Which VHS formats are covered
Standard VHS is the full-size cassette used in domestic video recorders. VHS-C is the compact version made for camcorders and normally played through a mechanical adaptor or a dedicated compatible deck. S-VHS and S-VHS-C use related cassettes but can carry a higher-bandwidth recording that benefits from the correct playback path.
PAL, NTSC, colour and black-and-white
Most UK home recordings are PAL, while tapes made in North America or Japan are commonly NTSC. The cassette shell usually looks identical, so the country of recording is useful information. Compatible PAL and NTSC playback is selected where available; the transfer is not guessed from the cassette brand.
Black-and-white recordings are also accepted. A tape that appears black-and-white unexpectedly can indicate a standards mismatch, a weak colour signal or an original monochrome recording. We assess the signal before deciding whether any conversion is appropriate.
How the transfer is handled
Before playback, the shell, tape pack and visible tape path are checked. A damaged flap, jammed reel or contaminated cassette is not forced into a machine. Where practical, minor shell faults can be addressed before capture; mould, severe creasing or broken tape needs separate discussion.
- Playback on an appropriate maintained VHS or S-VHS machine.
- Time-base correction or signal stabilisation where it materially improves capture.
- Capture of the complete recorded programme unless trimming has been requested.
- Basic visual checks for picture, sound, tracking changes and unexpected blank sections.
- Clear filenames and separate files where programme breaks can be identified sensibly.
File choices and delivery
MP4 is the usual choice for easy viewing on current televisions, computers, phones and tablets. A higher-bitrate preservation file such as ProRes can be supplied when the recording is important, destined for editing or likely to need later restoration. Files can be placed on a customer drive, a supplied USB device or another agreed delivery medium.
| Output | Best used for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MP4 | Everyday viewing and sharing | Compact, widely compatible and easy to copy. |
| ProRes master | Editing, archive and future processing | Larger files with less delivery compression. |
| Custom format | Existing production or archive workflows | Codec, frame size and audio layout agreed before capture. |
Pricing and quote guidance
The current guide price is from £12.99 per tape. Ordinary playable tapes with a normal running time usually fall under the published guide. Extra work may be quoted for mould, broken shells, tape repair, unusually long recordings, severe playback problems, extensive manual scene splitting or specialist master requirements.
For a mixed box, send the quantity and photographs. A single estimate can then distinguish normal VHS work from compact, high-band or damaged tapes without inventing charges after the media arrives.
What to send with the tapes
- Keep each cassette in its case where possible.
- Number the tapes in the order you would like them named.
- Include any dates, names or event descriptions you want used in filenames.
- State whether the recordings were made outside the UK.
- Mention known faults, prior mould exposure or a cassette that has snapped.
- Do not use adhesive labels across the cassette door or moving parts.
Tapes can be posted securely or brought to the Borehamwood studio. The order page explains packaging, the drop box and the information to include.
Questions customers commonly ask
Can you transfer a VHS-C tape without the original camcorder?
Yes. The original camcorder is not normally required. The cassette is played through compatible studio equipment after its condition is checked.
Will one tape become one file?
That is the normal starting point. Clear programme breaks can be split by arrangement, particularly when labels or timings are supplied.
Can you improve a poor VHS picture?
Correct playback, tracking and signal stabilisation can recover the best practical signal from the tape. It cannot recreate detail that was never recorded, and restoration beyond the transfer is quoted separately.
Do you keep copies of my recordings?
Working files are retained only for the practical completion and collection period described in the service arrangements. Customers should keep at least two copies after delivery.