Digitize Your Videotapes

History of Videotape Formats

Before you digitize your videotapes, it’s a good to first familiarize yourself with what formats you have and how many. To help identify what tapes you have, here is a brief history of the most popular videotape formats:

  • 1975

     

    BETAMAX

    Introduced by Sony

    The logo includes the symbol of the Greek letter beta, mimicking the shape of a tape going through transport

    Betacam is a variant of Betamax designed specifically for professional camcorders

    Cassette production was discontinued in March of 2016

    Recording devices were discontinued in August of 2002

    Betamax could only record for up to 60 minutes

  • 1976

     

    VHS

    VHS stands for Video Home System

    Invented by JVC in Japan, introduced in North America on June 4th, 1977

    The best selling movie sold on VHS was ‘The Lion King’ in 1995, selling 32 million copies

    The world’s last VCR was made in June 2016, by Funai Electric in Japan

    June 7th is National VCR Day!

    VHS tapes most commonly hold a maximum of 1,410 feet of tape, giving a maximum playback time of roughly 4 hours in SP mode

  • 1982

     

    VHS-C

    Introduced by Victor Company of Japan (JVC)

    This is a smaller more compact version of the VHS cassette

    VHS-C tapes can be played and recorded in a full-size VHS VCR with an adaptor

    Max recording and playback time is 30 minutes in SP mode

  • 1984

     

    Video8

    Introduced by Sony

    The first Sony camcorder was the CCD-V8AF, released in 1985

    The last Hi8 and Digital8 camcorders were discontinued in 2007

    Roughly a quarter of the size of a VHS tape

    Video8 was the first 8mm tape format, followed by Hi8 (1989) a somewhat higher quality, but still mainly analog. Digital8 came out later (1999), naturally with even higher quality

    Max recording and playback time for Hi8 is 120 minutes in SP mode, or 240 minutes in LP mode

    Max recording and playback time for Digital8 is 60 minutes in SP mode, or 90 minutes in LP mode

    Most of the news footage from the Gulf War was recorded on Hi8 camcorders

  • 1995

     

    MiniDV

    Introduced by Sony and Panasonic

    The first camcorders hit consumers in 1996

    MiniDV cassettes measure roughly 2 1/2 inches by 2 inches by 1/4 inch

    Recording time is 60 minutes in SP mode, or 90 minutes in LP

    Capable of three times the color information VHS videotapes offered, meaning brighter and more vibrant colors

    Many independent documentaries used MiniDV as a recording medium, such as ‘Supersize Me’

Send Your Tapes to Memories Renewed

Now that you know how many and what types of videotapes you have. Fill out a simple order form and send them to Memories Renewed!

Memories Renewed transfers videotapes with pride, using meticulous attention to detail and gloves are worn to protect your precious materials.

First, your tapes are inspected for any breakage and will be repaired if needed. Your videotapes will be completely rewound before they are converted to a digital format.

To convert your videotapes to digital, they are played in professional tape decks, depending on the type of videotape. A time based corrector is used with older formats to eliminate issues like flagging on the top of the screen.

The digital files are named based on any legible labels on each videotape.

Once we have a raw digital file for each tape, we trim the beginning and ending so you don’t have any blank or footage to fast forward through. We also quickly scrub through the contents of the video and trim out any TV footage or blank footage, like a the camera left on in a bag, that doesn’t belong with your home movies. If there is any TV footage you would like to keep, for example a news story featuring something or someone special, please make a note in your project notes or with a post-it note and we will accommodate your request.

Once trimmed, your videotapes are output to MP4 format and put on flash media that is easily editable on a Mac or PC.

Place Order
  • Videotapes are organized by date or title, labeled in numerical order and fully rewound when finished.
  • Materials are recorded with appropriate AV settings ensuring the highest quality digital version.
  • Unnecessary footage at the beginning or between sequences is edited out for a smooth viewing experience.
  • Once converted, the final file is usable on all viewing devices to easily enjoy or share.

Skilled in tape repair!

Ready to scan all formats!

Protective glove service!

Storing Your Digitized VHS Videotapes

After you have digitized your videotapes, it’s important to store them properly. Videotapes that aren’t stored correctly can be subject to the elements, resulting in dust or moisture damage. If you no longer wish to keep your videotapes, here are some things to do with your old media.

Videotape Storage Tips

  • Out of direct sunlight
  • Cool, dry location
  • “Be Kind Rewind” to ensure the tape stays tight and responsive. Stretched portion of tape can sag over time.
  • Do not leave in VCR, they can get stuck or collect dust, or damage the VCR.
  • Store away from magnets, or electronics such as speakers that contain magnets. This could result in erased content!
  • Airtight, plastic cases are ideal over paperboard sleeves, to protect from dust and moisture.
  • Plastic weatherproof tubs are better than cardboard boxes.
  •  55 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit

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