2025 Quick Guide to VHS or DVD transfers to digital

Option A: stand-alone device for $160 (click HERE)

Option B: cable and software for Windows 10/11 or Mac for $40 (click HERE)

Option C: iPad/iPhone users = add Option B cable + "camera adapter" or hub $20 (Lightning or USB-C)

Considerations:

1. If you are primarily an iPhone/iPad/Mac user, is there an advantage to having everything in 1 system? 

2. If you've already got thousands of current generation photos and videos on your iPhone/iPad/iCloud do you really need all files in 1 system?

3. Would it be better to have historical VHS footage in a separate location (in a separate system)?

4. Are you already very familiar with file management in Windows 10/11 and do you prefer it to iOS/Mac file management?

Intro to Google Sites: Make your own website the easy way......

1. Login to Google (or your Chromebook) & go to sites.google.com

2. Grab one of their templates, click on an element, & replace it with your content

3. Continue replacing (*I delete a lot of the template for a clean look)

4. Hit the blue 'Publish' button in the top right of the screen 

5. Click on the down arrow to the right of the Publish button, go to 'Publish Setting' then to 'Web Address'.  You'll be prompted to add to sites.google.com/view/_____fill in the blank_____  (*if you use more than 1 word, use - instead of a space

3 steps standard voiceover processing: [1] Noise Reduction  [2] Normalize [3] Compressor

Editing out vocal noises using Audacity (free)

1.  Open the audio file in Audacity and Zoom In on an area with the noise you want to eliminate

2.    Highlight that area (drag over it with left mouse button clicked...it will turn white)

 3.  Go to Effects in the top menu, then click on Noise Reduction, then to Step 1: Get Noise Profile

4.  Now hit <Ctrl> and A to Select All...it will turn white

   5.  Reopen Effects / Noise Reduction and click on OK below Step 2 (I just use the defaults)

 6.  You can see that the noise has been reduced in the waveform

  7.  Export the file to an MP3 or file type of your choice (you can also save it as an Audacity project)

---end of Audacity Noise Reduction tutorial---

Chromebook 101:   *read below or click/tap HERE for a 2 minute video version

Remember that when you sign in to your Chromebook you're signing into your Google, Gmail, and YouTube accounts....all in 1 step!  

And...if you're not on a Chromebook, the same thing applies when using the Chrome browser.

Below is a graphic of the Chromebook Sign In screen.  Circled in...

Red: click in this bottom/right area to access Sign Out, Restart, Settings, etc.

Green: Sign Out (& sign in as a different user)

Blue: Restart and Shut Down

Orange: Settings

Select a wallpaper that you can easily identify with (or upload a photo)

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Working with files and screenshots on your Chromebook

One limitation with Chromebooks is that they don't have much built-in storage (typically 16GB).  It's easy to work around this by using the free 15GB of storage that comes with your Google account (orange circle below). Plus you can share anything that you put in this space with other users.  

Most Chromebooks have a MicroSD card slot located on the side.  It's a cheap way to gain a ton of storage.  If you run into a problem storing files on a new card try formatting the card to exFAT instead of the default FAT format.

If you don't have a MicroSD slot or if you want to physically share media then use your Chromebook's USB slot (green circle below).

By default any files that you download will go to your Chromebook's internal storage in the Downloads folder (red circle below) or to the Play Files folder (blue circle below).  When a file downloads you'll get a pop-up.  I always choose 'Show In Folder' and rename the file to something meaningful and easy to remember. 

Right Click by tapping with 2 fingers on your Chromebook's trackpad and you'll get a pop-up that includes 'Rename'.  I always just hit the Backspace key to wipe out the old name and start fresh...but it's not required.

And if you really get jammed up for space just drag copy anything that's in your Download folder to your MicroSD or USB drive, then delete it from your Download folder.  Remember to click on Trash and permanently delete it to free up that space immediately.

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