag the file to the "Burn" list on the DVD software and release the mouse button to drop the video file in the list.

5. Click the "Burn DVD" button at the bottom of the list to begin copying the file to the disc.

Tips & Warnings

• Wait for the disc to finalize before removing from the computer. Finalization encodes the disc for playback on other machines besides the computer.

• Plan to use approximately 10 gigabytes of storage space on the computer's hard drive for every hour of digitally converted video. Because of the vast storage requirements for digital video, it's a good idea to delete the files from the computer after burning to a DVD unless the files will be needed later. In that case, consider offloading the files to an external hard drive.

• Shut down the computer and unplug the VCR and converter box from the electricity while connecting the AV cables.

References

• PC Tech Guide: Connecting Hardware: DV Converter to VCR and PC
• RAM Electronics: How to Connect your Computer (PC/Mac) to your VCR