How to Dub VHS Tapes

by Nancy Sutton Smith

Overview

VHS videotape was the most popular consumer video recording format in the 1980s and 1990s. You may be thinking about copying these old tapes to a DVD or to a computer hard drive for editing. There are several ways to accomplish this, from borrowing a DVD record deck to purchasing an analog-to-digital video capturing system so that you can upload the footage to your computer.
VHS to DVD Recorder

Step 1

Connect the VHS player or camcorder to the DVD recorder using the A/V cables (red, yellow, white connectors). Plug one end of the cable into the output of the VHS machine, and the other into the input of the DVD recorder.
Step 2

Plug the output of the DVD recorder into a television so you can monitor what you are recording.
Step 3

Rewind the recorded VHS videotape to the beginning and load a blank DVD into the recorder.
Step 4

Press "Record" on the DVD machine and "Play" your VHS tape. DVD disks hold about two hours of video.
Step 5

Finalize the DVD when you are finished dubbing. This ensures the DVD will play on other DVD systems.

VHS to Computer

Step 1

Connect the output of the VHS player or camcorder to the analog-to-digital video capturing device.
Step 2

Plug the USB end of the capture device into your computer.
Step 3

Open the video capture software that came with the capture device. Converters like Pinnacle's Dazzle DVD Recorder or ADS Tech USB Video Xpress come with DVD recording or video editing software that will allow you to burn to DVD.
Step 4

Press "Play" on the VHS machine to make sure you are seeing and hearing the tape through your computer. If the capture window is blank, close the software and reconnect the capture device. This can take several attempts to get the computer to recognize the USB connection.
Step 5

Capture the VHS video to the computer. Follow the instructions provided with your video capture system. You will either copy or burn the VHS tape straight to the DVD recorder in your computer, or capture a video file for editing.

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Recorded VHS tapes VHS player or camcorder A/V cables DVD recorder or Analog-to-digital video capture device Computer Blank DVD disks VHS head cleaning cassette
Recorded VHS tapes
VHS player or camcorder
A/V cables
DVD recorder
or
Analog-to-digital video capture device
Computer
Blank DVD disks
VHS head cleaning cassette
VHS machines and tapes do not get as much use anymore, so run the VHS head cleaner before you start and periodically throughout the process. Check the format of the DVD recorder before you buy DVD disks. Most models are DVD-R but some are DVD+R. Newer models accept both formats.
VHS machines and tapes do not get as much use anymore, so run the VHS head cleaner before you start and periodically throughout the process. Check the format of the DVD recorder before you buy DVD disks. Most models are DVD-R but some are DVD+R. Newer models accept both formats.
Snap out the record inhibit tab on the front spine of your VHS tapes so you do not accidentally record over old footage.
Snap out the record inhibit tab on the front spine of your VHS tapes so you do not accidentally record over old footage.