Can I get a VHS video on Youtube?

[jack brew]

Is this a job I can do myself? Or do I need to give the video to a professional? Any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[propersplitbrainme]

Well essentially Jack you need to 'capture' your VHS video into a format that you can upload to YT.
You could use one of those DVD recorders with a built in VHS machine; these allow you to convert your tapes to DVD (no suprises there) and then you need to find a program to convert the DVD to an AVI or MPG file which YT will accept.
Or, you could use a home video capture system such as this one for £28.

http://www.tvstick.co.uk/products/productinfo.asp?catid=2&prodid=22&gclid=CPy_xLunzJQCFROA1QodfhLskQ

These allow you to capture your old videos and then convert them to AVI files or DVDs.

I use a pinnacle moviebox which has a little more functionality at a few more pennies, but its worth it to preserve those ancient VHS tapes on DVD.

As an afterthought, perhaps your local photog section could do the capture for you; I'd be surprised if they didn't have a machine to do it on.

Hope that helps.

 

[scaleywife]

On a similar note.... anyone know an easy way to convert AVI to DVD?

 

[propersplitbrainme]

On a similar note.... anyone know an easy way to convert AVI to DVD?

VSO ConvertXtoDVD.

Good little program, use it all the time.

 

[Cooheed]

Well Off Topic, but any ideas on converting .dat files?

 

[propersplitbrainme]

Well Off Topic, but any ideas on converting .dat files?

Into what, and from what source? Loads of programs use their own version of .dat files for data.

 

[Cooheed]

Into what, and from what source? Loads of programs use their own version of .dat files for data.

Onto a format that will play on a DVD player. Source is a CD that will only play on a compie.

 

[propersplitbrainme]

Onto a format that will play on a DVD player. Source is a CD that will only play on a compie.

Without seeing the source files its hard to know where to start. If they are video files then it sounds like you have a VideoCD, and some DVD players will read these even though the format isn't often used these days.
If your computer has Windows Movie Maker on it (XP machines should have this) then load the .dat file into that and the re-save it as an .AVI file. Once you have an AVI file its easy to convert to DVD using VSO's ConvertXtoDVD.
If you don't have Win Movie Maker then a Google search for..

.dat video files convert

..reveals numerous applications that will convert .dat files to other formats.

Hope that helps.