Computer help
Getting old VHS tapes and DVDs onto a USB or computer
Those old VHS tapes and DVDs in the loft hold weddings, birthdays and holidays you cannot get back. The trouble is, tapes degrade over time, and VHS players are getting hard to find. Converting them to digital means you can watch them on any device, share them with family, and keep them safe forever.
Quick answer
Old VHS tapes and DVDs can be converted into digital video files (usually MP4) that you can keep on a USB stick, computer or the cloud. It is done by playing the tape or disc through a capture device into a computer. It is worth doing sooner rather than later, because tapes lose quality as they age.
Why do it now
Magnetic tape does not last forever. Every year, VHS tapes lose a little more quality, and some eventually become unwatchable. Players are also getting rarer. The sooner tapes are converted, the better the result, and the less chance of losing the footage altogether.
How it works
The tape or disc is played through a capture device connected to a computer, which records it as a digital video file. That file can then be tidied up, split into separate clips if you like, and saved wherever you want:
- On a USB stick or external drive you keep.
- In the cloud, so it is backed up and easy to share.
- Ready to watch on a phone, tablet, laptop or smart TV.
Can you do it yourself?
You can, with the right capture kit and a bit of patience, but it is fiddly, real-time (an hour of tape takes an hour to capture), and easy to get wrong on irreplaceable footage. For memories that matter, most people would rather hand it over and get back clean digital files.
In Bolton with a box of old tapes or DVDs you would love to watch again? I can convert them to digital files you can keep, share and never lose. Bring me the tapes and I will do the rest.