Should I transfer Video 8 or VHS to DVD or MP4?

Should I transfer Video 8 or VHS to DVD or MP4?

The season of graduations and weddings is almost upon us and it’s time to make some new family memories. But what about precious memories from years past that are stuck on VHS tapes?  It’s time to convert your old videos to digital, but what digital format is best?  Here are some of the pros and cons of each option to consider.

Video to DVD:

 Transferring your video to DVD offers many benefits.  A DVD takes up less space in your home and most people have a DVD or a blu ray player that can play DVD’s.  If not, DVD players are still readily available in stores.  (unlike VCR’s, which were last manufactured in 2016)  You can personalize the disc face and case cover, which makes a beautiful gift for birthdays and special occasions.  Most standard, single-layer, single-sided DVD’s only hold 4.7 GB of data, or two hours of video at good quality. This means that you’ll need one DVD for each full length, standard play VHS tape.  Also, DVD drives are no longer standard in computers, so you may have to buy an external DVD drive to view your DVD’s on a computer.  Lastly, the files on your DVD can be copied to your computer and played through a video player, but they are not in the most user friendly format.

Video to Digital Files: 

Converting you VHS to digital video on a drive is becoming an increasingly popular option.  MP4, AVI and MOV digital video files  are each common formats.  Once converted to one of these formats, all of your video tape footage can be stored on a single flash drive or external hard drive and be conveniently accessed on your computer or other USB- friendly device.  MP4’s, AVI’s and MOV’s can be easily edited in a video editing software.  MP4’s are an ideal format to upload to the internet and share online with family and friends.  One downside is that flash drives are small and easily lost.  Be sure to store your drive in a safe place.  Also, some people are not tech savvy and won’t be able to watch and enjoy their family memories if they are on a drive instead of a DVD.  The best solution is to ask family members and friends what they prefer.  Click here for information on video transfer options: https://memorywise.com/video-tapes/

Overall, it’s time you transfer video to DVD or digital files.  MemoryWise can convert your VHS to DVD or VHS to digital files using our state-of-the-art tape conversion hardware and software.  Stop by your nearest location for all of your video transfer needs!

Expert Opinion: What is the difference between an MP4, an AVI or MOV File?

Expert Opinion: What is the difference between an MP4, an AVI or MOV File?

What is the difference between an MP4, an AVI or MOV File?

We are digital media experts

At MemoryWise our team is trained to be experts in everything involved in the digitization process. Here is our insight into the difference between MP4, an AVI or MOV files and MP4 files in respect to their advantages and disadvantages for personal usage.

AVIs/MOVs

AVIs/MOVs – Full Quality, Uncompressed Video for Editing and Long-term Preservation

If your goal is to edit your footage using video editing software or to preserve the best possible video quality for future generations in a flexible, enduring  format, AVIs (for PC or MAC) and MOVs (for MAC) are the video format you want

  • AVIs and MOVs are considered the most flexible, highly compatible computer video file formats
  • The AVIs and MOVs we create are full-quality, uncompressed digital video that represents the best possible resolution from your original media; they are large files (~26GBS per 2 hours of footage) due to the amount of information they contain and are typically stored on an external hard-drive
  • Because of their size, AVIs and MOVs are not a recommended format for easy playback and sharing
  • AVIs and MOVs are considered the most durable, lasting file formats and are the best bet for compatibility moving forward into future years of the digital revolution
  • Because hard drives can fail, please make sure to protect your investment by backing up to your computer or a second hard drive (fortunately, storage is cheap)
  • Note: for HD video on MACs, we provide full-quality HD MPEGs instead of MOVs

MP4s

MP4s – Compressed Video Format for Internet Sharing and Mobile Platform Compatibility

If your goal is to share your video footage via YouTube or email, or to store and play your videos on your mobile devices, a compressed MPEG format is what you need

  • MP4s are a compressed file format, quickly becoming the standard for internet usage, mobile platforms and streaming
  • MP4s provide good quality video in a small package (~0. 75GBs per 2 hours of footage),  making them the best file format for moving over the internet and storing where storage is limited
  • However, because MPEGS are so compressed, they are not recommended for editing or archiving

 

Have more questions? Contact us, we’re happy to help.

 

What is the difference between an MP4, an AVI or MOV File?: At MemoryWise our team is trained to be experts in everything involved in the digitization process.