VHS to Digital: How to Convert Your VHS Tapes

Looking to convert your VHS tapes to digital? This video will show you exactly how to transfer VHS to digital using the Elgato video capture. This method works for both PC/Windows and Mac and it's easier than you think!

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DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. But don't worry, it doesn't cost you anything extra!

[briana]

I was shocked when the video ended, you didn’t fill it with fluff to make it 10 minutes long, or have a 2 minute intro with flashy graphics and music where you talk about what you are about to talk about. Thanks.

[bobgrilli]

I've been deep diving on converters for about 6 months. Elgato has been touted. But you sold me with your brief but important intro on how you wasted time on garbage. Sometimes in life, technology costs a bit more, but it is worth it. Got my friend's grandmother VHS player yesterday and am ordering Elgato as I write. Good post.

[johnmcneill]

I wanted to convert my tapes for years. I watched this last Friday and ordered the converter from Amazon. Had it 5 hours later and have spent a week now easily converting the tapes. For about $90 I get a cubic yard of my home back. Works great.

[Firebrand]

A model of a How To...clear, short and to the point....well done Brandon.

[brennangillis]

I watched this video and laughed as I made the very same mistakes (buying cheap converters). I ordered this one last week, it arrived today, and so far it's excellent. Zero latency issues. Easy to navigate. Love it. Thanks so much for posting this.

[Agentrulz]

I took your suggestion and tried the elgato and it's a world of difference from the cheap crap I tried converting with. This is the first time I actually bought something that someone was plugging and I don't regret it. Thanks.

[dreamsanddaytime]

After watching this video, i decided to take a risk and spend the money on this product. It's been one of my best investments recently. The download process went quite smoothly and everything he described in the video turned out to be true! They even send the right cable so you don't have to buy it separately which would add to the price. All in all a great buy and super easy like explained above. Thank you for the tip! You explained it quite well.

[PearBear]

Thanks for making this and putting me at ease. I’ve just ordered the Elgato on your recommendation, although it’s to digitise some old Thunderbirds recordings my Dad made back in 1991, not your standard family footage. Still, VHS preservation is essential for nostalgia and your video helped light the fire under my backside to get this done, so thanks for helping me place the order, I look forward to the peace of mind once it is done

[scottpyper]

This is the BEST video I have found for VHS conversion! Thank you very much for sharing your hard work with the rest of us!

[Ghost]

I recently found some old family VHS holiday tapes and wasn't sure how to convert them and to what media.
The YT playlist URL share is genius!
Awesome guide - thanks so much for making it.

[Pikaroth]

I know this video is a year old, but a couple of years back, I, too, purchased a cheap one that SEEMED good yet hardly worked. I gave up, and that was that. This video alone just made me order the Elgato, and thanks to an Amazon center being close by, it’ll be here tonight. Thank you for the video as it is going to save priceless memories!

[SteveSwayne]

Perfect... been putting this off for far too long. Inspired to finally do it now, thanks!

[russ]

I have TONS of tapes that I would love to convert. Things I recorded when my boys were little. I am going to try this. I hope it works. Thank you for sharing this!!!

[JetCash]

This simple step by step explanation is just what I was looking for! Thanks so much!

[jessicacordova]

Thank you for the video! My grandma just passed away and I got all of her old family videos and I’ve been trying to figure out the easiest way to convert them all and make them viewable for the whole family and I really like the YouTube idea since that’ll be cheaper than making copies for everyone and will be easier for older not tech savvy family members that might have a hard time figuring out how to view them on a cloud service.

[kimba]

The Elgato device is amazingly easy to use. I purchased a “like new” used one and saved a few bucks. The You Tube option for sharing is welcome advice. Thank you!!

[charlotteanderson]

Super helpful, Brandon - just what I needed in simple terms. Thanks very much.

[kevinh]

The method I use actually gives better results. I found the Elgato does an OK job but the colours are muted and interlacing is still an issue. I use a Super VHS VCR which even slightly improves the quality of standard VHS a little, that is connected to an SVideo to HDMI convertor which is in turn connected to a cheap, fairly generic HDMI to USB capture device. The results are excellent, contrast is much better than using the Elgato, interlacing isn't an issue and colours are bright and not all muted like the Elgato device. The only slight negative is that it captures at 720p/60 but so far that hasn't actually mattered. The resultant files look excellent burned to DVD, BluRay or played back from USB sticks on smart TVs.

[dianeevans]

I'm really excited to try this next week at my dad's! Very simple to follow, thank you!

[blubbspinat]

The elgatos are nice and such but since i was not using Windows or OS X i had some trouble getting it to work. I found another equally good solution. I am using a composite to HDMI converter and found it produces a very good de-interlaced and crisp image. I used a generic HDMI recorder that records MP4 files to a USB SSD. Works a treat and both converter and recorder combined cost less than the Elgato. I found the video quality equal and sometimes even better than some recordings claimed to be done with the Elgato. And you do not need a powerful PC while recording. Just wanted to share this if someone is having trouble with this device like i did.
I guess they are pretty good nonetheless and i know a few share of people getting very good results with them.