Digitizing VHS Tapes with Dazzle
If you have a cabinet full of old VHS video tapes, the Dazzle Video Creator may be just the gadget you need. It makes it easy to digitize your old videos and burn them on DVDs, extending the life of those precious memories.
The Dazzle package includes an external USB video-capture hardware device as well as all the necessary software. The hardware attaches to the computer via USB port. I recommend that you use it with a newer computer with a USB2 port. It will work with the older USB 1 computers, but rendering the videos with the older port will probably take longer than you want to wait.
Set up is easy but not necessarily straightforward. For instance, the directions say "install the software." You are given two disks with no explanation of which disk should be installed first or whether or not both are needed. I encountered errors when installing some of the music files which I simply ignored, but a novice user might find this disconcerting. Also, be sure to allow enough time for installation. It took me more than one hour to install all the software.
Installation of the hardware is simple. You attach the Dazzle capture device to your VCR, then plug the Dazzle device into the wall and the USB port on your computer. All cables are included. If your VCR is hooked up to a television, you will probably have to disconnect it before you connect the Dazzle. You can also hook the Dazzle up to your video camcorder to transfer your movies to the PC.
Once everything is set up, you simply start the included Studio software, insert your video tape, and hit the play button on the VCR. The video appears on the Dazzle software screen. You can also hook the Dazzle up to a television to show the output in larger format. However, I found working with the preview screen on the computer very easy.
Once your video is transferred from the tape, you click on the Edit tab to create your digital video. The program lets you rearrange the video and add transitions and music. You can also just click on Edit, then choose Select All and drag the whole video, as is, to the bottom video creation portion of the screen. You can preview and work with your video as much or as little as you like. When you are finished you click on the Create tab where you can burn your masterpiece to a CD or DVD and/or create a digital file in your choice of formats.
Expect to spend some time transferring your VHS tapes to DVDs. The rendering process can take some time, but the results are worthwhile, and honestly, video rendering is a time consuming process no matter which hardware or software you use.
The Dazzle software also allows you to enhance your old video tapes. I tried this feature with a precious VHS tape of my husband and I with Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office where my husband was being recognized for his work for Vietnam veterans. The tape from 1986 was slightly faded, but the software immediately brought it back to life, adding color and vibrancy. What a great feature!
I tried a Dazzle video transfer product a few years ago and was extremely disappointed in it. This new Dazzle Video Creator 150 package is much improved. I'm still working on digitizing my entire video tape collection, but this Dazzle package has made it easy.
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About the Author
Sandy Berger is a nationally-known author and has written several books on computers.
