Convert VHS to DVD to MP3
"It took me 3 hours to convert this video to the proper format."
I understood the frustration. Even with fairly sophisticated tools, it can be pain to convert files from one kind to another. Currently, my project is to convert a VHS to MP3. The video is old and unnecessary. My mom thinks the content is great, but would rather read it. So... how do we go about transferring a VHS to text? Here's what I've finally come up with:
Step 1: We have a VHS player that automatically copies to DVD. Cake.
I dropped my DVD into my computer and tried to rip the audio straight out. No can do. The video files are a jumbled mess of multiple files that do not play sequentially. In fact, I was unable to find the start point anywhere.
Messy DVD Files
Step 2: Open DVD in DVDShrink and "Backup!" the "Main Movie Title" from the DVD.
This makes the once four separate VTS files into one.
Step 3: Fire up VLC and "Convert/Save" to an .mp3 file.
Step 4: (optional) Open the .mp3 in Audacity for further cleanup/editing and export.
I believe the plan is to play the audio to a dictation program which will-theoretically--convert it to text. Here's hoping!
~Luke Holzmann
Your Media Production Mentor
2 comments:
Another option is to just save time and ship the VHS tapes off to a service to scan for you.
GoPhoto converts VHS to DVD and scans slides, negatives and photos to digital.
http://www.gophoto.com/photo-scanning-service
Sometimes, time is more valuable than $$... and sometimes, it's actually cheaper to outsource when you factor in equipment cost (but most especially time spent). ;)
That is absolutely true. I've taken advantage of such services when I was handed tapes for which I didn't have a player.
~Luke
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