Why transfer your videos to DVD or USB?

There are several reasons why you might want to transfer videotapes to DVD or USB:

  1. Preserve your memories: Videotapes are prone to deterioration over time, and can become damaged or degraded. Transferring them to a more stable format like DVD or USB can help preserve your memories for years to come.
  2. View tapes on modern devices: Many newer devices, like TVs and computers, do not have the capability to play videotapes. Transferring them to DVD or USB allows you to view your tapes on these modern devices.
  3. Edit and share your tapes: Transferring your tapes to a digital format like DVD or USB allows you to easily edit and share your videos with others. You can use video editing software to cut and splice your footage, and then burn it to a DVD or save it to a USB drive to share with friends and family.
  4. Save space: Videotapes take up a lot of physical space, especially if you have a large collection. Transferring your tapes to DVD or USB allows you to free up space in your home and declutter.

We are often asked if videotapes will deteriorate over time. I always say “Probably”.

Tapes rely on good, dry storage and good quality tape. The more you play them the more likely you are to notice white flecks in the picture. This is the tape breaking down.

I have noticed that the older the tape the more reliable they seem. This may be due to better production processes in the early days and cutting corners to make the tapes cheaper later on. I remember paying about £12 a tape when I first bought a video recorder.

Another problem is the deterioration of the video recorder. Older machines have rubber belts which perish over time. If you try to play your tape in a machine with a broken belts it will almost certainly get mangled!

So whatever type of tape you have, whether its a full size VHS tape or one of the tapes from your camcorder it would be a good idea to get them transferred as soon as possible if you want to save those cherished recordings.