Out of all the videos pertaining to vhs to dvd, this one is the most well done, clean, beautiful, easy to understand and enjoyable to watch. I'm sad you don't have more comments or views. But hey, as an adult I've learned that trashy trendy garbage always out shines real hard working individuals.
I know right! I was just thinking the same thing...no editing and he sounds human rather than like people talking like a robot or if you don't know D.O.S. this video is not for you...plus you can understand every word...
@@tombuck it depends on where and how you want to store those personal values, videos and many more that you have For example, I chose to opt for a simple computer based on GIGABYTE X399 DESIGNARE EX, Socket TR4, DDR4 and some nice ram memory, let's say pretty decent maixim 32 gb and some dedicated ssd in storage of 4 tb or 2 tb now each at everyone's choice at least I use 6 sata ports on my motherboard and I'm happy with the storage I have butt rember i use pci express m2 ssd 480 gb for sistem operating winows and works wery good
Im very glad you made this, my grandma just found my dads graduation tape from when he was in the Air force. He died when I was really young and I never heard his voice so hopefully Ill be able to hear him. My family says I am a lot like him. So having a more permanent piece of him means so much to me.
Story time: 📼I've always held on to a particular vhs cassette tape that I called "The Never Ending Tape". It contains footage from my 2nd b. day and other shenanigans with my family (some who have since passed away). After moving into my current location I must have accidentally A.) Misplaced it or B.) Threw it away in a dumpster by accident. I was SO sad when I couldn't find it. My girlfriend felt so bad for me. Then I told my mom & grandma and they remember bits & pieces of the footage. It made me even MORE sad and I'd give anything to have it back. So... I gave up searching for it and took it as a loss. Welp, about a month later my mom was going through her dresser and came across a 📼vhs tape. She sent me a picture. The cassette was labeled "The Never Ending Tape"!!! My mom & I don't know how it got there. I watched the entire thing with the biggest smile on my face! Nostalgia & memories! Thanks for the video
Perfect. Absolutely perfect. This video is exactly what I was looking for. I've got boxes of old VHS and 8mm tapes, some from the early '90s, that desperately need to be digitized. A job I've been putting off for, oh, 30 years now lol. And, yeah, it is stress and worry, coupled with not knowing HOW to do it. Thanks so much for doing this video, it is just what I needed. I've now ordered this item and you have a new subscriber. Nice one!
Related note: To me, VHS/Hi8/etc seems MUCH more engaging and "real" than what we record with our 4K smartphones.. and tt has nothing to do with quality. It has to do with how it was recorded. I've noticed that memories recorded on VHS/Hi8 are much more deliberate. We record short clips on our phone, but our parents recorded much longer static shots with the camcorder. We record a 10 second clip of a birthday party on our phone, but our parents recorded for like 10 minutes per shot. It really helps put you "there". It seemed lame back in the 80s and 90s when my dad was constantly recording with the camcorder, but today I'm appreciative to the point of tears that he did.
In my case the length of the videos is the opposite. My mom would record small clips in order to save the most tape and be able to record more spending less money. Now she just keeps and keeps on recording making unwatchable videos because they’re just sooooo long 😂 But it is fun to watch them all
I watch a bunch of 30+ yr old video over the last Christmas holiday of my kids when they were young. Both my kid's spouses watched with us. I wanted to give them all a feel for what they were like as toddlers. You're right about long videos. Sometimes I'd put it on a tripod and just let it record for an hour. Makes it kinda tedious to watch at times, but yeah, you pick up a lot of things that would otherwise be missed. I hope to edit down my digital version soon. Thanks for the video.
Hi, this video is well done and kindly reminds us to save our analog treasures into the digital world but I like to add some things: whenever possible, find yourself a top of the line late nineties S-VHS VCR from JVC or Panasonic, with a Line Time Base Corrector (TBC)! Not much older, not much newer (because the last VCRs were the cheapest and usually, they suck). Even when your sources are not SVHS they will look better by A LOT on these machines! The horizontal VHS jitter, which is almost the trade mark of this format will be gone almost completely due to the TBC. Additionally, these machines will give you s-video out (also visible in your video as possible input of your capture device) which separates luma and chroma signals, which greatly reduces color noise in your VHS footage, even - again - if your sources are plain old VHS only. The problem is, that your capture device/your capture software will try to sqeeze that noisy, grainy, jittering VHS source material into a codec which will be very vulnerable to noisy input signals and result in artifacts (blocks!) in your destination material on your computer. I bet, the VHS material will look a lot worse after digitizing it, compared to as it looked before when played from tape directly if not treated right. All the time, the people are like - "Hey, its just VHS, and VHS already sucked in terms of quality when new" - but this is just half true. Treat the sources right, and the end result will be night and day, not just subtle changes for the nitpickers, but I mean a real difference! The people over there on digitalfaq and videohelp have tons of threads and good information concerning this topic...:-)
Yep, I've seen those ads to. And that's the first thing I think of is what if it gets lost in the mail or something happens to them and they're gone forever. No way I'd ever take that chance.
We really need a forum on this topic. Surely we could all brainstorm for a final solution. All these reviews on capture devices are hit and miss. Someone is sure making alot of money.
Have had about 15 tapes from my childhood (and even before I was born) going all the way back to 1985! Turns out I have this really great local company that does them so it's basically just a 15 minute drive to drop off the tapes, and don't even have to worry about them getting lost in the mail. I just got half of them done and they look amazing, and I've never seen any of the videos before now, it's like uncovering buried treasure! You're right about having a company do it being expensive though, for those 15 tapes it'll end up being about $500 - $600, but totally worth it for me.
That's awesome! Finding a place to do it for you without having to worry about shipping tapes through the mail is perfect. Glad you got your memories back!
If stored properly tape might last 100 years or more. My tapes from the 1980s still look the same, but I think the bigger problem will be finding a working VCR to play them in the future.
Thanks for creating a simple, straight-to-the-point & most importantly, chill video; most TH-camrs now seem like they forgot to take their adderall & all their title pics look like clickbait.
I have SO many classic by a tapes (24 hrs of 3 Stooges- no commercials), HEAR'N AID, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, classic classic Hollywood, 24 hrs of 911, concerts that I worked at (audio-on vhs), so thank yew! An I subbed.
Hey man, 'preciate that much. I have hundreds of cassettes (600-700?) with shows from the 90s. This includes great commercials and movie trailers from that era. I am slowly going through all of them, noting the time indices, and have been using my digital camcorder to convert the signal and record onto a digital cassette. But, that's wear and tear on my camera. This is the kind of solution I've been looking for. Great review, good presentation. I'm going to look at a few others to compare, but you did a great job highlighting this product's strengths. Thank you.
I ALMOST moved on during the intro, only thing that saved it was scrolling down and seeing like minded comments.. but thank you for the great info after that fact.. exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.
I have a vhs to dvd product that i haven't used in a while. Get distracted easy. So many video tapes to go through and get rid of. I know some have video but the audio is gone. 😥 This is another great idea i might have to try at some point. I was a little distracted during your video by that set behind you and to your left. Love the drums, never played. 😥 Apt living, so probably can't even have an electronic set.
I feel your pain. As soon as I was able to get our house back in 2015, I immediately got a drum set. I'd wanted one since I was a kid but never had a place to play. It's so much fun and super therapeutic!
I think a good time to do all the work would be during winter, or when the weather is poor because you would be inside anyway. I bought a video capture device & then I import them into imovie & do some edits & make shorter clips from them.... separating the subject matter for a specific purpose. Time consuming, but if you're creative, then it's worthwhile.
wonderful video. im fixing to do mine now. i only have a few but so happy to get them done. i didnt buy the Elgato conncector but did download their software so maybe ill be ok. thanks so much.
This is incredible and thank you for sharing. I’m wanting to do this for my family as well. Curious on the 8mm tapes how you converted those. Did you just put those in the camera and then plug in the VHS converter cord to that as well? Thanks again!
I realized I have a very rare french version of a documentary that aired in the early 2000s and it's not available anywhere on the internet, so I might use that trick to upload it!
I know how to do this. I have the kits and I have done it before, when the switch to digital became apparent. But then 15 years later, I want to convert the new home videos I just discovered, but my VHS player is totally broken, the mechanical parts are just non-functional anymore. Does anyone know how I can get VHS players, or perhaps a complete conversion kit with the player?
just a question does it capture the audio while recording? because i have a ucec analog to digital video transfer solution and the start guide said that it’s not possible to hear the audio while recording in obs which was true. then when the recording stops, the audio is heard when you preview the video so does the elgato capture the audio too while recording?
Have you tried any other converters that you can recommend?(as an update). I saw a handful of other alternative ones but I don't see any major differences between them, and I can't find any major comparison vids.
I still wouldn’t recommend anything other than this one. There are cheaper alternatives but it seems as though they all have issues to some degree. 🤷🏻♂️
@@tombuck Hmm, ok. The main thing i liked about this one was it included the software with it. How useful is the software? Will it allow enhancement features? For audio and video?
Have you tried to do this procedure with elgato cam link 4k ; i have an hv30 dv cam with hdmi out and i have much dv and hdv tapes to transfer but what i dont know is that if i can upscale the signal during convertion from dv 720x576 interlaced to something progressive or higher resolution video file. Although i dont know what type of video files it creates and with what codec;
I can't do it right now, due to the cost of the kit... But I want to produce a video digitaly, print it on a VHS tape, convert it back to digital and then post it online.
Can you tell me once they are in the computer can I burn them to a DVD? I’m doing this for a friend and saving them on the computer is awesome but I need to pass them on to him. Thanks
Hard drive information storage time is about 10years, perhabs even less depends on climate. There is technology of glass storage, which is permanent, but those are not commercially available yet. Question is, can yo do this with smart TV box.
i am glad i found your youtube clip , i am nearly done, but got 11 tapes that will not convert, some kind of blockage for you not to put on hard drive or dvd, have any of you guys any suggestion? they are old b-movie westerns thanks
This is great but I believe you forgot to mention that you need a cord that connects to the VCR first, which then goes to the Elgato capture then to the laptop correct?
I wonder if the captured footage plays properly with deinterlacing (60 fps as it was captured by camcorders) or if you are stuck with stuttering 30fps not deinterlaced video which looks nothing like we remember from the 90s?
Wow, you make it look so easy! I've been promising myself to transfer my old vhs tapes for years. Been worried they are deteriorating just like you said. So, as I have enforced UK locked down due to Covid 19 I thought Id make the most of this time. I will order a video transfer, so wish me luck!
This is a great time to do it! It is a very easy process- it's just tedious. I worked on it off and on for about 6 months to transfer about 50 or 60 tapes. I didn't really encounter any issues though. I think the application crashed once or twice and I had to redo the conversion for those tapes, but not a big deal.
@@tombuck I've since discovered that I no longer have the actual camcorder, but do have my video player and have successfully connected this to my TV via a scart lead, and can successfully watch the recording. BUT I'm now confused as at the back of my video player only has two connections one red and one white, and they are "female" So, can I still do transfers via the Elgado transfer ?
Yes, you'll need a male-male RCA cable, and then you can just match the colors. You can leave the red one unplugged if your machine only has two ports.
@@tombuck Hope you don't mind me asking lots of questions, but I'm still uncertain. I would like to show the back of my vcr to you but don't know how to upload a pic? any ideas?
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve had my El Gato video capture for about 6 years, and it’s liking my MacBook less and less. I have to hold my tongue just right to get the El Gato software to recognize it! Are you still using yours? Have you run into any issues like this?
I got El Gato but my PC doesn't see it. (In my device manager, it says "Device Descriptor Request Failed"). I've tried uninstalling, rebooting, updating driver software, to no avail. The El Gato software does not see that USB device either. Anybody know what might be going wrong here?
I don't think this is going to be the magic solution, but it looks like theres a recently updated version of the software for Windows. Maybe try installing this one (if you haven't already): www.elgato.com/en/video-capture/support
When dubbing VHS, I record in Filmora. I have the following problem. Sometimes empty fields appear in the recorded material (they are blue in Filmora). More precisely, these are interruptions in the recording in Filmora that last less than one second. Some of them later they are not visible in the video, but the longer ones are visible. What is the cause of this and how to eliminate it, does anyone know from experience.
Hey! I just got my Video Capture converter, and I went to their website to download the application, and they're asking me to "select my product," which is confusing me. My hope is to be able to use my old camera which is a SONY V8 Handycam. So I was hoping to be able to use the playback feature on the camera, connected to the converter, to my Mac Book Pro and start transferring. So, (1) is that doable? and (2), which product on the elgato website is best for me to select? I hope all of this is making sense...
You mean 480i, not 480p. Unless this device de-interlaces which for the price I doubt it does. Also, I don’t think this device will include TBC time base corrector which is needed to stabilize the image because VHS and analog devices are not stable due to consumer mechanics.
I paid a lot of money to have our home movies transferred but I am wondering if this works for old VHS movies? I think we bought upwards of 100 movies for our daughter and would like to see some of them again.
A client of mine asked me to digitize some of their VHS-C cassettes but they didn't provide me with the camera as I'm not sure if it exists. I'm just after ordering the elgato video capture. Is my best option just getting a VHS-C adapter case which is the same size as a regular full size 12mm VHS and connect it up that way between my PC and VHS using elgato video capture? The VHS player I have is very old and Im worried it might be dirty. Should I open it up and clean it or maybe see if any other local videographer has a VHS player lying around? Oh and I must not forget to thank you for this very helpful video as I wouldnt have known about this handy unit. I never liked having to digitise VHS tapes by putting them on a DVD and then ripping the DVD...
The adapter can definitely be a good idea, but you also do want to be sure that you trust the VCR. It's not too difficult to clean one, but it's also pretty easy to find working/refurbished ones on eBay for fairly reasonable prices.
Thank you, I’m like you gathered them for years and can not afford to lose them or pay to convert them. I have a question what if I don’t have the camcorders to play them ? Can anyone help me?
When my salary comes end of this week I will do this immediately my tapes are old but they are still working so I will do this while I still have the time to do it to pass it on digitized
Hi Tom. What was there real conversion quality when finished? Did it lose quality? I tried one of these devices years back, and it seemed the digital version was worse than the VHS version. Maybe they are better now? Did you need any other software or programs to make it look proper? Thanks
Keeping in mind I was only converting old home movies that weren't looking too great to begin with, the end result looked the same as the tapes. This is the only converter I recommend because there are so many other ones out there that can do funky things.
For the most part, yes, but I don’t know if there are “higher quality” options that will really change the image. I think the better thing is to use a reliable vcr and be sure to clean the heads. 👍
If you want to get out max quality of VHS: PCI-E capture card, S-vhs vcr, timebase corrector ( sometimes timebase corrector is built in VCR ). And when recording of course high resolution. I'm usually converting with 960x720 and 8k bitrate
@@justlaz1444 when you say pci-e capture card, youre just talking about a graphics card right? also whar software do you use to capture video? im using el gato
Thanks for the video! Helped me a lot. I still have a lot of VHS tapes laying at my parents home. But the thing is, I am a big scared to see if they still work and if they still work, that I will be missing the old safe happy home feeling with all the 90's toys and nostalgic environment, to see my parents a lot younger or maybe even my grand parents.. I don't really know if I could handle all that😟 I havnt seen the tapes since I was a little kid myself
Hi, thanks for the video :). Hope this question isn't really silly, but please could you let me know if old VHS tapes where the blip/tab (not sure of the technical term) has been removed from the corner to prevent someone recording over the tape can still be transferred to digital format? Thanks.
That’s a great question, and honestly I don’t know for sure. I didn’t have any issues with my tapes, but they were all home movies and I think they all had that tab in tact.
Thanks for the replies. 🙂 Sorry for the delayed response - I was notified of likes rather than comment, so thought I'd check in case, as that seems to happen a lot. 😂 Yes, I've heard the tape trick works, but would be a bit nervous in case it came off and damaged the machine. Might be worth the risk though. Can't say I've heard the toilet paper one though lol.
This is so great! I hope i find it as simple as you make it look. Just turned 70 and have been investigating this procedure for months. You have given me the guts to try it. Video is straightforward and not alot of extra BS (parden me) that confuses a person. So many videos have so much technical terms that are above my understanding. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Great advice and device! I found that when re-using older tapes, always fast forward all the way to the end and then rewind back to the beginning (some machines will automatically rewind) to loosen up the tapes, this is kind of like fanning paper before printing. It's easier on the vcr and makes the playback a little smoother and less statically. Also, just like at the rentals, be kind and rewind when done. Tapes store better when rewinded evenly on their reels. Don't be discouraged if an old tape doesn't play back well, sometimes tapes track better on different machines, especially if the playback is on the vcr or camera that recorded the tape. If a tape doesn't play great, it could just need tracking. Be prepared after hours of play and searching to clean the vcr as the spinning video head easily collects dirt and tape particles. It's a good idea if you're not using a brand spanking new vcr to clean the heads of the older machine first. There are pretty good head cleaners sold in stores (or online) or if you're brave, like me you can do it yourself with something very non-abrasive, dampened (not soaked) with rubbing alcohol, personally I use (non-aloe) tissue or toilet paper, but it's something you have to be very careful doing. While the lid is off you might want to use a can of air to blow out any dust build up inside the machine as you'd be surprised what's inside the player, almost like what lives inside your keyboard. Come to think of it, that might be a good idea for a future video to show some simple cleaning and preparing of your vintage playback equipment.
First and foremost you should never "go cheap" when it comes to your precious memories. Get the best thing possible, do the research, and buy what you need. Once you've completed your "project", and it'll be work let me tell you, you can sell off your gear if you feel the need or help your friends or other family with it. Family photos, videos... whatever, are too important to aim low. Otherwise you only show just how much you really don't value them.
Im doing the opposite lol..im recording blue rays into tapes..lol i like to record horror movies to tapes..it just gives it different flavor when watching. But i also do this with my vhs tapes that i do not have back ups or that never actually got a. DVD release.
There are two way to convert VHS video and there is a right way and the wrong way to convert VHS video. How are you planning to deinterlace? Cause if you deinterlace the video wrong, you lose half the resolution and the video will end up looking bad. I've learned to make different version of deinterlace from one video because some shows and commercials are at 59.94fps with half the resolution (240 lines) and others are 29.97fps and 23.976fps with full 480 lines resolution. I know it's weird but you can get better results if you know what you're doing.
@@bevmacmillan7079 The only thing I haven't done is make a tutorial video on how a CRT works. There are videos here on TH-cam explaining how a CRT works, but some of them are informative and there are videos that are misinformative.
Thanks for this video. Regarding those cheap converters: Avoid if possible! Those are mostly made by same crab company with different names. It's very difficult or even impossible to find drivers for those - especially if you have Mac. Just use well known devices like mentioned in this video and you are good to go. Now we have time to stay at home, so why not take a trip down memory lane and start converting at the same time you are watching those tapes? BTW: Your old video device might have loose / cut rubber belts inside. This might cause jam and possible destroy your videotape. Make a first test with less important tape.
Yep, beware of anything that comes with the Honestech VHS to DVD software. It's marketed under several different names on various websites and it almost never works.
*duuuuudee I need to do this! I've been wanting to do something like this for so long ! Definitely will have fun watching all those memories again 😁😂😣😭😭😂😁😀*
Out of all the videos pertaining to vhs to dvd, this one is the most well done, clean, beautiful, easy to understand and enjoyable to watch. I'm sad you don't have more comments or views. But hey, as an adult I've learned that trashy trendy garbage always out shines real hard working individuals.
Thanks for the kind words Mary, I really appreciate it!
I know right! I was just thinking the same thing...no editing and he sounds human rather than like people talking like a robot or if you don't know D.O.S. this video is not for you...plus you can understand every word...
@@tombuck
it depends on where and how you want to store those personal values, videos and many more that you have
For example, I chose to opt for a simple computer based on GIGABYTE X399 DESIGNARE EX, Socket TR4, DDR4 and some nice ram memory, let's say pretty decent maixim 32 gb and some dedicated ssd in storage of 4 tb or 2 tb now each at everyone's choice
at least I use 6 sata ports on my motherboard and I'm happy with the storage I have butt rember i use pci express m2 ssd 480 gb for sistem operating winows and works wery good
Please keep your tapes! Physical media is great.
Im very glad you made this, my grandma just found my dads graduation tape from when he was in the Air force. He died when I was really young and I never heard his voice so hopefully Ill be able to hear him. My family says I am a lot like him. So having a more permanent piece of him means so much to me.
Oh my gosh that’s incredible! I hope this works and you get to experience that! I can’t imagine what that would feel like. Best wishes 🤞
Sending positive vibes
Hi Saber, did you manage to see your dad and transfer the tape to PC?
Any updates??
Did you try it. Did it work. How was it?
“Be Kind - Rewind”
@Shawn Singh It`s part of our memories as well, so is Headbangers Ball and it`s sad.
The new generation will never understand this phrase :)
Story time: 📼I've always held on to a particular vhs cassette tape that I called "The Never Ending Tape". It contains footage from my 2nd b. day and other shenanigans with my family (some who have since passed away). After moving into my current location I must have accidentally A.) Misplaced it or B.) Threw it away in a dumpster by accident. I was SO sad when I couldn't find it. My girlfriend felt so bad for me. Then I told my mom & grandma and they remember bits & pieces of the footage. It made me even MORE sad and I'd give anything to have it back. So... I gave up searching for it and took it as a loss.
Welp, about a month later my mom was going through her dresser and came across a 📼vhs tape. She sent me a picture. The cassette was labeled "The Never Ending Tape"!!! My mom & I don't know how it got there. I watched the entire thing with the biggest smile on my face! Nostalgia & memories! Thanks for the video
Oh my gosh, how great! I have a few tapes like that too and I’d be devastated if they got lost. It definitely feels better having digitized them.
Did you get it digitized?
@@KentuckyFriedChildren No.. i'm a procrastinator.
@@demisemedia *Understandable have a great day*
@@KentuckyFriedChildren Lol! Thanks for understanding
Perfect. Absolutely perfect. This video is exactly what I was looking for. I've got boxes of old VHS and 8mm tapes, some from the early '90s, that desperately need to be digitized. A job I've been putting off for, oh, 30 years now lol. And, yeah, it is stress and worry, coupled with not knowing HOW to do it. Thanks so much for doing this video, it is just what I needed. I've now ordered this item and you have a new subscriber. Nice one!
I’m glad it was helpful! Good luck tackling your project. It definitely requires patience, but is absolutely worth it.
Related note: To me, VHS/Hi8/etc seems MUCH more engaging and "real" than what we record with our 4K smartphones.. and tt has nothing to do with quality.
It has to do with how it was recorded. I've noticed that memories recorded on VHS/Hi8 are much more deliberate. We record short clips on our phone, but our parents recorded much longer static shots with the camcorder. We record a 10 second clip of a birthday party on our phone, but our parents recorded for like 10 minutes per shot. It really helps put you "there".
It seemed lame back in the 80s and 90s when my dad was constantly recording with the camcorder, but today I'm appreciative to the point of tears that he did.
In my case the length of the videos is the opposite. My mom would record small clips in order to save the most tape and be able to record more spending less money.
Now she just keeps and keeps on recording making unwatchable videos because they’re just sooooo long 😂
But it is fun to watch them all
I watch a bunch of 30+ yr old video over the last Christmas holiday of my kids when they were young. Both my kid's spouses watched with us. I wanted to give them all a feel for what they were like as toddlers. You're right about long videos. Sometimes I'd put it on a tripod and just let it record for an hour. Makes it kinda tedious to watch at times, but yeah, you pick up a lot of things that would otherwise be missed. I hope to edit down my digital version soon.
Thanks for the video.
Hi, this video is well done and kindly reminds us to save our analog treasures into the digital world but I like to add some things: whenever possible, find yourself a top of the line late nineties S-VHS VCR from JVC or Panasonic, with a Line Time Base Corrector (TBC)! Not much older, not much newer (because the last VCRs were the cheapest and usually, they suck). Even when your sources are not SVHS they will look better by A LOT on these machines! The horizontal VHS jitter, which is almost the trade mark of this format will be gone almost completely due to the TBC. Additionally, these machines will give you s-video out (also visible in your video as possible input of your capture device) which separates luma and chroma signals, which greatly reduces color noise in your VHS footage, even - again - if your sources are plain old VHS only. The problem is, that your capture device/your capture software will try to sqeeze that noisy, grainy, jittering VHS source material into a codec which will be very vulnerable to noisy input signals and result in artifacts (blocks!) in your destination material on your computer. I bet, the VHS material will look a lot worse after digitizing it, compared to as it looked before when played from tape directly if not treated right. All the time, the people are like - "Hey, its just VHS, and VHS already sucked in terms of quality when new" - but this is just half true. Treat the sources right, and the end result will be night and day, not just subtle changes for the nitpickers, but I mean a real difference! The people over there on digitalfaq and videohelp have tons of threads and good information concerning this topic...:-)
Definitely don't trust mailing my memories. RESPECT from Philly
It makes me nervous just to think about it.
Same here
Yep, I've seen those ads to. And that's the first thing I think of is what if it gets lost in the mail or something happens to them and they're gone forever. No way I'd ever take that chance.
"Definitely don't trust mailing my memories. RESPECT from Philly"
Chinese votes got through.
We really need a forum on this topic. Surely we could all brainstorm for a final solution. All these reviews on capture devices are hit and miss. Someone is sure making alot of money.
I NEED to do this! I also have bins of VHS, Hi8, and MiniDV tapes going back to the mid-80’s.
I’m just about to start on my 8mm tapes! Had to find an old camera on eBay just to play them back, haha.
I still have AND USE floppy discs in my digital keyboards to store sounds and sequences with.
DO IT!
Have had about 15 tapes from my childhood (and even before I was born) going all the way back to 1985! Turns out I have this really great local company that does them so it's basically just a 15 minute drive to drop off the tapes, and don't even have to worry about them getting lost in the mail. I just got half of them done and they look amazing, and I've never seen any of the videos before now, it's like uncovering buried treasure! You're right about having a company do it being expensive though, for those 15 tapes it'll end up being about $500 - $600, but totally worth it for me.
That's awesome! Finding a place to do it for you without having to worry about shipping tapes through the mail is perfect. Glad you got your memories back!
Expensive. In my country, it doesn't cost more than $ 120 for 15 tapes :)
Perfect timing to see this, and to meet you ! I have hundreds of vhs tapes from my talk show, circa 1990's
Definitely need to save those!
@@tombuck Yes, for sure.
I have tapes from 1983. Haven't degraded much at all, even though I was told 20 years ago that VHS tapes are only viable for 20 years.
If stored properly tape might last 100 years or more. My tapes from the 1980s still look the same, but I think the bigger problem will be finding a working VCR to play them in the future.
Man you must really take care of your tapes
This seems pretty handy. I have some old tapes of TV recordings that I'd love to show people for the sake of media preservation.
Definitely worth the effort to save all that neat old stuff!
Now I just need to find a VCR that actually works. 🤷♀️
Not sure where you're located, but value village & goodwill usually have alot, you can also find then on Ebay or through locals
If you have a VCR then watch the tapes. No need to convert them!
@@IWantToMature85 Tapes get worn out over time after watching multiple times, so it's good to convert so you still have those keepsakes
@@IWantToMature85 A lot of people convert tapes to archive and preserve media that may otherwise be lost.
It's best to get the VCR with HiFi stereo.
I'm about to do this myself. This has helped massively and encouraged me to finally get around to doing it. Thanks a lot!!
You’re welcome and good luck! It takes a bit of time, but it’s definitely worth it. 👍
@@tombuck Thanks! Looking forward. Appreciated \0/
Thanks for creating a simple, straight-to-the-point & most importantly, chill video; most TH-camrs now seem like they forgot to take their adderall & all their title pics look like clickbait.
I have SO many classic by a tapes (24 hrs of 3 Stooges- no commercials), HEAR'N AID, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, classic classic Hollywood, 24 hrs of 911, concerts that I worked at (audio-on vhs), so thank yew! An I subbed.
Dang, that’s quite the collection! Definitely worth saving some awesome stuff like that 🤯
Hey man, 'preciate that much. I have hundreds of cassettes (600-700?) with shows from the 90s. This includes great commercials and movie trailers from that era. I am slowly going through all of them, noting the time indices, and have been using my digital camcorder to convert the signal and record onto a digital cassette. But, that's wear and tear on my camera. This is the kind of solution I've been looking for.
Great review, good presentation. I'm going to look at a few others to compare, but you did a great job highlighting this product's strengths. Thank you.
You’re welcome and thanks for the kind words! Good luck with the project- I love all the nostalgia that comes with those old shows and commercials. 👍
Good stuff. I need to do this! My kids laugh at me, thinking I have memories on VHS, hi-8, vinyl, VHS-C. TFS!
Haha, it's definitely worth it!
Love the Aquabats posters in the background!
Me too 😬
LOVE THE SEQUENCE YOU ARE MY HERO
😎💪😙
That intro was not to be skipped. 😀 Heck, I replayed it a few times.
Haha thanks! It was my attempt at an Edgar Wright style montage 😁
Thanks so much for uploading this video to TH-cam
You're welcome!
Thanks! That outro song is everything! 👏😆🤘
Tom love you video...thanks :) specially when you dropped de external storage..well don, thank you for doing it and helpings..bravo..!!!
I really appreciate the kind words! 🙏
I've been using one for years and agree entirely with this bloke.
This Elgato thing works good for you??
I ALMOST moved on during the intro, only thing that saved it was scrolling down and seeing like minded comments.. but thank you for the great info after that fact.. exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.
Great advice! I've slowly converting my parents VHSc tapes to DVD and then the DVD to mp4 . It's time consuming! Thanks for saving me some effort!
Wow, VHSc! That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.
I have a vhs to dvd product that i haven't used in a while. Get distracted easy. So many video tapes to go through and get rid of. I know some have video but the audio is gone. 😥 This is another great idea i might have to try at some point. I was a little distracted during your video by that set behind you and to your left. Love the drums, never played. 😥 Apt living, so probably can't even have an electronic set.
I feel your pain. As soon as I was able to get our house back in 2015, I immediately got a drum set. I'd wanted one since I was a kid but never had a place to play. It's so much fun and super therapeutic!
Great video and personality! Thanks for this video, another project of mine to be completed, sparking great joy and reducing anxiety!
I'm so happy you liked it! Good luck tackling the project 👊
This was the BEST!!! so easy to understand, you jumped straight in and got down to business 💯 Thankyou
Glad it was helpful! This is still the best way I've found to transfer tapes, so good luck!
I think a good time to do all the work would be during winter, or when the weather is poor because you would be inside anyway. I bought a video capture device & then I import them into imovie & do some edits & make shorter clips from them.... separating the subject matter for a specific purpose. Time consuming, but if you're creative, then it's worthwhile.
Great idea- it's a long process but it's not too bad if you just keep coming back to it over time.
wonderful video. im fixing to do mine now. i only have a few but so happy to get them done. i didnt buy the Elgato conncector but did download their software so maybe ill be ok. thanks so much.
Hopefully it's a simple process! It's definitely worth the time and effort.
Thank you! Needed to find a new converter for mine and my mom's VHS tapes :) Ordering now!
Hopefully it works out great for you!
Would have liked the results from your recordings
I wouldn't included them, but I didn't want to put family home movies online.
@@tombuck clips like the background or random stuff, you don’t need to upload peeps
Boom!💥 Nice work brother! Great video...I appreciate it more than you know. You nailed it! 🔨
Thanks Chad! Glad it was helpful 👍
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO! I am excited to rediscover my old tapes!
Definitely a great experience!
Tom question does this work on win 10
I don't have the Video Capture, but I'm using the Game Capture which does the same job! ^-^
Nice! I'm glad that's working well.
This is incredible and thank you for sharing. I’m wanting to do this for my family as well. Curious on the 8mm tapes how you converted those. Did you just put those in the camera and then plug in the VHS converter cord to that as well? Thanks again!
i have a VHS tape that's 43 years old. It's degraded some but still plays.
Very helpful and entertaining at the same time!
I realized I have a very rare french version of a documentary that aired in the early 2000s and it's not available anywhere on the internet, so I might use that trick to upload it!
Definitely worth saving something like that! 👍
I know how to do this. I have the kits and I have done it before, when the switch to digital became apparent. But then 15 years later, I want to convert the new home videos I just discovered, but my VHS player is totally broken, the mechanical parts are just non-functional anymore. Does anyone know how I can get VHS players, or perhaps a complete conversion kit with the player?
I think eBay is your best best. Maybe a thrift store, but you'll probably have better luck finding one that works reliably on eBay.
Ebay or even your local flea market
Quick question is there a way to do this with the camcorder itself because I do t have a mini DV cassette player
Yep- you can connect anything via RCA cables. 👍
Thanks brother. Will try this out tomorrow!
Do you have a cloud-based service you recommend for uploading videos, such as home videos?
Probably just something like Google Drive or Dropbox. Heck, even a TH-cam channel with the videos set to private or unlisted!
Very good and now I am off to capture video and save memories
just a question
does it capture the audio while recording?
because i have a ucec analog to digital video transfer solution and the start guide said that it’s not possible to hear the audio while recording in obs which was true. then when the recording stops, the audio is heard when you preview the video
so does the elgato capture the audio too while recording?
Yes, it records the audio.
Hi. Some product reviewers mentioned that the audio drifts out of sync over time. Has anyone else had this issue? Thanks
Not sure if anyone else has had a different experience, but this hasn't been a problem for me.
Why don't you try to upscale to HDMI then use a HDMI capture card using obs software?
thanks got today... this thing is so easy... do you suggest an upscaler?
I haven’t used anything like that. Realistically, my old vhs home movies are never going to look incredible, so I’m happy with just having them saved.
@@tombuck thank you!
i'm useing another device the DVC100 but getting skiped frames can this happen with this device have you noiced anything like that with it?
No skipped frames for me with the Elgato.
Have you tried any other converters that you can recommend?(as an update).
I saw a handful of other alternative ones but I don't see any major differences between them, and I can't find any major comparison vids.
I still wouldn’t recommend anything other than this one. There are cheaper alternatives but it seems as though they all have issues to some degree. 🤷🏻♂️
@@tombuck
Hmm, ok. The main thing i liked about this one was it included the software with it.
How useful is the software? Will it allow enhancement features? For audio and video?
It’s pretty basic, but once you have the file converted you can put it in any editing software you’d like.
Awesome video..in my case I have old radio cassette tapes which i would love to convert to digital..i need help to do it.
Have you tried to do this procedure with elgato cam link 4k ; i have an hv30 dv cam with hdmi out and i have much dv and hdv tapes to transfer but what i dont know is that if i can upscale the signal during convertion from dv 720x576 interlaced to something progressive or higher resolution video file. Although i dont know what type of video files it creates and with what codec;
I haven’t tried with the cam link, but there’s no reason it wouldn’t work. You could just do all the recording in an app like OBS.
I can't do it right now, due to the cost of the kit...
But I want to produce a video digitaly, print it on a VHS tape, convert it back to digital and then post it online.
Thanks so much! I appreciate your help!
You're welcome!
Can you tell me once they are in the computer can I burn them to a DVD? I’m doing this for a friend and saving them on the computer is awesome but I need to pass them on to him. Thanks
Hard drive information storage time is about 10years, perhabs even less depends on climate. There is technology of glass storage, which is permanent, but those are not commercially available yet.
Question is, can yo do this with smart TV box.
i am glad i found your youtube clip , i am nearly done, but got 11 tapes that will not convert, some kind of blockage for you not to put on hard drive or dvd, have any of you guys any suggestion? they are old b-movie westerns thanks
This is great but I believe you forgot to mention that you need a cord that connects to the VCR first, which then goes to the Elgato capture then to the laptop correct?
Yes, those would be the red/yellow/white RCA cables (or an S-Video cable if that's what you're VCR has)
@@tombuck Thought so. Thank you!
I wish vhs tapes were still around...
I wonder if the captured footage plays properly with deinterlacing (60 fps as it was captured by camcorders) or if you are stuck with stuttering 30fps not deinterlaced video which looks nothing like we remember from the 90s?
Oh boy, I have to get going with this mission >< VHS, super 8, hi 8...urghhhh I need to not delay further
It's super overwhelming, but if you just start with one tape, then move on to the next it'll go quickly.
Please keep your VHSes, Winnie! Support physical media!
Wow, you make it look so easy! I've been promising myself to transfer my old vhs tapes for years. Been worried they are deteriorating just like you said. So, as I have enforced UK locked down due to Covid 19 I thought Id make the most of this time. I will order a video transfer, so wish me luck!
This is a great time to do it! It is a very easy process- it's just tedious. I worked on it off and on for about 6 months to transfer about 50 or 60 tapes. I didn't really encounter any issues though. I think the application crashed once or twice and I had to redo the conversion for those tapes, but not a big deal.
@@tombuck I've since discovered that I no longer have the actual camcorder, but do have my video player and have successfully connected this to my TV via a scart lead, and can successfully watch the recording. BUT I'm now confused as at the back of my video player only has two connections one red and one white, and they are "female" So, can I still do transfers via the Elgado transfer ?
Yes, you'll need a male-male RCA cable, and then you can just match the colors. You can leave the red one unplugged if your machine only has two ports.
@@tombuck Hope you don't mind me asking lots of questions, but I'm still uncertain. I would like to show the back of my vcr to you but don't know how to upload a pic? any ideas?
Hey Tom Buck, since you have a bunch of VHS tapes, I just wanna ask if you have any rare Toonami tapes?
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve had my El Gato video capture for about 6 years, and it’s liking my MacBook less and less. I have to hold my tongue just right to get the El Gato software to recognize it! Are you still using yours? Have you run into any issues like this?
omg thank you i hadn't thought about that thank you! thankyou thankyou thankyou
You’re welcome you’re welcome!
what do you think about the image quality? Is it good?
In my experience, it's the same as whatever the quality is on the VHS tape.
@@tombuck I ask because some speak thats not the expected. Could be settings they use wrong? I found one but its expensive usb3hdcap.
Thanks for this, I’m 13 and I used to watch tmnt and blinked bill.
I got El Gato but my PC doesn't see it. (In my device manager, it says "Device Descriptor Request Failed"). I've tried uninstalling, rebooting, updating driver software, to no avail. The El Gato software does not see that USB device either. Anybody know what might be going wrong here?
I don't think this is going to be the magic solution, but it looks like theres a recently updated version of the software for Windows. Maybe try installing this one (if you haven't already): www.elgato.com/en/video-capture/support
What’s the best small hard drive?
I really like the Samsung T7.
When dubbing VHS, I record in Filmora. I have the following problem. Sometimes empty fields appear in the recorded material (they are blue in Filmora). More precisely, these are interruptions in the recording in Filmora that last less than one second. Some of them later they are not visible in the video, but the longer ones are visible. What is the cause of this and how to eliminate it, does anyone know from experience.
Hey! I just got my Video Capture converter, and I went to their website to download the application, and they're asking me to "select my product," which is confusing me. My hope is to be able to use my old camera which is a SONY V8 Handycam. So I was hoping to be able to use the playback feature on the camera, connected to the converter, to my Mac Book Pro and start transferring. So, (1) is that doable? and (2), which product on the elgato website is best for me to select? I hope all of this is making sense...
You mean 480i, not 480p. Unless this device de-interlaces which for the price I doubt it does. Also, I don’t think this device will include TBC time base corrector which is needed to stabilize the image because VHS and analog devices are not stable due to consumer mechanics.
I paid a lot of money to have our home movies transferred but I am wondering if this works for old VHS movies? I think we bought upwards of 100 movies for our daughter and would like to see some of them again.
The 1/4" monitor outputs are definitely the way to go.
A client of mine asked me to digitize some of their VHS-C cassettes but they didn't provide me with the camera as I'm not sure if it exists. I'm just after ordering the elgato video capture. Is my best option just getting a VHS-C adapter case which is the same size as a regular full size 12mm VHS and connect it up that way between my PC and VHS using elgato video capture? The VHS player I have is very old and Im worried it might be dirty. Should I open it up and clean it or maybe see if any other local videographer has a VHS player lying around? Oh and I must not forget to thank you for this very helpful video as I wouldnt have known about this handy unit. I never liked having to digitise VHS tapes by putting them on a DVD and then ripping the DVD...
The adapter can definitely be a good idea, but you also do want to be sure that you trust the VCR. It's not too difficult to clean one, but it's also pretty easy to find working/refurbished ones on eBay for fairly reasonable prices.
You can use Topaz Video Enhance to upscale the video using AI, the results are like black magic, never thought something like that could be possible.
Oh wow! That sounds like it could be super neat. Thanks for the recommendation!
@@tombuck take a look at this, keep in mind that youtube's compression is awful th-cam.com/video/XQpd804aTgM/w-d-xo.html
Thank you, I’m like you gathered them for years and can not afford to lose them or pay to convert them. I have a question what if I don’t have the camcorders to play them ? Can anyone help me?
I was able to find a working camcorder on eBay for pretty cheap. Definitely recommend it 👍
@@tombuck thank you!
When my salary comes end of this week I will do this immediately my tapes are old but they are still working so I will do this while I still have the time to do it to pass it on digitized
It's absolutely worth the investment in both time and money.
What is the best resolution to save the VHS to?
what is the name of video capture app.??
It’s elgato Video Capture
Isn't s-video better than composite?
Hi Tom. What was there real conversion quality when finished? Did it lose quality? I tried one of these devices years back, and it seemed the digital version was worse than the VHS version. Maybe they are better now? Did you need any other software or programs to make it look proper? Thanks
Keeping in mind I was only converting old home movies that weren't looking too great to begin with, the end result looked the same as the tapes. This is the only converter I recommend because there are so many other ones out there that can do funky things.
Does the vcr determine the picture quality when converting ? Meaning, should a buy the highest quality vcr I can get?
For the most part, yes, but I don’t know if there are “higher quality” options that will really change the image. I think the better thing is to use a reliable vcr and be sure to clean the heads. 👍
@@tombuck thank you I didn’t even think of that. Should I also buy the svideo cable to get best picture results?
If you want to get out max quality of VHS: PCI-E capture card, S-vhs vcr, timebase corrector ( sometimes timebase corrector is built in VCR ). And when recording of course high resolution. I'm usually converting with 960x720 and 8k bitrate
@@justlaz1444 when you say pci-e capture card, youre just talking about a graphics card right? also whar software do you use to capture video? im using el gato
@@christophermartinez5160 PCI-e video capture card. But with usb capture card also quality not so bad, it's ok I think.
I'm capturing with obs studio
Thanks for the video! Helped me a lot. I still have a lot of VHS tapes laying at my parents home. But the thing is, I am a big scared to see if they still work and if they still work, that I will be missing the old safe happy home feeling with all the 90's toys and nostalgic environment, to see my parents a lot younger or maybe even my grand parents.. I don't really know if I could handle all that😟 I havnt seen the tapes since I was a little kid myself
It's not a bad 💡
Hi, thanks for the video :). Hope this question isn't really silly, but please could you let me know if old VHS tapes where the blip/tab (not sure of the technical term) has been removed from the corner to prevent someone recording over the tape can still be transferred to digital format? Thanks.
That’s a great question, and honestly I don’t know for sure. I didn’t have any issues with my tapes, but they were all home movies and I think they all had that tab in tact.
amym22 If so, put some toilet paper in the holes...old school fix. Lol
Just place a piece of the thin clear 'Scotch Tape ' ( can be any Brand ) over the opening where the TAB was 🤙
@@tombuck Just plain old Scotch Type Tape over the opening ...🤙
Thanks for the replies. 🙂 Sorry for the delayed response - I was notified of likes rather than comment, so thought I'd check in case, as that seems to happen a lot. 😂
Yes, I've heard the tape trick works, but would be a bit nervous in case it came off and damaged the machine. Might be worth the risk though.
Can't say I've heard the toilet paper one though lol.
Great job. Thank you. What about old projector reels. Maybe that's 8mm???
Not sure about those- I think there are services/converters specifically for film but I haven’t used them.
Ok. Thank you.
So................can you digitize the entire video, then go back at a later time and edit it?
Absolutely!
This video is exactly what I was looking for. Double like.
Why not get a vcr?
@@IWantToMature85 you have to get a vcr to digitize tapes.
Bro, double like= not a like!😅
@@amitagarwal2216 LOL.... Let's go with TRIPLE like!!!!!😅😅😅😅
This is so great! I hope i find it as simple as you make it look. Just turned 70 and have been investigating this procedure for months. You have given me the guts to try it. Video is straightforward and not alot of extra BS (parden me) that confuses a person. So many videos have so much technical terms that are above my understanding. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Great advice and device! I found that when re-using older tapes, always fast forward all the way to the end and then rewind back to the beginning (some machines will automatically rewind) to loosen up the tapes, this is kind of like fanning paper before printing. It's easier on the vcr and makes the playback a little smoother and less statically. Also, just like at the rentals, be kind and rewind when done. Tapes store better when rewinded evenly on their reels.
Don't be discouraged if an old tape doesn't play back well, sometimes tapes track better on different machines, especially if the playback is on the vcr or camera that recorded the tape. If a tape doesn't play great, it could just need tracking. Be prepared after hours of play and searching to clean the vcr as the spinning video head easily collects dirt and tape particles. It's a good idea if you're not using a brand spanking new vcr to clean the heads of the older machine first. There are pretty good head cleaners sold in stores (or online) or if you're brave, like me you can do it yourself with something very non-abrasive, dampened (not soaked) with rubbing alcohol, personally I use (non-aloe) tissue or toilet paper, but it's something you have to be very careful doing. While the lid is off you might want to use a can of air to blow out any dust build up inside the machine as you'd be surprised what's inside the player, almost like what lives inside your keyboard.
Come to think of it, that might be a good idea for a future video to show some simple cleaning and preparing of your vintage playback equipment.
Great info, thank you!!
@@tombuck You're very welcome!
First and foremost you should never "go cheap" when it comes to your precious memories. Get the best thing possible, do the research, and buy what you need. Once you've completed your "project", and it'll be work let me tell you, you can sell off your gear if you feel the need or help your friends or other family with it. Family photos, videos... whatever, are too important to aim low. Otherwise you only show just how much you really don't value them.
Do you have any particular suggestions/products to do this properly?
Im doing the opposite lol..im recording blue rays into tapes..lol i like to record horror movies to tapes..it just gives it different flavor when watching. But i also do this with my vhs tapes that i do not have back ups or that never actually got a. DVD release.
That is fucking awesome what you're doing
There are two way to convert VHS video and there is a right way and the wrong way to convert VHS video. How are you planning to deinterlace? Cause if you deinterlace the video wrong, you lose half the resolution and the video will end up looking bad. I've learned to make different version of deinterlace from one video because some shows and commercials are at 59.94fps with half the resolution (240 lines) and others are 29.97fps and 23.976fps with full 480 lines resolution. I know it's weird but you can get better results if you know what you're doing.
@@SuperCartoonist did you do a video on how to do properly?
@@bevmacmillan7079 The only thing I haven't done is make a tutorial video on how a CRT works.
There are videos here on TH-cam explaining how a CRT works, but some of them are informative and there are videos that are misinformative.
Thanks for this video. Regarding those cheap converters: Avoid if possible! Those are mostly made by same crab company with different names. It's very difficult or even impossible to find drivers for those - especially if you have Mac. Just use well known devices like mentioned in this video and you are good to go. Now we have time to stay at home, so why not take a trip down memory lane and start converting at the same time you are watching those tapes? BTW: Your old video device might have loose / cut rubber belts inside. This might cause jam and possible destroy your videotape. Make a first test with less important tape.
Yep, beware of anything that comes with the Honestech VHS to DVD software. It's marketed under several different names on various websites and it almost never works.
I feel old now lol, I remember when my dad used to own a camcorder that took blank vhs tapes
*duuuuudee I need to do this! I've been wanting to do something like this for so long ! Definitely will have fun watching all those memories again 😁😂😣😭😭😂😁😀*
Its such a blast! And, at times, hugely embarrassing.
4 sure!
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