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Put Your VHS Tapes on DVD

Moving your video collection to DVD can be straightforward, painless, and--if you pick the right strategy--affordable.

Helmut Kobler, special to Digital World

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DVDs by Mail

The easiest way to convert a tape to DVD is to let a professional do it. This way, you don't have to buy any new equipment, consult an owner's manual, or educate yourself about the nuances of tape-to-DVD transfers.

To find a company that offers this service, simply do a Google search for "tape to DVD." You'll find a number of companies that accept your VHS or MiniDV tapes by mail; some days later, you'll get a DVD copy back, along with your original tapes. Some companies may even be able to transfer old 8mm or 16mm movies you have lying around. Additional services can also include merging multiple tapes into a single DVD (for instance, a short collection of family videos), and creating themed navigation menus and splashy cover graphics for the DVD's case.

If you're not keen on letting your tape out of your sight, you might have an alternative, depending on where you live. YesVideo, which offers its YesDVD tape conversion service by mail, has partnered with Best Buy to provide this service at selected Best Buy locations nationwide (go here for an up-to-date list of stores).

Regardless of whether you do a conversion in person or by mail, it's going to cost you. Expect to pay in the neighborhood of $25 to have a single VHS or DV tape turned into a DVD (not including your postage costs). And while that's fine for an occasional tape transfer, it can get fairly expensive if you have a lot of tapes to convert, or if you want custom features such as special menus added to your videos.

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