[Technology] Converting old VHS Video Tapes to Digital

M

marlowe

Well-known member

Dec 13, 2015

3,938

• Dec 27, 2021

• #1

Has anyone done this?

Did you do it yourself or use a professional service?

If you did it yourself what equipment did you use and what was your experience regarding ease of use and quality of transfer?

If you used a professional service can you recommend anyone?

 

Jack Straw

I look nothing like him!

Jul 7, 2003

6,883

Brighton. NOT KEMPTOWN!

• Dec 27, 2021

• #2

I did a lot of this years ago, but can't remember how I did it!
Maybe one of these?
https://idaffodil.co.uk/products/re...oN0Mkdm11G213Q0Hbm6HB1lZ1lADNEv4aAq1bEALw_wcB

 

dejavuatbtn

Well-known member

Aug 4, 2010

7,208

Henfield

• Dec 27, 2021

• #3

Nick at impact media does this. He did the original DVDs on the Albion’s history.
https://impactmed.co.uk/

 

schmunk

"Members"

Jan 19, 2018

9,516

Mid mid mid Sussex

• Dec 27, 2021

• #4

https://youtu.be/ZC5Zr3NC2PY

 

Acker79

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Nov 15, 2008

31,871

Brighton

• Dec 27, 2021

• #5

I had a dvd recorder, which my VCR plugged into, and I transferred them to DVD. I then ripped a couple of the DVDs to my laptop. I think there are connectors and software you can get to connect the VCR direct to a computer via usb, but I've not used them.

If you're looking at bought videos, most movies I found were protected, but live event stuff (concerts, football videos, etc) weren't. Home videos were fine.

 

T

timbha

Well-known member

Jul 5, 2003

9,905

Sussex

• Dec 27, 2021

• #6

Little camera shop near top of Church Street Brighton - excellent

 

W

Wardy's twin

Well-known member

Oct 21, 2014

8,446

• Dec 27, 2021

• #7

I did VHS machine to DVD recorder worked ok but you do get a loss of quality. I suspect a built in vhs/dvd recorder of which there were various models would give better quality. You could also improve the quality if you could use the original camera to the DVD recorder assuming the head was still clean.

One thing to mention the VHS tapes are probably better (more stable and last longer) than the recordable DVDs that you can buy. So mine are also sitting on my hard drives....(primary & backup)

I guess a professional will be able to do this better but it will cost you £10-15 a tape. Fine if you only have a few to do.

 

Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash

Jul 6, 2003

70,221

• Dec 27, 2021

• #8

Only vaguely related but has science yet cracked the conundrum of how to safely dispose of/recycle VHS tapes? Seems to me that as things stand your only real choice is to pass the buck to third party (charity shop, binmen) who will magically spirit them out of your life forever. Not really a proper solution tho eh? Must be BILLIONS of the buggers just taking up redundant space in everyone's homespace

 

happypig

Staring at the rude boys

May 23, 2009

7,972

Eastbourne

• Dec 27, 2021

• #9

I've got a VHS to DVD recorder; I copied all my stuff to DVD then used DVD ripping software to get them into MP4 format.
The quality of 1990s videos, though, is awful.

 

Weststander

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Aug 25, 2011

64,057

Withdean area

• Dec 27, 2021

• #10

https://videostudio.co.uk/ in Crawley.

Brilliant at anything like this.