What Formats Can You Convert VHS Tapes To?

This question is much larger than it sounds. There are dozens of digital formats for both video and audio conversion. The right formats depend on your particular situation. Factors include:

1. How you wish to watch your VHS to Digital video.
2. Whether or not you want to share your video with others.
3. How will the videos be backed up.
4. What quality (resolution) do you prefer.

The Best Formats for Digitized VHS Tapes

Today’s video technology for consumer usage has three basic choices: mp4, mov, and DVD(VOB).

Mp4 is by far the most popular, widely used, and most broadly compatible among playing devices. Virtually all software that plays or edits digital video files supports mp4 and therefore is the most widely used format. Mp4 is also compatible with more devices than other formats such as tablets, smartphones, PCs, Macs, etc.

Mp4 is also referred to as H.264 and the (emerging) H.265 formats and like almost all other formats, has many different options for size, resolution, bit rate, and more. There are literally hundreds of permutations.

Often mov video formats are used for professional needs. Mov is the format name for Quicktime files from Mac as well as Apple ProRes, ProRes 422, ProRes HQ and others. Mov files compared to the same quality mp4 files are much larger and support fewer devices than mp4.

Another major format is the DVD. Although DVD popularity is dwindling, there is still demand in the market. The files that are stored on DVDs that can be converted to digital files are called VOB files. Currently, many people are also converting these to mp4 files to eliminate the need for DVD players and to insure future compatibility.

For information on a broader selection of digital options, see Adobe Supported File Formats.

How Do You Wish to Watch Your Digital Video?

Several of the options that will play digital video files include:

1. Smartphones: support many formats, but storage may be a limiting factor
2. Tablets: support depends on whether it is IOS based or other
3. Macs: support Quicktime and ProRes options best, but also support mp4 and others
4. PCs: support most formats through USB or direct from hard drives
5. Smart TVs: support multiple format inputs (USB, etc.) and have requirements for them.
6. Digital Media Players
   1. Will play SD Cards and USB Disks
   1. Output to USB, HDMI, and others

Each of these have advantages and disadvantages so it is important to convert to the right format for your needs. Some formats, for example, will play on Smartphones and Tablets, but not on Smart TVs. Each Digital Media Player will have its own list of supported formats.

Do You Want to Share Your Digital Files?

When you Convert VHS to Digital, sharing the resulting files must be considered so that the most people can enjoy your investment. Since mp4 is the most popular and compatible with the most devices, it is the most logical choice.

Digital mp4 files can be shared via email, USB or SD card, external hard drives, or via the cloud. Email is limited because most email services limit the size of files they can send and usually invoke a cloud service behind the scenes, making it more complicated on both ends. It is best to reserve email for small files and limited number.

If you wish to share your VHS to Digital files with people in close proximity, then USB might be a good choice. USBs can be copied directly to other’s computers (or give each person their own USB copy), and video is immediately available. For larger conversion projects, an external hard drive might be the answer. SD cards can be used in the same way, but fewer people have this capability.

Cloud storage is an excellent way for sharing digital files, especially if the recipients don’t live close together. Digital files are uploaded to virtual hard drives over the internet into the ‘cloud’. Once uploaded, videos can be shared anywhere in the world with available internet. Most cloud services providers have simple share options by using recipients’ emails.

DVDs are the most difficult to share because they must be copied and then physically delivered to recipients in person or via mail. Don’t forget, DVDs require DVD Players!

Backing Up Digital Files is Critical

The downside to digital files is that they can be lost, computers crash, hard drives fail, and the dog eats them. Backup. Just do it. Copies can be made to multiple hard drives, a copy to the cloud which automatically synchronizes with your computer hard drive, DVDs duplicated, etc. Just have multiple back ups!

Quality Choices Affect Your Format Choices

People often request “the best quality that I can get”. They don’t really want ‘the very best’ because the very best quality can use many Terabytes per hour of video. A good quality video conversion is an mp4 with a bitrate that generates a file about 4-5GB per hour of video. There are almost endless options to upgrade or shrink the file size depending on your needs.  

What Formats Can To Convert VHS Tapes To? Next Steps

1. Call or text Jamey (About Jamey) at 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). Check Pricing!

In a week or less, pick up your new digitized VHS.