Consequently, your best bet for finding a VCR is to buy one from an online auction at eBay. Here, you can browse a large selection of used VCRs and pick one that, based on the photos and description, looks likely to work. If you’re persistent, though, you’ll land a VCR that works well enough to play, rewind and eject tapes. To convert your VHS tapes to digital, you’ll need four major components. We’ll go over that list first, and then you can join us further down the article once you’ve figured out and gathered everything you need.

What to Do If You No Longer Have an 8mm or Hi8 Camcorder

This way, you’ll be able to view your converted videos later on, even on high-end devices like VR headsets. Because you can convert your VHS to digital at any time, you can choose to do so at any point in your life. But if you’re trying to decide now what format to convert to, we recommend MP4. It’s widely compatible with most devices and works great for both high-definition and standard-definition videos. You can also choose to convert your VHS tapes to digital in multiple formats at once. For the vast majority of people, the best video file format for turning VHS video into digital video is MPEG-4 using H.264 compression. Vidbox is VHS to digital software that can convert camcorder tapes, 8mm or VHS in DVD, as well as other formats, including MOV, MPEG-2 and MP4.

How do I convert VHS to digital?

You’ll also need to connect your computer to your TV and speakers. If you’re planning to stream your VHS content online, you’ll also need an internet connection. Like other free video converters for Windows, this program can burn both video and audio files. TOTMC doesn’t work with Mac devices but is capable of recording in DVD and DVD-Video formats. The software follows the H.264 high-quality video standard during video conversion. Once you’ve got one, connect the analog-to-digital converter to your computer and your VCR or camera.

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But what if you don’t own a streaming device with mirroring capabilities? Fortunately, there is, and it’s a little-known technology that’s been around for quite some time. Have you ever noticed three letters above certain HDMI inputs on your TV or A/V receiver? We’re talking about MHL, a wired protocol for getting your phone, tablet, or computer display up on your 4K TV. While not as convenient as wireless mirroring, MHL will get the job done — and the only thing you’ll need is an MHL-certified HDMI cable. Read on to learn more about MHL and how to use it yourself.

Color correction units receive the video signal from your VCR and output a color-corrected signal back to your TV. It allows you to finely tune the color of your video by letting you offset certain colors to gain a good color scheme.

The duration of the entire process hinges on the type and quantity of media, as well as the service itself. Expect timelines ranging from 2-3 weeks to as much as weeks, depending on the specifics. Be vigilant about this, especially if there’s a deadline in play. Should you choose to use your own box for mailing, ensure it’s robust. Use dedicated protective cushions or even some old newspapers to prevent any tape turmoil during transit. Follow the provided guide for loading up the box, then slap on the prepaid shipping label.

Dust is easy to spot, and mold normally looks like a layer of white snow or brown fuzz on the surface. These can make a mess and obscure the images once you convert your tapes to digital. If you’ve never seen mold on your tapes or old film reels, that’s great news – but if you’re not sure we teach you how to spot it in this post. Lots of professionals convert old home movies to digital. Depending on the size and scope of your collection, the service might actually be more affordable than buying all the right equipment.