# Converting VHS to DVDs professionally **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-vhs-to-dvds-professionally/408463 "2007-06-18T14:53:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-vhs-to-dvds-professionally/408463/1 "2007-06-18T14:53:42Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-vhs-to-dvds-professionally/408463/2 "2007-06-18T15:01:32Z")
I know the service is offered at those photo centers inside Best Buys. I think it was pretty cheap like $20-$30. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-vhs-to-dvds-professionally/408463/3 "2007-06-18T15:15:49Z")
In Tokyo at least, it costs about US$12 for each 60-90VHS tape onto a DVD. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-vhs-to-dvds-professionally/408463/4 "2007-06-18T15:25:44Z")
[QUOTE=JpnDude] In Tokyo at least, it costs about US$12 for each 60-90VHS tape onto a DVD. [/QUOTE] Is that for a straight transfer with no editing? Or will they spend some time on it for you? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-vhs-to-dvds-professionally/408463/5 "2007-06-18T15:59:04Z")
**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. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-vhs-to-dvds-professionally/408463/6 "2007-06-18T16:03:34Z")
Well, Best Buy doesn’t do it, I called them. I’ll try the local FedEx Kinko’s I guess. [QUOTE=FatBaldGuy] **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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-vhs-to-dvds-professionally/408463/7 "2007-06-18T16:36:25Z")
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).