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How to convert VHS tape to digital format
Converting old household VHS tapes to digital files can feel like a never-ending project, especially if you have stored memory in an aging format for decades. The process is not as simple as digitizing photos or negatives, and it is difficult to find a VCR or even play a tape, let alone convert them. The VHS format is not meant to be archived, and your old home movies are likely to have begun to degenerate. However, after converting VHS to digital format, you can use
Clean up and share your videos with friends and family.
If you have time, you can use some tools to convert VHS tapes to digital tapes at home. If your tape is particularly old, or time is pressing, there are some services that can solve it for you. This is our getting started guide.
If you want to digitize VHS tapes at home, you need a working VCR. These are not impossible to find, but it may be difficult to find them. If you haven't already, you can usually find second-hand second-hand goods on Amazon or eBay. Although the prices vary greatly, please be prepared to shop around. You will need a jack with a video and audio composite jack.
In addition to the VCR, you also need a USB to composite video converter and a computer with a USB port. USB to composite video converters are easy to find, but like second-hand VCRs, the prices of these devices vary-from $12 to $80 for the most basic settings.
At the low end is
($14.99), can convert analog stream from VCR to 720p or 1080p digital. However, you need to provide your own software to capture the video.
Another low-cost option is
($12.99) It can convert NTSC and PAL video at the same time (if you have overseas video, good), it has an S-Video port and does not require an external power supply. It is compatible with Mac and PC, although Mac owners need to use QuickTime Player to capture video.
In the middle range is
($21.99) In addition to the RCA connector, it also has an S-Video connector. It is compatible with Mac and PC, can capture video in H.264, AVI, MPEG2, MPEG4 and MP3, and comes with its own capture software.
The high-end is
(US$87.11). The USB-to-composite converter plugs in VCRs and computers (Mac and PC) to digitize these old tapes. It comes with its own video capture software and outputs with a resolution of 640 x 480.
Most converters come with downloadable software to handle the transfer. Before starting the process, you need to make sure that the file is installed on your computer. After installing the software in your computer, you can start. Plug the USB end of the converter into the computer, and plug the red, white and yellow cables into the VCR. Most composite plugs also have an S-Video plug. If your VCR is new enough to use the S video port, you can use it because it will bring you better quality.
Eject the VHS you are looking for, digitize it into the VCR, and then rewind to where you want to start from. Press play on the VCR, then read the record from the software on the computer, and the VHS will start to convert. Everything happens in real time, and although you don't have to sit down and watch the process, doing so can help you make adjustments to the original VHS tracking. The software converts files to MP4, which you can save on an external hard drive or upload to the cloud. If you are performing a large digital project, it is worth investing in a dedicated drive to store files.
If you are short on time or want to be used by professionals, there are many mailing services that can digitize your VHS tapes. Prices and delivery methods will vary depending on the company you use-some companies will return the DVD to you, while others will save your files to a thumb drive or as files to be downloaded from the cloud. These are some of the companies we recommend.
Hypermarket stores such as Walmart and Costco use this company to provide digital services that are advertised through stores.
Has been in business for 20 years; their digital price starts at $19.49, and comes with a DVD or USB and a digital copy that can be used through MemoryCloud for 60 days. Digital files are usually captured at a resolution of 720x480. DVD transfer has a two-hour limit, while USB transfer has no time limit. Yes Video provides customers with prepaid UPS labels for shipping their media, and once they arrive, all items will be barcoded so that customers can track their orders during the digitization process.
Three methods of digitizing old VHS tapes are provided: tape to DVD, direct download tape and tape to hard disk. The first two hours of the videotape, both the DVD-to-DVD tape and the direct download tape cost $11.95. If you are looking for MP4 files, then downloading the tape directly will be your best choice. The price of the tape to the hard drive is $19.95, and the file is provided as an editable .AVI file. Dig My Pics offers a service called "videotape alchemy," which allows customers to schedule clips, create chapters and title pages for each clip, and create digital photos from video footage. There is no minimum order requirement for tape digitization.
The price of digitizing a single tape to DVD is $19.95, and each tape costs another $2. Customers can convert their files to MP4 and send them as digital downloads or ship them back to thumbdrive. Turnaround time for digitalization is 2-4 weeks. The video must be in NTSC format to be transmitted.
It also provides pre-paid boxed video transmission rates for customers who wish to digitize a large number of VHS tapes. The pre-packed box costs US$245 and can hold up to 14 tapes. The tape can be converted to MP4 and stored in a finger drive at a price of $83.95, or downloaded digitally from the Cloud service at a price of $42.95.
In terms of digitalization, we adopt a cookie-cutter pricing structure. The company ships a box to you, you add the barcode to the tape you want to digitize, put the tape in the box, and then ship it back to the company. The cost of digitizing two items is $59, while the cost of digitizing up to 40 items is $1,09. You can choose to transfer the media as a digital download, thumb drive or CD collection. The price depends on the quantity you want to digitize.
Legacy Box usually sells, so if you take the order at the right time, you can enjoy up to a 50% order discount, which makes it one of the most cost-effective options. The tapes digitized on the thumb drive or the tapes digitally downloaded from the cloud are saved as MPEG-4 files. Each VHS tape is digitized to a separate DVD. If the film of the tape breaks, Legacy Box will provide free stitching.
Provides packaged transactions from tape to digital conversion: five tapes are priced at $129.95, ten tapes are at $254.95, and 100 tapes are priced at 1994.95. Each package comes with a CD, smart digital sorting and return shipping. You can save the file as an uncompressed AVI file ($259.95 for five tapes) on a thumbdrive ($20 for five tapes) or hard drive for an additional fee.
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