PPRuNe Forums - Copying video tapes to compact discs on your pc

You can pick up a $50 gadget that plugs into the USB port that converts the video output of a video recorder into a digital format for the computer. Quality is probably pretty bad.
Another option is through your video card if it is equipped with a video input - some are, some aren't. Quality is better than the USB route but setting it up is a pain.
For around $200 both Pinacle and Dazzle do boxes that plug into USB2 or Firewire (if your PC is so equipped) and offer much better quality.
Depending on the length of what you're doing, you'll be able to save the video onto CDs. However, what are you going to do with them? You can make VCDs, which are quasi-VHS quality so should be adequate for your needs and some DVD players play them back, but some don't. It all depends and the only real way is to try. A better option is a DVD - better compatibility with standalone players and lots more storage for longer video. However, if you don't have a DVD burner, you'd need one and these are pricey although not as much as they once were.
For software, whichever input device you get will have some software that sounds like it should be adequate for your purposes.