How to Convert VHS Tapes to MPEGs

Upload video files from your VCR into a computer.

A variety of video formats are available for uploading the content of a VHS tape onto your computer. One of the most used video file formats is the MPEG file. This file is far smaller than a standard AVI file, yet does not have all the compression as an H.264 or MPEG-4 file format. All media players are cable of reading the file and all video editors, used to upload the VHS content, are cable of exporting the MPEG format.

Things You'll Need

• Video capture card
• Coaxial cable
• VCR
• VHS tape

Instructions

1. Install a video capture card onto your computer. Connect the external card to one of the USB ports on the system, then install any drivers that come provided with the hardware.

2. Insert the coaxial cable into the VCR, then connect the opposite end of the cable into the coaxial cable port on the video capture card.

3. Launch Windows Movie Maker (found on the "Start" menu) and power on the VCR.

4. Select the "Capture" option, then choose the video capture card as the device you wish to upload content from. Push "Play" on the VCR, then click "Record" in the software and the VHS content begins to upload onto the computer. Click "Stop" again to stop the process. The imported video now appears as a thumbnail on the right side of the screen.

5. Click-and-drag the video file down to the bottom of the screen, then choose "File," "Save Movie As." A save window loads onto the screen. Title the video file, select a location to save it to and click the format pull-down option button. Choose "MPEG" as the export format and click "OK" to save the VHS tape file as an MPEG.

References

• Microsoft: Windows Movie Maker FAQ
• File Extension: MPEG File Information