VHS is a format that is slowly becoming obsolete. This is due to the introduction of superior movie distribution formats like DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
Nevertheless, there are still many families who have valuable home videos in VHS. To keep these memories alive, it is important to digitize them. However, the process is not without its challenges.
Not Doing Your Research
One of the first mistakes people make when converting VHS to digital is not doing their research. Before deciding on a particular converter or software, it’s important to know what equipment you need to get the job done. Following to what must be done in using VHS, here are are ways to convert vhs to digital.
For example, some converters require a SCART-to-RCA phono plug adapter. It’s also a good idea to have the original tapes handy in case something goes wrong with the remastered video, or you want to redo it better (and save the original tapes for future generations).
Remember that VHS is analog, and analog signals are erratic. Capture cards expect non-erratic signals, so the signal from your tapes will need to be tamed or corrected before it can be captured.
Not Taking Care of Your Tapes
Videotapes are prone to wear and tear, which makes them susceptible to damage when improperly handled. Every time a tape cassette is loaded into and then removed from a VHS recorder, it undergoes a mechanical process that could potentially damage the tape or tape cassette. The cassette’s guide pins need to be aligned correctly in order to retract and eject the cassette without scratching the tape. Any debris on the cassette’s loading mechanism can also scratch the surface of the tape.
Many people don’t realize that tapes can be ruined by handling them incorrectly. This is why it’s important to know how to handle your tapes properly. Some of the most common mistakes include rapid rewinding, leaving tapes in open reels and not protecting them properly.
In addition, it’s also important to have the right equipment for your tapes. For example, if you have VHS, you’ll need a VCR that supports the format, a compatible analog-to-digital converter and the right software to edit your footage once it’s been digitized.
In addition, be sure to store your tapes in a safe environment and keep them out of direct sunlight. If your tapes get wet, be sure to dry them out as quickly as possible. If you notice that a tape or disc has developed an unusual odor, this is typically a sign that the material is deteriorating and should be cleaned by a professional as soon as possible.
Not Having the Right Equipment
There are a few different things to keep in mind when converting your VHS tapes to digital. First, you need to have the right equipment. This includes not only a VCR, but also a computer with a DVD burner and a capture card. It also helps to have some kind of editing software.
The best way to go is to get a high-quality VHS/DVD combo player/recorder. These machines are normally made by Panasonic, JVC or Sony and tend to be fairly reliable. They also have a good track range and won’t go off the track at the slightest error. You should avoid low-end 2-head machines like Emerson, Magnavox and Philips as they often add errors to the signal, which capture cards can see. The best ones are 3-head or 4-head units from HiFi (normally called “Hi-Fi”) brands such as Sharp, RCA, Admiral, Toshiba and Sony.
Secondly, you need a capture card that supports time base correction. A typical VCR is a bad choice because it’s not designed to record video; only to play back TV signals from a coax, antenna or cable connection. Capture cards expect clean, well-timed input, and trying to record without TBC will result in a poor transfer or even outright failure. TBC tames the erratic VHS signal and makes it usable by the capture card. This is an absolutely vital step for getting good quality transfers.
Not Having the Right Software
There are a few different ways to digitize your VHS tapes at home, but not all of them are created equal. In order to get professional-quality results, you’ll need a high-end VHS digital converter with the right software.
Most VHS to digital converters work by converting analog video signals into a digital signal that can be read by your computer’s USB port. They typically come with a SCART cable that can connect your VCR to the converter, as well as software to help you complete the conversion process.
The best VHS to digital converters are also powerful video editors, allowing you to trim and edit your footage before saving it to a DVD or uploading it to an archival platform like Google Photos. Some even have advanced features that can help improve the mediocre image quality that’s inherent to VHS.
Converting your old family home movies to digital is a great way to preserve and share them for generations to come. And by making additional copies, you can make sure that your parents, children, and grandchildren can watch them no matter when they visit! Moreover, with digital formats, it’s much easier to make edits and improve image quality than with old-school VHS tapes. Moreover, digital videos can be uploaded to YouTube and shared on social media. This makes them an excellent gift for holidays and special occasions, such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or a birthday.
Not Having the Right Format
VHS tapes deteriorate about 10-20% per year, so it’s critical to convert them to digital before they lose quality. This will ensure that you can watch your home movies for years to come. If you’re planning to do the conversion yourself, you’ll need a video converter, which takes the analog signal and converts it to a digital input for your computer.
Once your tapes are digitized, you’ll be able to access them on your Mac or Windows computer, smartphone, external hard drive, or a cloud storage platform like Google Photos, iCloud, or Dropbox. You can even rename and edit your videos to create new memories from old footage!
Video editing software can also fix issues with your scanned images, such as shaky footage, wind noise, and washed out colors. It’s important to take the time to get your footage looking its best before committing it to an archival platform or sharing it with family and friends on social media. With the right tools and knowledge, you can rest assured that your family will enjoy watching your old home movies for generations to come!
Not Having the Right Storage
Videotapes fade with age and the quality begins to degrade over time. This can be due to many different reasons such as sun damage, water damage, or just wear and tear. To keep your memories and important videos safe, it is always a good idea to make a copy in a digital format so that you can keep them forever and share them with family members who might not have the same access to VHS tapes.
The simplest way to do this is to buy a VHS/DVD recorder combo, but you can also use a dedicated VHS to DVD converter unit. To get the best results, consider investing in a video color correction unit to fine tune the colors on your video tapes. This will help improve the mediocre mage quality that comes with VHS. If you take a look at the capture, repair and quality improvement forums on this website, you will see examples of VHS captures made with various machines and methods that have been edited afterward to fix problems like color degradation.
