Has anyone had experience with this? What’s the cost? Is it feasible and/or practical? Are there companies who do this?
I have two videocassettes which are very precious to me. They are both entirely “my own”; that is, one of them is a compilation of my dance performances and another is a video of my graduation party. I really want to convert these over to DVD so I’ll have a more lasting memento, but am not sure how to go about it.
Suggestions?
I know the service is offered at those photo centers inside Best Buys. I think it was pretty cheap like $20-$30.
In Tokyo at least, it costs about US$12 for each 60-90VHS tape onto a DVD.
Is that for a straight transfer with no editing? Or will they spend some time on it for you?
Mika, if you plan to do this for more than just a couple of DVDs you can buy a VHS/DVD recorder combo for a couple hundred bucks which will let you burn your own DVDs from tape (or tapes from DVD if you really want to), plus you can burn to DVD from TV/Cable/Satellite.
Well, Best Buy doesn’t do it, I called them. I’ll try the local FedEx Kinko’s I guess.
That’s what the BB guy said, too. But I don’t have cable or satellite, don’t watch TV, so it’s not a useful investment - at least, not right now.
Your local photo store should be able to do it, though it can be expensive. My SO was charged almost $100 for 4 VHS tapes, though they were in PAL and had to be converted. Still it was a straight conversion from PAL to NTSC, and it wasn’t DVD. If you want some minimal editing and menus, etc, it’s probably going to cost you.
I personally have all the equipment/software needed at home and would be happy to help you out if you can’t find more local, affordable help.
I would make sure that your video card isn’t VI/VO equipped, many are, and if yours is all you need is the software, Nero 7 will do it for you (you can buy and download from their website).