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Roxio, a division of Sonic Solutions, has announced the immediate availability of Roxio Easy VHS to DVD for Mac, a combination of software and hardware that provides consumers with a quick and trouble-free way to convert and transfer personal video and entertainment stored on VHS tape to DVD. Roxio Easy VHS to DVD for Mac is available in retail stores and directly from Roxio for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

By removing the ability to tweak the video settings, Roxio guarantees novice users the ability to get the best possible conversion every time. Simply attach the included USB video capture device to your Mac’s high-speed USB 2.0 port, and then capture from virtually any analog video source (VCR, Hi8 camcorder, etc., cables not included). S-Video and composite-video input cables enable full-resolution DVD recording, and the resulting video files can then be recorded back to DVD, complete with a custom menu background and chaptering, using the included Roxio Toast Basic, or exported directly to iMovie for editing.

The Roxio Easy VHS to DVD for Mac software guides users through the necessary steps to successfully capture analog recordings. The software displays illustrations of the required cable connections and prompts users to select an appropriate recording quality. Users can preview video and audio to ensure connections are correct prior to capture. In addition, uses may set a predefined recording length so they can leave the capture process unattended.

In other words, no more paying people to do this for you. Your old VHS recordings can be preserved on DVD (although, that, too isn’t as permanent as the manufacturers would like you to think, so make sure you store your videos on a hard drive, as well). The simple instructions guarantee a DVD quality transfer, but without any sort of correction.

Once recording is complete, options are available to send the video to Toast or to iMovie. Within Toast, users may create DVDs, VCDs or SVCDs, which can be personalized with professionally designed menu styles. Toast can also be used to compile multiple recordings on a single disc or to make copies of a DVD previously created for sharing with friends and family. Videos sent to iMovie can be edited further and exported for optimal playback on a range of mobile devices including the iPod and iPhone, or converted for posting and sharing via online services or social networking sites.

Check back with us soon for a full Appletell review.

Product [Easy VHS to DVD, video overview]