Feb. 12--The age of the video-cassette recorder is now behind us, with JVC recently announcing that it will no longer make VCRs. And no major studios are releasing their films on tape.

But what do you do if you have stacks of videotapes, and you don't want to part with the contents? The longer you leave the tapes stuffed in a closet, the more you risk losing your recordings to dust and mildew.

But there are plenty of options for converting tapes to DVD to preserve them:

Set-top DVD recorders

How it works: Much like a VCR, these recorders take input and record them onto discs. Some are combination VCR/DVD units, allowing users to put a tape in one slot, a blank DVD in the other. Then just hit record. Others require a separate VCR that must be connected to the recorder using cables -- coaxial, RCA (the red, yellow and white jacks) or S-Video, depending on the age of your VCR.

Advantages: Ease of use. If you can figure out a VCR, you can figure out one of these.

Disadvantages: The menu options on the recordings are limited.

Typical costs: $100-200, plus the cost of blank discs. The cheaper ones typically don't have a built-in VCR so you will have to connect one separately.

Computer programs

How it works: Such devices as the Dazzle DVD Recorder from Pinnacle allow you to play video from a VCR or camcorder directly into your computer, which records the data in real time. Some computers have inputs already built into them; others can get the video from a device that inputs the video through a USB port.

Advantages: You can create elaborate menus and edit your video. Depending on how ambitious and talented you are, the results can look great. Also, some programs let you save the video in such digital formats as AVI and MPG, which can also be played on portable media players or computers.

Disadvantages: The processing of the video and converting it to a disc will take more time than a settop recorder.

Typical costs: $60 and up. The pricier versions generally come with more elaborate software.

DVDirect digital recorders

How it works: Somewhere between the set-top recorder and the computer programs is Sony's DVDirect, a device

about the size of a videotape rewinder. Input the video from a VCR or a camcorder through connector cables that feed into the DVDirect and hit record.

Advantages: It doesn't take up much space, and it's designed to be simple to use.

Disadvantages: Again, the menu options are limited. And the tiny screen on the device makes it hard to tell if there are tracking problems with the video.

Typical costs: $180.

DVD-conversion services

How it works: You take your tape to a store -- such as Video Impact on Stratford Road or Professional Video Services on Martin Street-- and tell them what you want off the tape. They'll convert it to DVD for you. If you want to preserve only a few cherished recordings -- a wedding video, for instance -- and want them to look as good as possible, this may be the way to go.

"Most people just want to do the family stuff," said Robert Crawford, the owner of Video Impact.

Advantages: It couldn't be easier. You don't need to wait for the tapes to be recorded onto a disc, and someone else gets to worry about putting together the menus.

Disadvantages: It isn't cheap if you have a lot of material you want to transfer

Typical costs: $15-20 and up, depending how much editing you need. Recording one tape straight to DVD is cheaper than having segments from several tapes assembled.

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