Convert VHS to DVD & DIGITAL
In 2017, the VHS tape will turn 40 years old. To put that into perspective, 40 years ago the first Super Computer was launched at a cost of $8.8 million; The Muppet Show, Family Feud and Laverne & Shirley first premiered and the U.S. celebrated its bicentennial. 40 years later, your smartphone is more powerful than that 1976 Super Computer, but your VHS tapes are not improving as they sit in a box in your basement. In fact, the magnetic tape inside the VHS case is deteriorating quite quickly.
It’s more important than ever to get your VHS tapes to DVD or USB because there are a lot of things that can go wrong with these old analog formats. At EverPresent we’ve seen it all and we take extra care to handle your VHS tapes with expertise. Have you ever heard of tape slipping? What about magnetic tape deterioration? Tape warping? Tape crease? These are all things that can destroy your priceless family memories if they’re not caught and handled by experts. Tape slipping can make your whole tape start to skip and it’s a common problem with VHS tapes stored over long periods of time.
Our technicians examine all tapes before digitizing to minimize this, often re-spooling the tape in new plastic cases. Our best advice beyond digitizing is to make sure all your analog tapes are safely stored away from the elements. Your living room or hall closet are both much better choices than the basement.
If you have video tapes that aren’t VHS, you can visit this page!
Everything you need to know about VHS TO DVD
Common video transfer questions
What equipment is used to convert VHS to DVD or digital files?
It starts with using commercial grade VHS players from companies like Sony and Panasonic. The key to good transfers is keeping them clean. After that, the files move directly to computers, reviewed and converted to .mp4 or .mov file for Mac or PC, optimized, blue screens clipped out and custom labeled. At that point, if clients choose a DVD, we build custom DVD menus on the computers, and then use Epson’s excellent DVD authoring equipment that creates custom printed labels and menus.
How many VHS tapes fit on a DVD?
The newer DVDs we use have dual layers, which means they can hold up to 7-8 hours of footage, as opposed to the 2-3 hours on the DVDs we used to rent at Blockbuster. The average tape we receive is roughly 1.5 hours long, so clients can often combine 3-5 tapes onto a single DVD. You will be able to access which video you are watching from a custom DVD menu our team creates for you. If your tapes are labeled, you will see those labels on your menu or your DVD.
Can a broken VHS cassette be converted to digital?
Absolutely! Our experienced team of video technicians can take your broken VHS tapes and cassettes and repair them before digitizing. Often the repairs are common issues we find with tapes and have handled thousands of times. We can even take a tape out of your VCR if it’s stuck!
VHS to DVD – From Our Blog
Understanding VHS tapes
Didn’t get enough info about your old home movies above? We have more history and technical information about VHS to DVD in our blog post.
Read more about your VHS format…
5 Potential Tape Issues
Your VHS tapes might look like they’re in great shape to convert to DVD, but there are a number of problems that can occur with VHS tapes when digitizing.
Read more about potential tape issues…
Can you save moldy tapes?
Minor mold is still ok for VHS to DVD! Serious mold is uncommon and requires chemical treatments that can damage audio/video quality of your VHS to DVD transfer.
Read about how we handle moldy tapes…
“I have used EverPresent to convert my old VHS video tapes to DVD. The customer experience was excellent. The staff was friendly and helpful and the product was perfect. They make it convenient with local drop off and pick up to save the customers time. I would certainly recommend EverPresent to friends and family.”
Lori J.
Dracut, MA
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Vermontor work with us from the comfort of your own home.
You can also ship directly to us!
- Consulations from the privacy of your own home
- Perfect for large or complex projects with multiple formats
- Our certified consultants travel across the Northeast
- Free, no obligations estimate
- Speak with our certified consultants over the phone
- Ship to our headquarters in Newton, MA
Standard & custom pricing options
We’ll convert all of your old VHS tapes to DVD or USB, plus we digitally capture your labeling.
- Delivered via private website
- High quality transfer to computer
- 3 levels human eye quality control
- Experienced and trained local technicians
- USB drive or CD/DVDs
- Label transcription
- Experienced and trained local technicians
- Private website included
- DVD & USB combos
- Ask about archival DVDs for added security
- 80yr, scratch-resistant, silver/gold alloy
- Medical-grade USBs
- Betamax, PAL, SECAM formats: add $10
- Umatic/Betacam SP/DVC Pro: $55/tape
$35/tape for more than 10 - Tapes over 2.5 hours: add $10
- Extra DVD or CD: $4 Standard, $8 Archival
- Extra USB: ask your consultant
- Add label transcription to Digital Only: $2/tape
- Private website free for 6 months
WE ORGANIZE AND DIGITIZE ALL OF YOUR MEMORIES
