If you aim to transfer VCR to DVD or burn M4V to DVD, you are in the right place. This post will take you through several VCR to DVD converters. Before getting down to business, let’s look at the difference between VHS and VCR, which will give you a better clue to seeking the right VCR to DVD converters.

VHS vs. VCR

VHS (Video Home System) is an analog recording format developed by JVC in 1976, which adopts a half-inch wide magnetic tape to record up to six hours of video content with 240 lines of horizontal and 486 lines of vertical resolution, as well as a stereo soundtrack. There is also a demand for VHS to DVD conversion. This format was designed to be compatible with a wide range of video cameras and cassette players due to its cheap price and easy-to-use feature, and became the dominant video standard in the world market by the 1990s.

VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) is any device able to play and record videotapes that are pre-imported into cassettes. Actually, VCR was the larger versions of later popularized VHS tapes and also used magnetic tapes to record the videos. Its past popularity decides the version form VCR to DVD.

:VHS vs. VCR

It follows that VHS is a videotape cassette format and VCR is the name for a type of player. But in reality, with the demise of Sony's Betamax format for home videocassettes, virtually all VCRs exclusively play VHS tapes, and virtually all videocassettes are in the VHS format. Even so, nowadays there is still a need to convert VCR to DVD with professional tools.

Now let’s get a quick glance over the following three VCR to DVD converters.

Convert VCR to DVD with Diamond Video Capture vc500

This VCR to DVD converter is a hardware plus software combo that works on PC and supports up to Windows 8, which has been adequately tested and verified by gadget freaks and testing sites. The major pros of the device are that it comes with analog pins that connect to your VCR player or VHS output at one end and the other end connects to the computer or laptop via a USB port at the other end.

All you need to do is play your VHS cassette and get it recorded at the other end of the device into your computer. The whole process can take some time depending on the length of your cassettes. Once done, the files are saved in all major file formats (MPEG1, MPEG2 up to MPEG4) that are supported and used widely by video and media players. These files are now available in digital format on your hard disk.

What to do next is use a DVD maker to convert the digital file into a menu-driven tagged DVD, add custom designs, audio tracks, and subtitles, create chapters, and so on from VHS or VCR to DVD. This is a good way to convert VCR to DVD.

:Convert VCR to DVD with Diamond Video Capture vc500

Diamond Video Capture also comes with its own DVD creator with editing options and thus allows you to transfer VCR to DVD. However, if you are using one of the latest computers, you can benefit more from DVDFab DVD Creator which applies the latest Intel Sync and another processor to speed up the conversion process without any loss in quality of audio or video.

Another reason to consider this VCR to DVD converter is that Diamond Video Capture is also universally compatible with any video capture software, so you can capture it using other software that can render the captured video into a digital file much faster with hardware acceleration.

Convert VCR to DVD with Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus

This is also a hardware VCR to DVD converter from analog to digital along with bundled software to capture video from the laptop or computer screen and then bundled with a DVD burner as well. It is universally compatible with any other video capture software, and most obviously once the video has been rendered, you can easily convert VCR and MP4 to DVD, or just play it on your smartphone. Nevertheless, the output format is limited to only three options, while many others have up to 7 different options. To make up for this downside, this VHS to DVD converter gives the option to edit the video before burning it to a DVD.

:Convert VCR to DVD with Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus

However, the software bundled with the VCR to DVD converter is of not much use compared to the likes of DVDFab DVD Creator which supports multi-threading and GPU acceleration to quicken the whole burning process manifold times. The video rendering is also enhanced from 15 hours to around 5 hours using software like Handbrake that supports multi-threading and GPU acceleration also.

Use DVDFab DVD Ripper to Save Videos Permenately

DVDFab DVD Ripper, as one of the most advanced programs, had owned more than 80 million users around the world and has been downloaded over 100 million times. Due to the characteristics of DVDs, turning them into digital form is more convenient and necessary. DVDFab DVD Ripper could perfectly solve this kind of problem. Have a look!

Rip all kinds of DVDs

Generally speaking, all commercial DVDs have copy protection in case for any illegal backup, which becomes difficult to make DVDs in digital form. Typical DVD protections are CSS (Content Scramble System), APS (Analog Protection System), RC (Region Code), Sony DADC (Digital Audio Disc Corporation), and more. Armed with DVDFab DVD Ripper, there is no need to worry about that, you could easily use this VHS to DVD converter to backup valuable content. Based on the Cloud Decryption Service exclusive to DVDFab, you can remove the protection from the encrypted DVDs in just a few seconds.

Rip DVDs to video & audio without quality loss

What DVD Ripping software distinguishes itself from other similar products, is the inclusive high quality of home theater. DVDFab DVD Ripper can convert DVDs to MKV.Passthrough video and 5.1 AC3 audio, which is appropriate for the home-theater level experience. Besides, whether you want to play the videos on Mobile, Theater, AI, or Web, DVDFab Ripper could accomplish all your wanted tasks.

How to Use this DVDFab DVD Ripper?

1. Launch DVDFab DVD Ripper software and load the source DVD

Get this free DVD ripper downloaded and tab the Ripper option when it runs. Insert the DVD disc you want to rip into the optical drive or navigate to it via the Add button if it is already inserted. If the source is an ISO file or a folder, simply drag and drop it onto the workspace. Make the best of this Mac and Windows DVD Ripper to rip DVDs free.

:How to Use this DVDFab DVD Ripper?

2. Choose one profile and customize the output DVD video

Click "Choose Other Profile" > "Format" > "Video" to convert DVD to MP4 or other digital formats. Options are available to select audio tracks/language, extract subtitles from DVD to SRT format, or add external subtitles. Set video and audio parameters based on your needs via 'Advanced Settings and 'Video Edit'. To upscale video, you can select "Enlarger AI" to improve video quality automatically. "Save to" your video on HDD, Mobile Device, upload onto YouTube.

:How to Use this DVDFab DVD Ripper?

3. Start to rip DVDs free

Click the Start button to rip DVDs for free. The actual ripping process will be shown clearly. You can cancel the task at any time, have your PC shut down, exit the program, hibernate, or do nothing after the DVD ripping task is done. This is how to rip DVDs for free with easy clicks.

:How to Use this DVDFab DVD Ripper?

Final Thought

Whichever you choose, you are highly recommended to transfer VCR to DVD with DVDFab DVD Creator. Besides, if you know how to create a DVD menu using DVD menu creator, your created DVD will become much more professional and stylish.

Apparently, one good thing about such tool is that you can record any copyrighted material since they allow you to convert the VHS or VCR contents from the laptop by capturing the recording playing on the screen itself. This is akin to making the video once again from scratch. It is not trying to decrypt the video file on the VHS cassette, but playing the analog video file and convert VCR to DVD by first to digital and transferring to the laptop via the USB port.