Convert them to Betamax.

Seriously there is likely a transfer service you can contract to convert for you, I know there are a couple in my town, but I'm in a big city.

Costco has a service that will convert them. I used it a while back and I was satisfied with it. It was not all that expensive either. Go to their photo department.

Something like this will work and usually comes with software. Press play on your VCR and record on the software and walk away for a few hours. Once there on your computer upload to youtube as a unlisted video or burn to DVD.

TOTMC USB 2.0 Video Capture Adapter for Windows Xp, 2000, Vista, Window 7, Window 8 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M7T8T1E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_isd1Db8FBFK5N

Depending on what type of files they give you you could easily burn your own DVD if you'd like.

Just find a deck like this to buy. I had to do it myself recently to make sure I didn;t lose video of my family*

*my old SVHS porn tapes
ebay.com link: Samsung DVD VHS Dual Deck DVD V5500 With Remote Control Tested Works Orig Box

I think you will get arguments for and against both. In today's world, digital likely means 'the cloud' aka something to be hacked. A DVD can be stored safe and sound in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe. So what ever is your comfort level would be my suggestion.

You can do both. If you do it yourself, depending on the capture method, you can go one way or the other, then get the other afterwards.

It would be good to have a hard copy saved, as well as a digital video copy. Multiple backups are the best way to avoid loss, in case one goes bad for whatever reason.

If you're using a service, you can go either way. However, if you have to make a choice, usually it's easier for a layperson to burn a digital video file to a DVD, on their own, rather than rip video from a DVD.

Note that DVDs can degrade with time (and temperature, humidity, exposure to sunlight), just like any other physical format.

I generally use TDK and Verbatim brands for longevity. Sony, Memorex, etc are generally made cheaply, thus don't last as long.

I don't think I know anyone who has betamax. I know a few people who have laserdiscs, though.

DVD is digital.

Either way, you are going to be creating a digital file from an analog source (the old VHS tape). Once its digital, it can be copied around, backed up, put on different sources, etc. You can burn the digital files onto a DVD and store it away if you like. You can put them on a USB drive. You can store them in the cloud. Once you get them backed up at several different places then your chances of forever losing them are greatly reduced.

You have to use authoring software to make a DVD. Its no big deal, its easily done. But I wouldn't make a DVD and have that as my only source. The disc itself could get lost or damaged. You can make several DVDs and spread them around to different family members. That would be safer.

What I did: I digitized them all and made them into MP4 files that sit on my computer. They are backed up on my server, and also in a cloud backup service, along with all the other digital stuff like pictures. Those are also on a portable hard drive handed to family members. So there are multiple copies hanging around providing a safety net if some should get lost (such as a hard disk crash) I can watch them on my computer. I can stream them from the server onto the TV, or onto a phone or iPad. I can copy them onto a USB stick for a family member. Or I can also burn them onto a DVD if I want.

The key is to get them digitized. That first step needs to be done, and might take a little bit of work if the tapes are in bad condition, but it is definitely a process that is well established. I would just send it out. Then go through all of the digital files carefully and make sure everything got captured well (picture and sound) before you make a move to destroy the tapes.

EDIT: FF said basically the same thing just before I posted!

Fun, useless facts...
I recall RENTING BETAmax tapes back in the day.

On the Top Gun laser disc, which was multi sided, at the moment Maverick and Goose high five and say, "I have the need... the need for speed" it is time to flip it over! Unless you had a fancy one that read both sides, but if you had a multi disc movie, you still had to get up and put in disc two.

Just another quick note: If you get the tapes made into DVD disks, its a fairly simple step to get the digital videos off the DVD and onto a computer if you want to. Its easier than a typical movie DVD since there won't be copy protection on the files. The files can basically be copied right to the hard drive. Its also fairly easy to convert those digital DVD files into other formats if you want to using free tools like Handbrake. This is starting to get into the geekness of video files, but its not too difficult really.

Today, binging a TV series on a DVD box set is probably the closest thing to that. You need to swap discs every few episodes.

I have the same thing, only I paid about $400 like 15 years ago..

Funner fact: If you’re nerdy enough you can capture the raw RF signal directly from the tape heads and decode the video entirely in software (sort of)!
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I believe you can do it online. You might also try Sams club. They might also provide the service.

At one point, TheKorn was in business providing this exact service as webwidevideo. I think he's moved on but he may have the equipment to still do these transfers? Worth a PM...

Here is a post from a Pinsider who does conversions:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/vhs-really/page/2#post-1816774

I have been chipping away at VHS, HI8, and standard 8mm video almost every night to try and get our family stuff digitized.

We have so much, to have it done by any of the services would be pretty expensive and I have things setup to basically "fire and forget". I also want to try to minimize the capture compression rate and then work down from there as this is the LAST time I ever want to do this. If anyone wants to know what I use, PM me and I can let you know.

If you want to do this yourself and you want the best quality for your conversions, you WILL NEED to invest in a TBC (Time Base Corrector) due to the stretching and aging of the old media. Without this device, many tapes will have a distorted look and some capture software will freeze up and stop working. Thankfully, these devices that used to cost thousands of dollars, can be had on eBay for under $100 these days so its not a bad investment.

I must be a little old school, because it never occurred to me that this could be a possibility! I knew that there were a whole bunch of services that were available, but being able to do it on my own? How cool is that? Thanks for the tips – this whole thread has been a big resource of information and now I know what I’m doing with my old VHS tapes!