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You can also go the more personal route. Digitized home movies are an excellent gift — or a fabulous way to relive old memories at your next get-together. Put away the projector and check out the best ways to preserve and share your home movies.
Save your old home movies
Today, you take videos on your smartphone, but I bet you have a stack of VHS tapes full of treasured moments. Tapes degrade over time, so you should do this now to prevent any more wear and tear.
The good news is you can convert home movies to digital and easily enjoy them again while sharing them with others. Here are your options.
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Best VHS to digital converters
You’ll need a VCR or VHS camcorder if you want to go the DIY route to convert your VHS to digital. If you don’t have one, check places like eBay, where you can buy VCRs for as little as $35 to $40.
Ensure the seller has good ratings and ask questions before placing a bid. It can be as simple as asking, “Does it function?” and “When’s the last time you tested it?” You can also try using OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace or some other local sales platform.
You’ll also need a converter like this option from Elgato that digitizes video onto a computer. Simply plug the device into your computer’s USB port and connect your analog video source (VCR, DVD player, DVR, or camcorder) using the included RCA composite or S-video cables.
The included software guides you through every step of capturing your footage. You’ll have to transfer your VHS recordings in real-time, so set aside some time.
Another option is this handheld video-to-digital convertor. You can record and digitize from numerous sources, including your VCR, camcorder, DVD player, or DVR.
You don’t need to use a computer or any software with this nifty gadget. Connect it to your video source and insert a USB drive or SD card into the converter. Hit the Record button and watch your movies get digitized in real-time on the LCD screen.
Have a company convert your old tapes for you
Not up to the task? That’s OK. You can send VHS tapes to companies like Costco to digitize them for you. You’ll get a USB drive with your footage, plus access to a MemoryCloud account. You’ll have 90 days to sign in and download your footage.
Prices start at $24.99 for the first tape (any length) and then $16.99 for additional videos. Go here for more details on this service from Costco.
Keep a couple of copies
Now that your videos are digitized, you need to keep them safe. Like other files, your videos can get corrupted, hacked, or accidentally deleted, so some redundancy is a good idea.
You can save your files locally to an external hard drive or securely back them up to the cloud, but be careful. Here are four data backup mistakes that could cost you your photos, videos, and other files.
Keep your tech-know going
My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.
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Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.
Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”
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