Amidst the holiday cheer and festive spirit, we encountered numerous individuals, particularly women in their 30s to early 40s, who shared a common goal long-pending on their bucket lists: a desire to transfer VHS tapes, Hi-8 tapes, and other cherished memories to a digital format for preservation and easier viewing.

Many of the visitors we spoke with were holding onto video tapes with footage from their childhood, capturing the essence of the 1990s. The era of VHS-C and Hi-8 tapes might feel like a distant memory, but for our customers, these old VHS tapes were time capsules, filled with irreplaceable moments and emotions. The challenge? Their precious memories were trapped in outdated formats (video tape!), waiting to be converted into a more durable, long-lasting format.

The Bucket List Item: Digital Conversion

The concept of a “bucket list” often includes grand adventures and life-changing experiences. Yet, for many we met at the convention, converting old video tapes was a significant, deeply personal goal. It’s a task often postponed, not due to lack of desire, but due to uncertainty about where to go or for fear of losing these tapes in transit.

The process of converting VHS tapes to a digital format not only preserves these memories but also revitalizes them. Our video transfer service allows you to relive your past through modern devices like smart TVs, DVD players, laptop computers, and even your phone.

Your Go-To Digital Converter

At ARS Video, we specialize in transferring VHS tapes to digital, ensuring your old tapes find new life in the digital age. Our digital service is meticulous since we make digital preservation our number one priority.

Cutting-Edge Technology

We use advanced tools and software to ensure the best quality digital conversion possible. This technology allows us to transfer VHS tape to digital with precision, maintaining the quality of your original tapes.

Options for Your Digital Files

Once converted, your precious memories will be returned to you in their original format and on a USB drive. We also offer the option to create a DVD copy for those who prefer that specific format.

Easy and Secure Process

Our process is designed to be both convenient and secure. You can bring your old VHS tapes to our local office, eliminating the worry of mailing your priceless memories. Our team handles every tape with care, ensuring your video file transfer is seamless and safe.

If you would like to mail us your materials, never fear! We have never had an issue with lost packages when tracking was used on the package, including from our customers all across America. Download a packing slip here to get started.

Transfer VHS to Digital with ARS Video

Our dedication goes beyond just providing a digital service. We understand the emotional value of each VHS video tape, treating every transfer VHS to digital request as a project to safeguard memories for generations to come. We look at these projects as time capsules and love letters from your past!

Don’t let your old VHS tapes gather dust. Convert your VHS tapes with ARS Video and ensure your precious memories are safely transferred to a digital format, ready to be enjoyed on any modern device.

Begin your journey of preserving the past for a vividly remembered future. Drop by our office or contact us today for more information on our digital conversion services. Remember, these aren’t just old tapes; they are the chapters of your life story. Let ARS Video help you keep that story alive and accessible for years to come!

Stop by and see us at booth 1610 at the IX Center, February 2^nd-11^th 2024 for the Great Big Home and Garden show.

ARS Video

Since 1987, the ARS Video team has been preserving precious memories and valuable archival footage through video transfer, film digitization and more media services for customers across the USA. Our team is always watching for new technology trends and is proud to have been at the forefront of analog media conversions for many years. Committed to customer service excellence and to delivering a great final product for our customers – many of whom are repeat partners over the years – we blog about trends in digitization,  high tech vs low tech, culture milestones, and tips for getting the most out of your valuable recorded media. Thanks for reading!

The post Transfer VHS To Digital: Crossing Off An Item on Your Bucket List appeared first on A.R.S. Video.

1. Visual and Auditory Glitches on Playback
   While enjoying a VHS video, anomalies like streaks, ghosting and green or red hues – might appear, making the video seem distorted. These are of tape degradation or VCR playback head issues. Using a digital converter, ARS Video can convert your VHS footage to High Definition and salvage the content before it’s too late.
2. Sticky Tape Syndrome
   Older VHS tapes can sometimes suffer from “sticky shed syndrome” due to the binder absorbing moisture. Such tapes squeak during playback or stop altogether, risking damage to both the tape and the VCR player. This calls for possible “baking” and immediate digital conversion.
3. Warping and Physical Damage to Tapes
   Old tapes might also show signs like warping or mold. Even if they’re still playable, converting these videotapes to a digital file on a hard drive or flash drive is advisable before they’re entirely lost.
4. Loading or Ejecting Issues
   If your VCR faces challenges in loading or ejecting a tape, it hints at mechanical wear and tear. Persistently using a compromised VCR player could further damage the videotape.
5. Unusual Noises from the VCR Player
   Any unusual sounds from the VCR, like grinding, point towards internal misalignment or wear, which can harm your old video tapes in the long run.
6. Diminished Video and Audio Quality
   Repeated playbacks cause video tapes to lose their magnetic signal strength, affecting both video and audio quality. A noticeable quality drop over a short span suggests it’s time for digitization.
7. Obsolescence of Replacement Parts
   As the Digital Age progresses, finding spare parts or experts to repair older VCR players becomes increasingly difficult. If sourcing parts or repair services for your VCR becomes a challenge, consider migrating your home movie collection to a digital format.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has identified several issues with video tapes. Here are some:

1. Magnetic-based audio and video media may be one of the least stable formats found in archival holdings, depending on age, type of tape, and how it has been stored (1)
2. In addition to deterioration of the media itself, the proper equipment must be available to playback the record (1)
3. For these reasons, it is recommended that significant and frequently used tapes be copied or reformatted (1)
4. Magnetic tape, especially videotape, is susceptible to dimensional distortions that interfere with playback (1)
5. Any tape is susceptible to damage in a variety of ways each time it is played (1)
6. The tape formulation has a significant impact on the stability of the tape; some formulations are very unstable (1)

1 https://www.archives.gov/preservation/holdings-maintenance/machine-readable

Converting VHS to Digital at ARS Video

The charm and nostalgia of VHS tapes are undeniable, but as time marches on, the physical limitations of both tapes and VCR players become evident. To ensure that your cherished memories and classic movies don’t fade into oblivion, stay vigilant to these signs of degradation. That way, when the time comes, you can make the wise choice to convert your VCR-played VHS tapes to digital.

ARS Video specializes in helping you take this essential step, ensuring that the stories, memories, and films of the past remain accessible for future generations to enjoy. Reach out to our team today with questions, or send us your old VHS video tapes to get started preserving your precious memories with our video digitalization service!

ARS Video

Since 1987, the ARS Video team has been preserving precious memories and valuable archival footage through video transfer, film digitization and more media services for customers across the USA. Our team is always watching for new technology trends and is proud to have been at the forefront of analog media conversions for many years. Committed to customer service excellence and to delivering a great final product for our customers – many of whom are repeat partners over the years – we blog about trends in digitization,  high tech vs low tech, culture milestones, and tips for getting the most out of your valuable recorded media. Thanks for reading!

The post When to Digitize Your VCR and VHS Collection appeared first on A.R.S. Video.

If you have stacks of old VHS tapes collecting dust, now’s the time to consider converting those VHS tapes to digital formats. Not only will you safeguard precious memories from inevitable degradation, but you’ll also breathe new life into them, making them easily accessible and shareable.

Understanding VCRs and Their VHS Varieties

Before diving into the digital conversion process, it’s crucial to understand the different types of VCR players and the VHS tapes they accommodate.

The world of VCRs is diverse and offers a range of devices tailored to different VHS cassette formats. The most familiar is the standard VCR designed for the standard VHS tapes, recognized for its widespread use during the heyday of home video. Then there’s the VHS-C VCR, specialized for the compact VHS format primarily used in camcorders. Although the tapes are more compact, they can be played on a standard VCR with the help of an adapter.

For those seeking higher video quality, the S-VHS (Super VHS) VCR offers a notable enhancement over the standard VHS, catering to more professional needs and offering sharper visuals. Finally, there’s an S-VHS-C player for the compact version of the Super VHS tapes.

As time has progressed, manufacturers have also combined VCR players with DVD players, providing a bridge between the analog and digital realms. As with all technology, while the pure VCR player is now less common due to digital advancements, its nostalgic value and crucial role in many households’ precious memories can’t be overlooked.

Here are the different types of VHS tapes that ARS Video converts to digital:

1. Standard VHS: The most common format, these tapes are about 18.7 cm x 10.2 cm x 2.5 cm. Their recording time is usually indicated by a label “T” followed by a number, revealing the duration in SP mode. For example, T-120 would mean 120 minutes of recording at SP (Standard Play) speed. The SP mode offers the highest quality, but for extended recording, there are LP (Long Play) and EP (Extended Olay) modes – though at reduced quality.
2. VHS-C: Launched in 1982, this compact version was meant for portable VCRs and later became popular for smaller, lightweight camcorders. These tapes are 9.2 cm x 5.5 cm x 2.0 cm and need an adapter cassette for playback in standard VCRs. In SP mode, the maximum recording time for a VHS-C is 30 minutes.
3. Super VHS (S-VHS): A step up in quality from the regular VHS, the S-VHS was designed mainly for professional use, offering improved color quality and resolution. While they’re the same size as standard VHS tapes, they require an S-VHS VCR for optimal playback.
4. Compact S-VHS (S-VHS-C): Just like its bigger counterpart, the S-VHS-C was the compact version for camcorders but required an S-VHS adapter cassette for playback in standard S-VHS machines.

The Decline of VHS and the Rise of Digital

Over time, the popularity of VHS tapes dwindled due to the emergence of superior movie distribution formats like DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Moreover, the shift in camcorder technology from VHS to Hi8 and then to digital further buried VHS’s prominence. By 2014, VCR stand-alone units ceased production, and though some VCR/DVD hybrid units remained, the era of VHS was coming to a close.

Many households and organizations still hold onto their VCRs, an ode to nostalgia and a reminder of the countless hours of memories stored in stacks of VHS tapes. However, given that magnetic tape has a lifespan of about 10 to 30 years, many VHS tapes are approaching the end of their life.

Why Convert VHS to Digital

• Preservation of Memories: VHS tapes degrade over time. By converting VHS to digital formats, you’re ensuring that those precious memories don’t fade away.
• Easy Accessibility: Digital files can be watched on multiple devices, shared with friends and family, and stored on various mediums like a flash drive, external hard drive, or a cloud service.
• Space Saving: Digital files take up virtual space, freeing up physical storage in your home.

Convert Old VHS Tapes at ARS Video

The process of converting video tapes to digital involves using a digital converter that takes the analog media from your VHS cassette and turns it into a digital file. This file is then saved onto a hard drive, thumb drive, or any other digital storage medium. Transferring the files to DVD can still be done but is not recommended. The digital files created at AR Video are High Definition and will not fit onto a DVD.

In this digital age, it’s essential to give old tapes a new lease on life by converting VHS tapes to digital formats. Whether it’s a home movie, an old tape of a family event, or a memorable video, don’t let these memories fade away.

Send your VHS tapes to ARS Video by downloading a free shipping slip today, or contact us for more information. Embrace the world of digital conversion, preserve those precious moments, and relive them anytime, anywhere in the future.

Want to learn more about VHS digitization before engaging with ARS Video? Please check-out this blog post for more details.

ARS Video

Since 1987, the ARS Video team has been preserving precious memories and valuable archival footage through video transfer, film digitization and more media services for customers across the USA. Our team is always watching for new technology trends and is proud to have been at the forefront of analog media conversions for many years. Committed to customer service excellence and to delivering a great final product for our customers – many of whom are repeat partners over the years – we blog about trends in digitization,  high tech vs low tech, culture milestones, and tips for getting the most out of your valuable recorded media. Thanks for reading!

The post Converting VHS to Digital: A Dive into the World of VCRs appeared first on A.R.S. Video.

Video camera and camcorder recordings typically have a lifespan of around 15–20 years. Any film footage taken before 2000 already risks being lost forever—unless you have the film converted to digital files.

If you’re looking for somewhere to get your favorite footage saved and preserved, there is no better place than ARS Video. With over 30 years of experience, our family-run and operated company specializes in offering a full range of film, video, and audio conversion services.

At ARS Video, we use digital transfer services to ensure your home movies are digitized and formatted correctly, preserving your favorite memories for your children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren to enjoy for years to come.

Why Transfer Your Old Movies to a High-Definition Digital Format

You might want to transfer your home videos to a high-definition format for several reasons. Here are some of our team’s favorites:

• Upres your footage to match todays TVs.

HD video has many more pixels than standard definition video. While your old videos can’t be improved, they can keep up with technology and made to fit todays widescreen High-Definition TVs or other high-definition devices.

• Digitized memories are the gift that keeps on giving.

There’s no greater feeling than taking a stroll down memory lane. By digitalizing your old videos, you can do it as often as you like, or gift those videos to loved ones you know will cherish them as much as you do.

• Celebrate life’s milestones in an unforgettable way.

One unique way to celebrate special occasions such as anniversaries or birthdays is by digitalizing old videos. This can be done by scanning old home movies or transferring videotapes to a digital format, so that you can relive these memories for many years and share them with family and friends.

• Safeguard your memories against the wear and tear of time.

As anyone who has ever tried to watch an old VHS tape knows, time and technology are not kind to analog recordings. The quality of the picture and sound degrades every time they’re played, and eventually, they’ll become unplayable entirely. By keeping old video footage stored on your computer or another modern electronic device, you’ll have easier access to any memories you want to playback and enjoy.

• Include digitalized videos in your digital estate plan.

By including your irreplaceable family memories in your digital estate plan, you can keep your videos safe in a secure location while still being able to access them from anywhere in the world. Whether you move across the country or step out for a vacation, that footage is just a click away once it’s digital.

• Easily share digital video footage with family and friends.

In the past, the only way to share a home movie was to gather everyone together in front of a TV or projector screen. Now, thanks to digital technology, you can easily share your movies with anyone, anywhere in the world – all they need is an internet connection. You can even post them online for everyone to see!

• Edit your home movies and create new memories.

Another great benefit of digitizing your home movies is that it gives you the ability to edit them however you like. Maybe there’s a scene you want to cut out or a section you want to loop endlessly for comedic effect – with digital editing, anything is possible! You can also use special effects and filters to enhance your movies or even add new audio tracks on top of the existing ones, turning a special memory into a brand-new one that every family member will enjoy.

Preserve Your Precious Videos Before They Deteriorate

Old film reels, cassette tapes, MiniDV, and other outdated formats deteriorate extremely easily. The colors fade, the sound grows distorted, and the images become less clear as time goes on.

By creating digital copies, ARS Video makes sure your precious memories are preserved for future generations to enjoy. Not only will digitalizing them help to preserve the videos, but it will also help to improve the quality. With advances in technology, we can now create digital videos that recapture the magic of the original moments in which the footage was taken.

ARS Video has a Team of Experts Who are Passionate About What They Do

ARS Video has a team of highly trained and experienced film conversion professionals who are experts in their field at converting older films and videotapes to High Definition. We use the latest technologies and equipment to ensure that all clients receive the highest quality service possible.

The staff at our long-standing family business takes the time to understand your individual needs and requirements before starting the digitization process.

ARS Video offers a full range of film, video, and audio conversion services, meaning that we can cater to any need you might have. We also provide advice on which format would be best suited to your requirements.

ARS Video Makes Digitizing Your Home Movies Easy!

Once received, an ARS Video technician will review the condition and content to provide an accurate estimate with quantity discounts that apply.  You will then be asked to approve the estimate and processing will begin. Many customers mail them in (we have never had a problem with tracking) or drop off your videos to ARS Video in Tallmadge, Ohio and we will digitize them in our state-of-the-art facility. Once the transfer process is finished, you can choose to have your digitized home movies delivered back to you on an upscaled High Definition MP4 file loaded onto a flash drive or DVD that can be played on both your PC and TV. Then, for added security, you can upload these to your PC or even a cloud-based service.  In any case we will back up your files here in case you want another copy in the future.

ARS Video is the best way to make sure your home movies are properly preserved. Visit or call ARS Video today during work hours, where you’ll talk to a real person, get an estimate, and get started with our digital service.

If you’re looking for the best family-owned company to digitize your bulky home movie video tapes, look no further than ARS Video. With over 36 years of experience, a team of experts who are passionate about what they do, and a full range of film, video, and audio conversion services, ARS Video is a clear choice.

Don’t wait – digitize your old media today with ARS Video. For more information, contact us now!

Members of the Society of American Archivists.

ARS Video

Since 1987, the ARS Video team has been preserving precious memories and valuable archival footage through video transfer, film digitization and more media services for customers across the USA. Our team is always watching for new technology trends and is proud to have been at the forefront of analog media conversions for many years. Committed to customer service excellence and to delivering a great final product for our customers – many of whom are repeat partners over the years – we blog about trends in digitization,  high tech vs low tech, culture milestones, and tips for getting the most out of your valuable recorded media. Thanks for reading!

The post ARS Video: The Best Company to Digitize Home Movies appeared first on A.R.S. Video.

An Interesting, Unknown Beginning

What was the first VHS movie? The VHS phenomenon started a bit earlier, and most people have no idea when or where it occurred either. If asked where the first VHS movie was ever released, most folks will assume it was in California and probably learn L.A. since Hollywood pretty much dominates the movie and TV industry. Neither of those answers is correct.

Instead, the very first VHS movie made commercially available for consumers to buy was produced in South Korea of all places. And it happened even earlier than most people think: 1976. Today, this information can be looked up in a few seconds via an online search engine, starting with the capital letter G, for example.

However, even well into the 1980s, 1 out of 10,000 people probably still would not have guessed the answer right. The movie itself, The Young Teacher, never won an Oscar, much less gained any recognition in any museum dedicated to film history. However, the Asian movie was, in fact, the first production recorded and distributed on VHS format just before the big movie hit of the decade, Star Wars, hit the box office back in the U.S.

The Real Kickstart to the VHS Market

If, on the other hand, one wanted to know the first VHS movie that was made available in U.S. markets, it would be a different title. That honor goes to some very familiar titles that were sold all at the same time. MASH, Patton, and The Sound of Music were among the first of about 50 different movies that Magnetic Video released based on licensing it purchased from 20th Century Fox and permission to re-release the titles.

It was a smart move as the classic titles immediately got people’s attention, especially the MASH episodes and the ability to reminisce while watching old movies and TV shows all over again instead of waiting for them to come up in re-run cycles on TV. Soon enough, demand started pushing for the release of anything made 30 years before, and box VHS sets became a thing as well.

VHS is Long Gone, Along with Sony Walkman and Big Box Mac Desktops

Today, it’s probably a bit of a challenge to find VHS movies still intact and playable. Most have been overplayed and destroyed, or they’ve been replaced with DVD versions, which are much more durable. Many tapes were lost to poor storage and temperature damage, particularly heat. And those that survived all those risks and remained intact probably don’t play well, as many of the machines that did play them have fallen apart as well. Like the Sony Walkman, VHS tapes have essentially come and gone.

That last big bastion was news stations that used VHS tapes extensively for quick recordings and archiving of various stories, broadcasts, and reporting changeouts. However, all of that can be traced back to Magnetic Video’s “Hail Mary” move to generate an additional revenue stream selling take-home movies of classic titles. And before that, the credit goes to an unheard-of South Korean flick that made the VHS format pop up and be noticed, even if it took a while to get to the U.S. coast.

Restoring VHS Movies

It is a good idea to have movies transferred over to a digital version for your viewing pleasure. You can still hang on to your now vintage copy of The Young Teacher and save this for prosperity’s sake. After all, there will never be another movie made on VHS by a movie studio.

If you need film restoration or conversion services, we do it all at A.R.S. Video, so contact us in Tallmadge, OH today!

Sean McCreary

The post What Was the First VHS Movie? appeared first on A.R.S. Video.

If you are an owner or collector of VHS tapes and movies, you want to protect your own investment in this area of entertainment.

Here is something to consider. There have not been any new VHS tapes produced in more than a decade. In fact, no movies are made onto VHS tapes at all anymore.

Do you know the name of the last movie that went on a VHS tape cassette?

We have that answer and more here at ARS Video.

Find out what that final film was to be put out on VHS and see if you have it in your VHS library and movie collection. 

What is the Name of the Last Movie on VHS

Without any further suspense, the final movie that was put out on a VHS tape cassette for the general public was titled A History of Violence.

What a shocking name for a movie to hold such a record!

Why did they choose this movie to be the last one to go to the VHS version of film production?

It really does make you wonder about why they chose this particular movie, considering the context and gravity of not producing VHS movies anymore.

However, that is the name of the movie and it was produced and released by David Cronenberg.

The movie was based on a book, a graphic novel with the same title. The book version was authored by Josh Olson.

The film adaptation is considered to be an action thriller and stars the popular actor, Viggo Mortensen.

The action thriller was finished a year before it was released on VHS tape, which we will cover in a moment. 

About A History of Violence

A History of Violence is a story about a restaurant owner, played by Mortensen, who lives in Indiana in a rural town.

There Mortensen, who acts as Tom Stall, lives with his wife and their two children.

His wife is played by Maria Bello, and the story gets right into when Stall gets into a situation with some would-be robbers at his restaurant.

It is more like an old-fashioned diner, rather than a restaurant if that helps you any.

The story continues when Stall commits murder out of self-defense against these criminals.

As you can imagine, the story is violent, and the movie maintains this thriller vibe throughout the film.

While not a huge success, the movie features some popular actors and actresses that are interesting to some.

The Year: 2006

When did this movie, A History of Violence, get released onto VHS tape?

The date was March 14, and the year 2006 was when the last film was released on a VHS tape.

Viewers had been watching movies on DVD and Blu-Ray for so long that they were now going to be able to go without new VHS movies and still had plenty of a selection to choose from.

Also, technology was advanced beyond VHS, and VHS tape players and recorders were also becoming obsolete.

As a result, the choice of movie studios was made, and the final VHS movie was produced, A History of Violence.

Restoring a VHS Movie

If you have a copy of A History of Violence on a VHS tape, it is a good investment to have this tape restored.

By restoring your VHS tapes, you can remove any dirt or bacteria, and regain the near-original state of the tape and cassette box.

However, you may still be unable to watch the movie from the VHS tape.

Therefore, it is a good idea to have the movie transferred over to a digital version for your viewing pleasure.

You can still hang on to your now vintage copy of A History of Violence and save this for prosperity’s sake.

After all, there will never be another movie made on VHS by a movie studio.

This is the last one!

If you need film restoration services click here, we do it all!

Sean McCreary

The post What was the Last Movie Released on VHS? appeared first on A.R.S. Video.

Yes, that’s right, you can actually recycle VHS tape. Before you do, though, make sure to convert the film footage into a digital DVD with professional conversion services.

Preserve the memories without gathering dust with stacks of cased VHS tapes, which tend to degrade over time anyway.

How to Recycle VHS Tapes

The simplest answer to “can I recycle VHS tapes” is “yes.” However, there are conditions and the system for recycling VHS tapes varies from recycling newspapers.

Also, many stores will actually take your VHS tapes and pay you for them. Check out used vinyl and game shops, such as the Last Stop CD Shop in South Dakota.

Privately held used media shops will often pay you money to take used tapes, CDs, and other forms of media recordings from you to resell in what they call “vintage” quality.

So don’t discount trying to resell your old VHS movies and television shows—as long as they are not bootleg or recorded from home.

Licensed media is needed if you want to sell old VHS tapes. Amazon is another place to sell used VHS tapes.

If you have a load of licensed VHS movies and TV shows, you can consistently make a small amount of money on the side as an income by posting them on Amazon’s marketplace.

What about those places where you can recycle VHS tapes? Generally, the VHS recyclers differ from your typical recycling centers and bins.

Start by searching on Earth911 and the site’s Recycling Search engine for “CDs & Tapes Recycling” or for “VHS tapes.”

Either one of those terms, along with your city or zip code, will provide you with a list of stores that will accept your used VHS tapes for resell, such as Value Village in Washington.

Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Sharing and Caring, or thrift stores will most likely take viewable VHS tapes as well.

Most will also take non-viewable ones; Goodwill is reported to recycle old VHS tapes.

Another excellent place to go if you have access to shipping is GreenDisk.

They allow for shipping of e-waste, including VHS tapes, to their disposal center.

You may be surprised at the local recycling places near you that take VHS tapes. In Greater Seattle, for example, stores that take recycled VHS tapes include Recycle Washington, SBK Recycle, Deseret Industries, and A Plus Removal and Recycling.

Ultimately, with any VHS tape that is ready for the recycling bin, choose whether the tape is playable and can be resold to someone with a VHS player, or if it is ready for the dumpster.

If the VHS tape is garbage, then find the closest recycling center that accepts VHS tapes.

Be Sure to Convert Before Recycling    

Prior to recycling VHS tapes, make sure to find a company that offers state-of-the-art VHS conversion services. This will allow you to capture the important data from the VHS tape, and provide you with a digital backup.

If you have a questionable quality of VHS tape, converting the footage to digital may improve the video and audio quality.

There are many reasons why you should opt for VHS Conversion Services with your VHS tapes. If you have home movies that you want to save but lack a VCR player to watch them on your television, opt for VHS conversion services.

This process digitizes the VHS tapes. You can either burn the VHS recorded footage onto new DVDs or watch the digitized version directly using a computer.

This allows for more modernization of your home entertainment system. All of your video footage can be stored in the cloud for even more optimization of your data.

Removing physical VHS tapes when decluttering your home entertainment cabinet sure saves a lot of space for storing other belongings.

Plus, you reduce the amount of dust that is accumulated on VHS tapes and boxes. Make your home a healthier place to breathe by reducing these dusty tapes.

Choose to use VHS conversion services to transfer movies, television shows, or home recordings from VHS tapes so you can toss these tapes in the recycling bin.

Cut down on allergens and prevent the tapes from collecting mold and bacteria.

However, the biggest reason why you want to have a digital backup of memories and recordings from VHS tapes is that these are preserved and protected.

If you have family history recorded on VHS tapes, it is worthwhile to preserve these for the future generations of your family to be able to appreciate and enjoy them.

This will help you protect your family heritage and the roots in your family tree.

Before you recycle VHS tapes, get a digital backup of the tape footage so it is not lost forever.

Contact Us     

ARS Video supports all types of VHS conversion services, no matter what kind of VHS tape you have in storage.

Let us assist you with proper VHS tape conversion services before you recycle your VHS tapes. Contact us today to get started with converting from VHS to DVD digital.

Sean McCreary

The post How to Recycle VHS Tapes? appeared first on A.R.S. Video.

Such a shame all those memories are stuck on audio cassette tapes that are either too fragile to play, or the tape decks on which to play them are so difficult to come by.  

If only there was some way of transferring all old audio from cassette to blank compact discs (CDs) or digital files.

Well, thanks to a range of technological advancements over the years, your wish has just come true!

You will be happy to know that, with the right equipment, it is now very possible to record all your old audio currently trapped in cassette tape land onto CD.

How, you ask? Please, read on.

This offering seeks to explain in SIX easy steps, how to transfer audio from cassette tape to CD – at home:

1. At home, make sure you have a cassette player with a clean head and an audio RCA output; a “Y” stereo adapter with RCA cables at both ends; a desktop computer or laptop with a sound card and sound recording software. 
2. With both your cassette and computer turned off, follow the color code of your RCA cables to connect them to both your cassette player and the line-in of the computer’s sound card.
3. Turn on both your cassette player and computer. Open the computer’s sound recording software and click on the “RECORD” button and, at the same time, also press “PLAY” on the cassette player. Make sure volume is low on both devices.
4. Once the audio cassette player has finished playing, click the “STOP” button of your computer’s sound recording software. Click on “FILE” and then the “SAVE” button to save the audio file to your preferred location on your computer. 
5. If your computer’s sound recording software allows, proceed to edit any unwanted sounds. Once editing is over, your file is ready to transfer to CD.
6. Insert a writable blank CD into your computer’s drive. Click on the saved edited file and click “BURN”. Your computer’s drive should commence copying/burning the file onto the CD in the drive. You can play the CD when burning is complete. 

The Best Way to Transfer the Audio is to Convert 

Although transferring audio from cassette tape to CD by yourself is possible and quite simple, however, for technical and other reasons, we, at ARS, have found the resultant sound quality is not always the best.

For this reason, we recommend converting the audio cassette content by digitizing it to an updated digital media format.   

How, you ask again? By letting ARS Video professionally and proficiently handle the conversion for you, of course!  

Indeed, whilst transferring audio from cassette tape to CD by yourself is a personal accomplishment and enables you to play it for as long as the CD remains unscratched and unbroken, one sure way of preserving your audio cassette content is by digitizing it to an updated digital media format, such as a flash-drive.

By so doing, not only will the audio from the cassette tape be preserved for longer, but it will also be in a more convenient playback format.

In addition, in a digital format, the share-ability of personal recordings is equally increased.  

Without a doubt, converting audio cassette content by digitizing it to an updated digital media format, is and remains the best way to preserve, protect and play all those precious yesteryear voices, sounds and songs.

Contact Us  

Are you ready to convert those precious yesteryear voices, sounds and songs on audio cassette tapes to digital forms for continued use?

Then bring your audio cassette to us for a free quote – contact us by clicking here!

We won’t charge you until the conversion is complete and ready for your listening pleasure.

Sean McCreary

The post How to Transfer Audio From Cassette Tape to CD? appeared first on A.R.S. Video.

For those of us who grew up or were already around from and during the 80s and early 2000s, the acronym is nothing new. 

In fact, it’s highly likely that, at one time or another, we most probably heard, saw, used, watched and were the subject of a VHS-related product, a VHS video cassette or tape. 

VHS actually stands for: Video Home System. 

From the mid-1970s until about the mid-2000s, the VHS was the technical requirement for the domestic recording of analog signals and audio for later playback. 

Generally speaking, video is defined as an electronic medium for recording, copying, playback, broadcasting and displaying moving visual media. 

Over the years, various video systems have emerged. These are: magnetic tape, VHS, optical discs, computer files and, most recently, network streaming.

Each is compatible with either an analog or digital visual system.

From the 1950s, video could be recorded and stored on magnetic tape using a Video Tape Recorder (VTR). Then, VTRs were only used in television studios.

By the 1970s, however, this all changed with the introduction of Video Cassette Recorders (VCRs), Video Cassette players and JVC’s VHS video cassettes – all for home use!

What then did VHS stand for?

For television stations, VCRs and VHS meant a possible loss in viewership and therefore business.

For viewers, the new entrants meant variety, independence, and control over their viewing lifestyles and content.   

The Best Way to Play VHS is to Convert 

As earlier explained, video was initially developed for mechanical television systems that were later replaced by analog Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and digital flat panel displays.

The result was different video systems, each compatible with either an analog or digital visual system. 

In the 1980s, when most of us were either growing up, in junior high, getting married or starting a family, VHS video cassettes were the go-to video media for recording all our memories and analog playback.

Fast-forward (pun intended) 40 years later and, alas, both our analog CRT televisions and VHS have become almost obsolete – overthrown by younger video media formats and display panels. 

Yep! The 2020s have new display and video systems which will either not technologically speak to our big old VCRs, or are just incompatible with our once trusty VHS cassettes.  

Coming in optical disc, computer file and network streaming formats, most are only compatible with digital visual systems. 

So, much for our memory filled VHS tapes. It looks like time and technology just won’t allow us to revisit our VHS memories.

That is, unless we can convert or digitize their content to updated video media formats like Thumb Drives, DVDs, or Digital Files.

Contact Us To Convert Your VHS Tapes    

If you have old family memories and recordings stored on VHS tapes that you want to update to a modern media file, either for safekeeping or for easier playback, then please do not hesitate to contact us today.

We would be delighted to help preserve your memories in a digital file, so that you can easily view or share these memories with your family and friends. 

Sean McCreary

The post What Does VHS Stand For? appeared first on A.R.S. Video.

Sean McCreary

The post How Long Can a VHS Tape Record? appeared first on A.R.S. Video.