Converting Media to Digital Formats

A lot of us have old analog media lying around, or stored in dusty boxes in the attic.  These VHS tapes, cassettes, LPs, and film slides don't have to molder unused, however.  With the right equipment and a little know how, you can convert your video, audio, and still pictures to digital formats, and take them wherever you want.  If you've been wanting to listen to some of your old music on an MP3 player with buying a whole new collection, would like to upload grandma's pictures to Flickr, or wouldn't mind seeing some of those home movies on your new DVD player, here's how to make the transfer.

Transferring LPs, Cassettes, and Other Audio to MP3 or Disc

There are two basic ways of transferring your analog music to a more playable format.  One is by using a DVD recorder.  These machines are independent of your computer, and sometimes include a cassette player or turntable.  If they don't, just use a cable to connect the two.  Play your tape or record, and record your music to DVD.  The downside of these devices is that they're often expensive, and they don't let you do as much editing.  The bonus is that people who don't have the computer equipment or expertise to record music to MP3 can do so without worrying about a computer.

If you have a CD/DVD burner, or an iPod or other MP3 player, putting your music in the form of digital files is probably a better idea.  Some stereos can actually be plugged directly into the sound card.  In other cases, you'll be better off using an LP converter or a tape converter that plugs in via USB.  Either way, just run the signal through an audio program (which may come with the converters), and create the files you want.  The big bonus of this method is the editability and copying options you'll have once your old tapes and records have been recorded. The downside is that it takes a little skill to do, and you'll need the right equipment.

Transferring Video to DVD or CD

A DVD recorder works here, too.  You'll want the type that includes a VHS player. Recording this way is just like doing so from a tape.  Be sure you've started recording before or at the same time as you begin playing the tape, to avoid cutting off the beginning.  You can also route VHS playback through a capture card on your computer to create AVI or other files that can then be burned to CD or DVD, or just kept on your hard drive.

Scanning Slides

If you've got an old box of slides, but would rather not get out the projector, you can have them converted by a professional service.  However, this gets expensive in the long run.  People with digital camera equipment at home may choose to rephotograph their slides at a very high resolution, but this takes some expertise.  Other options include using a slide scanning attachment on an ordinary flatbed scanner, and purchasing a slide and negative scanner.  The latter offers excellent control and requires little skill, but can be expensive to start with.  It's best if you have a lot of slides to scan, or need very good quality.

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