How to Convert VHS to DVD

VHS(Video Home System) is a format that has remained with us for some years but with the invent of DVD and later Blu-Ray, this technology has become obsolete. To preserve the home made movies and memories you have on VHS tapes, its better to convert them to a digital format such as DVD. To convert VHS to DVD, you will need:

1. VCR(VHS) player
   
2. Video Capture Device-This can be a TV Tuner card or any device that can take a signal from a VCR and output it to your computer.We will be using the Pinnacle 510-USB.
   
3. Video Capture Software-This software captures the signal from your capture device. We will use Pinnacle Studio 12.
   

Lets take a closer look at the Pinnacle 510-USB.

The  Pinnacle 510-USB has two sides-Input(left picture) and Output(right picture).You can use any video input interface such as Composite,S-video and Firewire and then Output it to USB.Now that you have all the needed materials, lets begin. To convert VHS to DVD;

1. Install Pinnacle Studio 12 and also USB drivers for Pinnacle 510-USB. You can download the USB drivers from http://cdn.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/Hardware_Installer/readmeHW10.htm
2. Connect your video capture device ( Pinnacle 510-USB) to your VCR using Composite,S-video or Firewire. We will be using Composite(yellow cable). The Composite cable only gives video you will have to connect Stereo In(red and white) cables to get audio.The connection on the VCR will also be Composite and Stereo Out . This should be connected to Video-Out connectors for the VCR. Our connection should look like the picture below.
3. Connect the Output side of the  Pinnacle 510-USB your USB port.
4. Open Pinnacle Studio 12 and Click Capture.Make sure Pinnacle Studio 12 is set to capture from Pinnacle 510-USB. You can do that by Clicking Setup and then Capture Source...Also change the Capture Format to MPEG-1/2 and choose the quality you desire then Click OK
5. With all the connections in place, insert your VHS tape into your VCR. Hit Play on your VCR to begin VHS playback,Click Start Capture and name your video file. Then Click Start Capture again.
6. When the VHS tape is completed.Click Stop Capture to stop capturing from the VHS.
7. Click Edit, select all the frames you need(if all click on one frame,then hit Crtl+A on your keyboard). Right-Click and click Add To Project Pinnacle Studio 12 adds the frames to the timeline, you can then edit the movie to your liking such as deleting parts you do not want on the DVD.
8. Click Make Movie and insert a blank DVD into your computer.Click the Disc icon and Click Create Disc
9. Pinnacle Studio 12 will create a DVD from the video captured from the VHS tape