Since we are into saving memories, and taking and fixing photos this desire to preserve family history spills over into saving home movies too!
If you bought a camcorder in the ’80s or ’90s and filmed every birthday, graduation, school events, and random family event in between, you probably have a big box of VHS tapes you haven’t watched in years. Also, you might not even have a video player any more!
Your videotapes, movie film, and slides are fading over time. Instead of letting your memories fade away, have them transferred to DVDs, where they are easier to watch and more fun to share!
So with that on my mind, a few months ago I started to focus on getting my family videos turned into 
digital media and putting these old home movies on DVDs and giving copies to my children. I was afraid if I didn’t hurry and get the family movies converted to digital that it would be lost forever as video is a dinosaur technology and not only is it hard to find a video player, but the video it’s self was fading and breaking.
If you are like me and want to preserve these family treasures by getting them converted to digital media, here are some ideas that might save you time.
Conversion Resources:
Do it yourself:
like… Sony DVDirect Compact Burner
I am sure there are other transferring machines or software, but I was able to transfer lots of my home family video movies with the Sony DVDirect Compact Burner.
Here is a general description of this product: Transfer home movies and digital pictures to DVD, quickly and easily without a PC. Connect with virtually any camcorder, VCR, even DVR for recording video DVDs playable in standard DVD players. Built in slots accept the 5 most common memory cards for recording digital pictures to DVD as a slideshow or for photo storage. Record high definition AVCHD video from Sony HDD or Memory Stick Handycam camcorders to DVD playable in Blu-ray Disc compatible devices. Sales for around $199
I found this burner made taking my home video and transferring it very easy and straightforward. I was able to make copies for all my children so they could have their baby, toddler and young children home movies – it made a nice gift for them!
Take in to a local store to have them convert them:
like… Costco
If you don’t want to convert your video then you can get some help and have someone else do it.
One place that does it is Costco, so if you have one in your area you can take your videos, movie film and even slides to have them converted and transferred to DVD.
Here is some information about their conversion service:
- Your memories will be transferred onto archive-quality gold DVDs.
- Pricing starts at $17.99. A 2nd DVD copy is included with every transfer order.
- Customize your DVD with a title, menu theme and music background.
- Just bring in your tapes, reels and slides to Costco 1-Hour Photo. Pick up your DVDs in about 3 weeks.
Make the converted video available online:
like… Pixorial
Seeing all those old tapes, the contents of which I had mostly forgotten, all in one place on my computer or played in by DVD player on my TV was fabulous. But how would you like to share your video online with your family too?!
For example you can send old home videos to Pixorial, a new online service that will digitize your old VHS, Mini-DV, 8mm, and BetaMax tapes; safely archive the footage on its servers; and allow you to edit and share your videos instantly. Often, within two weeks of mailing video tapes, (with a kit Pixorial provides), you can receive an e-mail saying your videos are online and ready for viewing. You can easily share with family and friends, and you can also connect to many social network sites too!
Many companies offer conversion only to DVD but Pixorial’s service includes digital transfer to online files instead.
This option really brings old family movies into the newest type of media – online and digital!
Here is some information about their services:
With Pixorial, you can do more than ever before possible with video, including:
- Archive your entire video library on secure servers
- Edit, create and share video content online
- Collaborate with others through video, using video
- Broadcast easily through social networks
- Create unique, personalized video products (e.g. DVDs and video e-books and e-cards)
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Hopefully this article gives you lots of choices to pick the right one for saving your precious video memories!
Good luck!
Cheri
Ps. If you want to get old photos changed to digital photos – then read this article: Getting Old Photos Changed to Digital Photos
