Converting Vhs Tapes To .....?

[Arrods]

Hi. I'm arranging for a few old VHS tapes (children's memories etc) to be 'digitalised' for posterity by a local firm. I'm currently playing them through my VCR to sort out the ones to save.

The company doing the conversion has said they're happy to transfer the tapes to a digital format 'such as' .mp4 files and, if required, provide a USB drive.

I'd like to then be able to edit the files myself down to watchable viewing length.

Does anyone have any tips on what I now need to do? E.g. are .mp4 files what I need or are there any other suitable files. I guess I need to download some editing software? All suggestions gratefully received. Thank you.

[Arrods]

Apologies for the 'radio silence' in advance. Just off to prepare lunch.

[Gizmonster]

//// Gizmo on your machine can you convert a DVD to video tape ////

Yea, there are three formats on the machine - hard drive, DVD and VHS and you can record from any one of the formats to either of the remaining two, so it will record:
HD >>> DVD
HD >>> VHS
DVD >>> HD
DVD >>> VHS
VHS >>> HD
VHS >>>DVD

Quite a handy machine to have :)

[Buenchico]

Just to build upon what Tuvok has already said:

A 'standard' DVD (like the ones you buy in shops to watch your favourite movies) uses a special format, which is specifically designed to be used in DVD players (although PC drives can also read that format as well).

If you simply burn MP4 files onto a DVD, the vast majority of DVD players won't be able to play the disc; it will only play on a computer.

However (assuming that your computer has got a drive that will burn discs, rather than just read them) you can use a disc-burning program which converts your collection of MP4 files into the 'special' format which most regular DVD players use. The most popular program for doing so (and by far the simplest to use) is Ashampoo Burning Studio Free:
https://www.ashampoo.com/uk/gbp/pin/7110/burning-software/burning-studio-free

If you want to edit your MP4 files first, before burning them to DVD, VLC (which has already been linked to) can do basis tasks, such as cropping out unwanted sections of movies. For more advanced work, but without a steep learning curve, Videopad is an excellent choice
https://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/
(If you really want to get into advanced video editing, see the options listed here https://www.shopify.co.uk/blog/best-free-video-editing-software . Lightworks has been used to make several Hollywood blockbusters; it's superb but not for novices!)

[jennyjoan]

Great mac hine to have gizmo

[barry1010]

What is the make and model of this wondrous machine, Giz?

Giz a clue :D

[Arrods]

Thanks all for the responses. It all seems a bit advanced for my skills. As this is a one-off, I’ll see whether the chap doing the initial transfer can transfer to viewable DVDs after I’ve cut out all the stuff I don’t want. Thanks again.

[Gizmonster]

//// What is the make and model of this wondrous machine, Giz? ////

It's a Toshiba RD-XV47

[barry1010]

Thanks, Giz