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How to Convert Cassettes & VHS Tapes

Because technology changes so often, many old formats are becoming obsolete. Instead of purchasing older movies or music in a newer format, many people have turned to transferring their old VHS tapes and cassettes to DVDs, CDs and other digital formats. Doing so can save a lot of money. If you are the owner of a large cassette and VHS collection, you can transfer both of your collections in a few easy-to-follow steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Cassette deck
  • Computer
  • 1/8-inch to 1/8-inch audio cable
  • Audio-editing software
  • CDs
  • VCR
  • RCA cable
  • RCA to USB cable
  • Video editing software
  • DVDs
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Instructions

  1. Converting Cassettes to Digital Tracks and CDs

    • 1

      Connect your cassette deck to your computer by plugging one end of an 1/8-inch-to-1/8-inch audio cable into the headphone out port on your cassette deck and the other end of the cable into the audio input on your computer.

    • 2

      Create a new audio project in an audio-editing program, such as Garageband, Logic or ProTools. Make sure to set the input to "Line-in" in your project preferences and then save the project as the name of the cassette you are converting.

    • 3

      Record your cassette to your computer. Press the "Record" button in your audio-editing program and then hit "Play" on your cassette. Let the audio-editing program record until the cassette finishes playing and then stop both the program and your cassette player.

    • 4

      Export your project to a CD or digital track. After your cassette is uploaded to your audio-editing program, you then have the option to send the recorded track to a CD or to simply save it as a digital track. To do so, in the export menu of your audio-editing program, choose the option that says "Export to CD" or "Export to Media Player." It will take a few minutes for your computer to export the track.

    Convert VHS to DVD

    • 5

      Connect your VCR to your computer using a standard RCA cable and an RCA to USB cable. First, plug one end of your RCA cable into the RCA outputs on your VCR. Then, plug the other end of your RCA cable into the RCA to USB inputs. Next, plug the USB end of the RCA to USB cable into a USB slot on your computer.

    • 6

      Create a new project in a video-editing program, such as iMovie, Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere. Save the project with a name that matches the name of the VHS tape your are converting.

    • 7

      Upload your VHS tape to your video-editing program. In your video-editing program, select the option that is labeled "Capture" and then press "Play" on your VCR player. A window will then open, showing you a video feed of what you are uploading onto your computer. When the VHS tape ends, stop the recording in your video-editing software.

    • 8

      Export the file to DVD. In the export menu of your video-editing program, select the option that is labeled "Burn to DVD." Place a blank DVD in your computer and then follow the burn instructions to properly burn a DVD of the VHS tape you just uploaded to your video-editing program.

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