How to Convert Analog Video
to Digital Video


How to Convert Analog Video to Digital Video? Learn the process to capture analog video to your computer using a video capture device.




Be it audio or video, going digital is the preferred way nowadays. There are numerous advantages of having your video in digital format. To be able to store them for a long time without affecting the quality of the video is one of them.

But then a lot of people do have their videos stored on VHS tapes, which they cherish watching. These tapes can get worn out after a long time, and in some cases you may just not be able to watch it.

So if you are somehow able to convert it into a digital format, that can be stored on a DVD or VCD, you can ensure that it stays with you forever.

So here is how you convert your analog video to digital!


Analog to Digital Video Conversion - What You Need?


Video stored on VHS tapes is in analog format. So if you have to make a DVD out of it, you will need to first get it into your computer using an analog video capture device, so that you can burn it to a VCD or DVD.

Overall, you would need the following equipments to be able to do this conversion from analog to digital video.

  • Analog Video Capture Device
    • - You need this to capture your analog video from the VHS tapes. ADS Tech's DVD Xpress and USB Instant DVD are some good devices for doing this task.

  • Computer
    • - You store the captured analog video on your computer. You can use relevant software like video editing & DVD authoring software.

  • Video Editing Software
    • - Only if you want to edit your captured analog video!

  • DVD Burner & Authoring Software
    • - You use this to burn your final video, which is now in digital format, to a DVD.


    Analog to Digital Video Conversion - The Process


    Once you have all the necessary equipments in place, here is how you go about capturing your analog video (from VHS tapes, 8mm, Hi8).

    Step 1. Connect your analog video capture device to your computers port using the USB cable. Power on the capture device; it should be recognized by your computer.

    Step 2. Connect the VCR (which will play your VHS tape) to the capture device using the RCA inputs/outputs.

    Step 3. Open the software from where you will initiate the capture process. Go to the settings sections for Capture Format. Choose what format you want the video to encode to. For VCD, select MPEG-1, for DVD select MPEG-2.

    Step 4. Click the start capture button to start capturing your video. Before starting the video capture, it will ask for a filename – the name by which the captured video will be stored on your hard disk.

    Step 5. Once your video is captured and saved on your hard disk, you can edit it using video editing software.

    Step 6. You can burn the video to VCD or DVD using VCD/DVD Authoring software and a DVD writer.


    Conclusion


    Now that you have an understanding of how the analog video to digital conversion works, getting all your videos on DVDs is not a big deal. You need to remember that the quality of the final video will be only as good as its source. Also the time taken for the conversion will depend on the length of the source video.

    Nowadays, you get video capture devices which can capture video from both analog as well as digital sources. If that is something you are looking for, go for it.





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