VHS
How to spot it: The full-size tape from the family VCR, about 7½ × 4 inches.
You getMP4, 720 × 480
S-VHS tapes play at standard VHS quality.
← All formats
Video tapes
Birthday parties, Christmas mornings and school plays recorded on the family camcorder. We play every tape on a deck made for its format and capture it straight to digital, in real time, start to finish.
1 tape = 1 item, no matter how long it runs.
What we take
VHS-C
How to spot it: A compact VHS tape, about the size of a deck of cards, from 1980s–90s camcorders.
You getMP4, 720 × 480
Played directly in a VHS-C camcorder, so no adapter is needed.
Betamax
How to spot it: A little smaller than VHS, often marked “Beta” or “Betamax”.
You getMP4, 720 × 480
Beta I, II and III recordings.
Video8 and Hi8
How to spot it: Audio-cassette sized camcorder tapes marked “8mm”, “Video8” or “Hi8”.
You getMP4, 720 × 480
Played on a dedicated Hi8 deck.
Digital8
How to spot it: Looks just like a Hi8 tape, but the camcorder said “Digital8” on the side.
You getMP4, 720 × 480
Not sure if a tape is Hi8 or Digital8? Send it either way and we’ll check.
MiniDV and HDV
How to spot it: The tiny tape from 2000s camcorders, marked “DV” or “HDV”.
You getMP4, 720 × 480 (DV) or 1080 HD (HDV)
Full-size DV and DVCAM cassettes work too.
What you’ll get back
File typeMP4 video (H.264) with sound, plays on any phone, TV or computer
Standard tapes720 × 480, full standard-definition resolution, the most detail these tapes hold
HDV MiniDV tapes1080 HD
Delivered through your private online link, ready to download and share, with USB copies if you add them.
Getting them ready
- Leave tapes in their cases, and don’t rewind or test them first. Old tapes can snap.
- Write a name or date on each case if you can. We use it to name your files.
- Tapes with mold (white spots or webbing) need special handling; tell us in your quote.
- We work with U.S. (NTSC) tapes. Ask us about tapes recorded overseas.