Those who would like to avoid doing their own DVD burning should be aware that Lotus Media Digitization Service is the only one of these two that will undertake that process for you. Though it doesn't provide you with the same level of customization, sending your tapes to a company like Lotus Media Digitization Service or Time To Remember Transfer may be both the simplest and most affordable option if you're only dealing with a few tapes.

Still, the easiest option of all is letting someone else do the work. Those who would prefer this method but are unable to find a VCR may be interested in the Funai Combination Recorder, which combines a VCR and a DVD recorder into one device. However, it should be noted that this also makes them less ideal if your intention is to share the videos online, as you would have to rip your DVDs in order to do so. Whereas with a software solution you would first capture the video and then separately burn it to a DVD these devices begin transferring an incoming video signal to a blank disc the moment you hit record, thereby saving you some extra steps and often avoiding the harsh compression that is applied by many programs.

These purpose-built DVD recorders offer several benefits over their PC-based counterparts, not the least of which is leaving your computer unoccupied during hours-long recording sessions. If you're converting a lot of VHS to DVD you may be better off with a dedicated piece of technology like the Toshiba DR430 or Sony VRDMC6. In fact, if you are interested in open-source software it's best you avoid proprietary bundles, since the adapters they come with are usually locked to the program they're packaged with. If you decide to pursue this method, the good news is that you can pick up a super affordable adapter such as the If-Link Capture Card. This route allows you to create as high- or low-quality files as you desire, and gives you the opportunity to fiddle with different deinterlacing algorithms, bitrates, and all sorts of other settings that simplified proprietary programs usually don't provide. These options all produce highly compressed digital video files that are small and easy to send over the internet, but users who are looking to make the highest-quality recording they can may be better off with third-party or open-source solutions.

However, their simplicity may also be detrimental for those who are trying to create an archival-quality result. These choices all focus first and foremost on ease of use, which definitely makes them a great selection for people who simply want a quick way to share their old home movies with family and friends. This would include options like Elgato Video Capture, Vidbox Video Conversion Suite, or the more affordable Roxio Easy VHS to DVD for Mac. These days the most common solution for transferring VHS videos to playable DVDs is picking up a software package that's bundled with a USB capture card.

Vhs to digital file converter review