VHS to Digital Conversion. What’s The Best Way?

Conversion Pointers to Digitize VHS

Follow these simple pointers to help digitize VHS quickly and easily.

1. Use a local digitizing service if possible. It’s worth it.
2. Avoid “testing” your tapes before converting them to digital.
3. Prepare the tapes before capturing.
4. Use high-quality equipment during the capture step.
5. Post-capture editing for cleanliness, light, and color.
6. Create backup copies for safety and sharing.
7. If you must mail your tapes, read this section.

Use a Local VHS Digitizing Service

Mitigate the risk of loss or damage by using a local digitizing service. Conversion companies are available in most major cities. You also eliminate the hassle of packing, addressing, and a trip to the post office or UPS.

Other reasons include supporting local businesses, meeting the people you are working with, and seeing where your project will be completed.

But, don’t wait. VHS and all camcorder tapes degrade in the basement.

Avoid “Testing” Your Tapes Before Converting

As tempting as it is to “see what’s on it” before converting VHS tapes, playing them on old VHS players risks damaging or destroying the tape. VHS players stored in the basement for decades have a higher chance of “eating” your tapes. The lubrication and rubber parts may have dried up over time, drastically increasing the likelihood of malfunction.

Playing tapes through video cameras or other videotape decks has the same risk and should be avoided.

Professional services will often stop and not count tapes that start with TV recordings or if they are blank. If this applies to your tapes, notify your conversion provider when placing your order.

Prepare VHS Tapes Before Capturing

Before capturing videotapes in digital format, restoring tape tension is the most important step towards a great conversion. Tension is restored when the tape is fast-forwarded to the end and then rewound to the beginning.

Don’t prepare your tapes if you utilize a conversion company. Most good companies will do this step for you, avoiding the need and risk of an old VHS machine.

Tension is lost when tapes are stored for extended periods without rewinding to the beginning. Tension is also lost when tapes are started and then stopped multiple times and rewound before reaching the end.

Use High-quality Equipment to Digitize VHS

The condition of the tape, the quality of the original videography, and the quality of the player used determine the quality of the digital conversion. Other than the tension of the tape, not much can be done to improve it. Nor is there much that can be done to correct lighting, focus, and other conditions from the original videography.

Quality equipment is the most important factor contributing to the quality of a VHS conversion. Players with worn-out components cannot reproduce a video signal better than the quality of their parts.

Between the VHS player and the computer that captures it is a converter box that transforms the VHS video and audio signals into digital files. The box and the software that runs it determine the resolution, format, and audio levels of the capture and other options.

Post-capture Editing

Skipping post-capture editing is the most common corner to cut for large-scale conversion companies and for those who do it themselves. Clean captures include basic editing options such as cropping for a clean frame and audio level adjusting. Light and color can also be tweaked, and blank spots can be scrubbed.

Create Backup Copies

Protect your investment in digital conversion! Viewing old films and videos is a huge benefit, but it is easy to overlook other important benefits. Backing up digital video content enables you to guard against machine failure. Cloud-based backup also allows you to share your video worldwide through the internet.

For those who choose the DVD digital format, there are two choices for backup:

1. Make multiple copies, play the originals, and place the backups in a safe place. Remember that a DVD player will always be required to play DVDs.
2. Get a digital copy of the DVD images and the mp4 version or another digital format. This ensures that the video will be playable even if DVD players are no longer available.

If You Must Mail Your Tapes

Projects mailed to your digital conversion specialist must follow these guidelines:

1. If you have shopped around, proofread the address while looking at the website for the company you have chosen. Sometimes, shoppers have sent their project to the wrong company!
2. Always include a return address.
3. Include a pre-paid shipping label matching the return address so the project is returned to you.
4. Even if you have talked to somebody on the phone, include all your contact information and a project description. Include name, address, phone number, email address, list of all items in the package, and a summary of your desired conversion.
5. Use a box or other suitable package that can be used for return shipping.
6. Pack all materials so they can withstand the hazards of shipping.

Best Way to Digitize VHS Tapes? Get Started

1. Call or text Jamey: 720 204-5464
2. Set an appointment (every project receives my individual attention)
3. Drop off your tapes (and records, cassettes, slides, or negatives, too)
4. In a week or less, pick up your new digitized video.