Transfer old tape to video
Discussion
What is the best way to get this transferred to digital? What sort of company am I looking for? The tape is 31 years old and I do not want to send it off and for it to be lost. Can you buy equipment to do this yourself? Happy to pay a decent fee to get it done properly and to travel (eg say to London).
The video was taken in the USA and I cannot remember if it was taken on US equipment or UK (therefore perhaps a different video standard). Pretty sure UK as I used to have a cradle VHS cartridge it would fit in to play on a UK VHS player.
The video was taken in the USA and I cannot remember if it was taken on US equipment or UK (therefore perhaps a different video standard). Pretty sure UK as I used to have a cradle VHS cartridge it would fit in to play on a UK VHS player.
Edited by C4ME on Wednesday 5th June 19:49
You can do it yourself but you'd need to invest in the software, leads - possibly a conversion device - and the means to play the tape (assuming you no longer have the camera). It can be a bit of a faff if you've not done it before.
It's a reasonably common requirement and I'd start by searching for 'Tape to Digital Conversion Services' local to you and check out their reviews. There will be plenty.
If there's a Snappy Snaps nearby, this is something they do. I've heard some good reviews but not used them myself.
Be aware that regardless of the quality of service or if you do it yourself, there is a risk that the tape may get damaged or what's on it is unreadable.
It's a reasonably common requirement and I'd start by searching for 'Tape to Digital Conversion Services' local to you and check out their reviews. There will be plenty.
If there's a Snappy Snaps nearby, this is something they do. I've heard some good reviews but not used them myself.
Be aware that regardless of the quality of service or if you do it yourself, there is a risk that the tape may get damaged or what's on it is unreadable.
Edited by StevieBee on Thursday 6th June 08:39
C4ME said:
he video was taken in the USA and I cannot remember if it was taken on US equipment or UK (therefore perhaps a different video standard). Pretty sure UK as I used to have a cradle VHS cartridge it would fit in to play on a UK VHS player.
UK is PAL, USA is NTSC - but even if it's NTSC a competent supplier should have the kit to deal with it.This place is in Farnham, Surrey & does drop off/collections, although not scan while you wait. Royal Mail Special Delivery is a very reliable service.
https://mrscan.co.uk/
https://mrscan.co.uk/
If its a one off just Google "VHS Tape Transfer" or similar. That gave me a few in Kent (my area) with a postal service, but were happy for me to drop off and collect the originals in person. I didn't want to risk the post.
In the end I bought the leads and did it myself as I had quite a few tapes to do. I had a mix of 8mm and MiniDV, and still had both cameras.
From your tape it looks like 8mm rather than compact VHS?
In the end I bought the leads and did it myself as I had quite a few tapes to do. I had a mix of 8mm and MiniDV, and still had both cameras.
From your tape it looks like 8mm rather than compact VHS?
Edited by 98elise on Thursday 6th June 16:25
Mr Pointy said:
This place is in Farnham, Surrey & does drop off/collections, although not scan while you wait. Royal Mail Special Delivery is a very reliable service.
https://mrscan.co.uk/
I have used Mr Scan to transfer a load of old 8mm cine to digital (you can have a download or a DVD etc) and they were very good and pretty speedy too.https://mrscan.co.uk/
It costs a little bit - but compared to the cost and aggro of doing it yourself and the quality that might result I think it is more than worth it.
Big_Dog said:
I have just done similar with MiniDV tape. I bought a panasonic cam on eBay for £14.50 and a capture lead from Amazon for £8.95. Using my macbook with Quicktime to capture the files. Then convert them to .mkv files.
Works really well and 720p looks pretty good. £25 well spent.
Yep. DV tape is relatively straight forward as the file is digital to start with. All you're doing is moving that data into a different 'container' (i.e. .mov).Works really well and 720p looks pretty good. £25 well spent.
VHS is tricker as the source file is analogue so that needs to be converted to digital then repackaged. There's plenty of devices available on this but their quality and reliability varies considerably I've found.
Most of these nerdy/anorak tape transfer types will have banks of old but good quality equipment in regular use that they have accumulated over the years and meticulously tweaked to get reasonable/decent results.
I would def send it off to one of them and save yourself all the hassle.
I had about ten old VHS tapes to transfer a year ago and went down the 'I can do it' rabbit hole of of buying unknown ancient tech from e-bay and then working out how best to capture it digitally etc etc etc. It took hours and cost a couple of hundred quid to research and then get the gear, which is of course now of no use to me whatsoever and worth bugger all.
If your source files are digital it is a bit easier but you still need to be able to play the tapes and capture the stream.
I would def send it off to one of them and save yourself all the hassle.
I had about ten old VHS tapes to transfer a year ago and went down the 'I can do it' rabbit hole of of buying unknown ancient tech from e-bay and then working out how best to capture it digitally etc etc etc. It took hours and cost a couple of hundred quid to research and then get the gear, which is of course now of no use to me whatsoever and worth bugger all.
If your source files are digital it is a bit easier but you still need to be able to play the tapes and capture the stream.
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