Video Digitization: Overview
Best practices and standards for video digitization differ. Thankfully, there are exceptional resources available online that can assist you with your video digitization needs. Consult the "Resources" tab on this page for additional information.
Digitizing video is relatively simple and can often be done on your own. It does, however, take a little bit of practice and research. This page will primarily focus on digitizing VHS tapes.
Digitizing VHS tapes does not require much effort or hardware and software, and the cost is low. The downside, however, is time. However long the tape is, it is going to take the same amount of time to digitize. If, for example, you have a VHS with a 2-hour video interview that you want to digitize, the tape will take 2 hours to digitize (plus the time beforehand to set up and the time afterward to save and process). But in most cases, you can simply set it and forget it (once you have successfully completed a short test and determined the proper settings).
These proper settings, procedures, and resources will be explored further on the tabs under this page.
The following is a sample method to digitize VHS tapes. Consult the "Resources" tab on this page for more information on video digitization, equipment, workflows, etc.
[Note: This process can also be followed to digitize other tapes (such as VHS-C). You just need to have the hardware to play them (like the original video camera), and perhaps the cords to connect the hardware to your computer (if the converter does not already supply them).]
Hardware and Software
Steps to Digitize a VHS
Resources for Video Digitization
Format Identification
Note: The lists of vendors are not comprehensive nor are they an endorsement for one company other another. A few companies are provided to give examples of the many that are available.