How to Copy VHS Tape to Computer Easily?

The VHS tape was not marketed for very long, yet it is one of the symbols of the 1980s. Often synonymous with nostalgia, it was also the first time that we could access films on demand, and record programs on the television.

Similarly, it was with the VHS (Video Home System) that personal camcorders had their greatest heyday. Today outdated, cassettes are a heritage that it is sometimes useful to transcribe in the virtual world that we know. For this, rest assured, a solution exists. Here we explain how to do it.

Make sure the cassettes are in good condition

The first thing to do is to check the status of the tape you want to copy. In fact, the magnetic tape used to record the images is very fragile and resists quite badly to time. However, its state of conservation is essential to ensure that you recover a good quality video.

To perform this verification, it is necessary to proceed in several steps:

How to Copy VHS Tape to Computer Easily?

Transfer video to computer

Once you have checked the status of the VHS tape, you can proceed to digitize it. To do this, the ideal is to go directly through the original drive. That is to say, you must have a camcorder or video recorder to achieve this. Therefore, all you need is a video acquisition kit for around twenty euros, which will connect the device to your computer via USB.

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The software provided with the kit will recover images and sounds. Thus, depending on the duration of the tape, you will have access in a few minutes or a few hours to the digital file of the video on your PC.

On the other hand, if you no longer have a VCR or camcorder, you will need to contact a professional who will take care of the transfer for you.

Back up your files to other media

Once the transfer has been completed between the VHS tape and your computer, the video will be immediately available in the format you have chosen. The file will then be saved directly to your hard drive, and you can access it like any other video.

From then on, you can easily copy and paste it on various storage media (internal or external). You will even be able to use the video to edit it or open it in video editing software.

In short, once the transfer is complete, the VHS tape will be permanently dematerialized, and will turn into a classic video file, as you are used to on a computer.