VHS to digital conversion: I'm finally converting my old VHS tapes from ~30 years ago to digital. I lucked out by finding a VHS player that still works, hope it stays this way to the...

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

I'm finally converting my old VHS tapes from ~30 years ago to digital. I lucked out by finding a VHS player that still works, hope it stays this way to the end.
I got a VHS to USB converter. It works great with the supplied software (OBS). It's a lengthy process as the download happens when the tape is played back at normal speed. The format is MKV, easily "remuxed" to MP4.

Questions -
1) The digital files are huge (20GB), way over the limit of various web sites. Is there a way to post them somewhere?

2)The quality is awful, as expected. Any way to improve it?

Thanks in advance.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

crphoto8 wrote:

I'm finally converting my old VHS tapes from ~30 y... (show quote)

Download a copy of the utility, Handbrake. It is an open source (free) file re-sizer (compressor) that can reduce your video data to fit on whatever device or service you want. I've used it for 15 years. Mac/Windows/Linux compatible, constantly revised. https://handbrake.fr

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Regarding the quality, how do the tapes look when played on a modern HD TV? Is the digitized version worse? If so, it may the particular digitizer you’ve chosen (you didn’t mention the manufacturer). VHS was never a high resolution low noise media, and if recorded at the slower speeds, it’s worse. We typically used to view them on a smaller lower resolution screen SD in the days they were popular, so the deficiencies weren’t so glaring then as they are now on a large high res HD screen.

radiojohn

Regarding websites, are you trying to have them hosted for free?

WDT52 Loc: Sarasota, FL

burkphoto wrote:

Download a copy of the utility, Handbrake. It is an open source (free) file re-sizer (compressor) that can reduce your video data to fit on whatever device or service you want. I've used it for 15 years. Mac/Windows/Linux compatible, constantly revised. https://handbrake.fr

Great piece of software. Thanks!

JBRIII

I have not tried it, but Topaz has a Video A.I. program which might help?

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

burkphoto wrote:

Download a copy of the utility, Handbrake. It is an open source (free) file re-sizer (compressor) that can reduce your video data to fit on whatever device or service you want. I've used it for 15 years. Mac/Windows/Linux compatible, constantly revised. https://handbrake.fr

Thanks, I'll try it.

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

TriX wrote:

Regarding the quality, how do the tapes look when played on a modern HD TV? Is the digitized version worse? If so, it may the particular digitizer you’ve chosen (you didn’t mention the manufacturer). VHS was never a high resolution low noise media, and if recorded at the slower speeds, it’s worse. We typically used to view them on a smaller lower resolution screen SD in the days they were popular, so the deficiencies weren’t so glaring then as they are now on a large high res HD screen.

It looks the same low quality when viewed on TV as when I see it on my 4K PC monitor. I know that today's video quality is leaps beyond what was available 30 years ago so I have no high hopes. I want to preserve something from the family's past especially people who are no longer with us.

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

radiojohn wrote:

Regarding websites, are you trying to have them hosted for free?

I'm subscribed to Google Photos which has a 10GB limit so it's really not free. I want to share some of the videos with the family, allowing them to download whatever they want. I'll delete them later on.

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

JBRIII wrote:

I have not tried it, but Topaz has a Video A.I. program which might help?

Thanks.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

crphoto8 wrote:

It looks the same low quality when viewed on TV as when I see it on my 4K PC monitor. I know that today's video quality is leaps beyond what was available 30 years ago so I have no high hopes. I want to preserve something from the family's past especially people who are no longer with us.

Yep, I have done the same and for the same reasons. Either MP4 of H264 are good choices for your digital output format.

Lucasdv123

I bought a video stabilizer about 25 years ago.if you were trying to copy a movie from one tape to another it worked great.it also gives you a better pic quality from home movies (vhs)to vhs and home movies to dvd.i am on my 4 vhs dvd combo which have worked great when taping from vhs to dvd or transferring video from My canon rebel t3i or my canon video recoerder to dvd.they really do a good #.I don't know if you can still buy these anymore or if they are obsolete since no one has vhs anymore.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Lucasdv123 wrote:

I bought a video stabilizer about 25 years ago.if you were trying to copy a movie from one tape to another it worked great.it also gives you a better pic quality from home movies (vhs)to vhs and home movies to dvd.i am on my 4 vhs dvd combo which have worked great when taping from vhs to dvd or transferring video from My canon rebel t3i or my canon video recoerder to dvd.they really do a good #.I don't know if you can still buy these anymore or if they are obsolete since no one has vhs anymore.

There are plenty of used VHS to DVD combos available, BUT you have to examine the model numbers and specs very carefully. You’ll find that the vast majority will PLAY either, but only a small percentage will record DVDs.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

crphoto8 wrote:

I'm finally converting my old VHS tapes from ~30 y... (show quote)

Topaz's Video Enhance AI works like a charm for both!

If time is not an issue, wait until Topaz has a sale on the product.

bwa

Lucasdv123

You are right. All my vcr dvd combos have had dvr recorders.thamks for the info.minr is starting to crap out. Rberu now and then(more now than then)it won't finalize the dvd and I will have to shut it off and restart it.