If you have a box of old VHS tapes gathering dust in a Gillingham loft, you are not alone. Many families in Gillingham have shelves of home videos recorded on VHS, from children's birthdays to holidays and weddings. But VHS degrades over time, and the players needed to watch them are becoming harder to find. The good news is that digitising those tapes is easier than you might think.
How Transfer Services Work
If you prefer to leave the technical work to someone else, a local transfer service is a straightforward option. You simply pack your tapes securely and send them off. The service will clean the tapes if needed, play them on professional-grade VCRs, and convert the analogue video into digital files. These files are typically returned on a USB drive, an external hard drive, or via a download link. The cost is usually charged per VHS tape and depends on the provider. It is wise to check reviews and compare prices using the provider checker on this page. Most services also offer optional extras like chapter markers, basic editing, or even conversion to DVD. Turnaround times vary, but it often takes a week or two depending on the volume.
Taking Care of Your Tapes Before Digitisation
Before you digitise, a little tape care can make a big difference. Store your VHS tapes upright in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and magnetic fields. Avoid stacking them horizontally, as the weight can damage the tape inside. If a tape has been stored in a damp loft, let it acclimatise to room temperature for a few hours before playing to prevent condensation. Also, fast-forward and rewind each tape once to loosen the spools and reduce the risk of the tape sticking. If the tape is mouldy or sticky, it is best to have it professionally cleaned first, as playing a mouldy tape can damage the VCR and the tape itself.
Doing It Yourself
If you have a VCR and a computer, a USB capture card is all you need. It is inexpensive and easily bought from eBay or Amazon, for around around £20. Our step-by-step DIY guide covers connecting the cables (usually composite or S-Video from the VCR to the capture card, then USB to your computer), installing the recording software, and capturing the video in real time. The process takes as long as the tape plays, so you can set it up and let it run. This option gives you full control and is ideal if you have many tapes or want to learn the skill.
The Problem with Digital Files Alone
Once your tapes are digitised, what next? Many people copy the files onto a hard drive or computer, then forget about them. They end up as lost as the tapes in the loft. The memories are saved, but they remain scattered, unshared, and disconnected from the stories and people behind them. Without a way to organise, share, and preserve the context, those precious moments risk being forgotten again.
Bring Your Memories Together in One Private Place
This is where Memrial comes in. Memrial is a private family memory archive, like an ad-free Facebook just for your family. It is free to start, and you do not need to wait until your tapes are digitised. Right now, from your phone, you can upload the photos and videos already on it, pin dates to build a shared family timeline, and invite relatives to add their own memories. You are the owner with full control.
Watch Parties and Colourisation
Imagine your children and grandchildren watching the same old home video together, even if they live far apart. With Memrial's Watch Parties, family members can watch in sync, reacting together as the video plays. And if your footage is faded or black and white, Colourisation brings it back to life in vivid colour, making the past feel present.
The Memories Your Children Will Thank You For
When you start your Memrial archive today, you are not just storing files. You are building a living timeline of your family's history. Your digitised tapes will join later, but the stories start now. Relatives who shared those memories likely have their own old photos and videos, and Memrial brings them all together in one private place.
Start Today for Free
Do not let your memories stay hidden. Begin your family archive on Memrial now, for free. Upload the photos and videos already on your phone, pin dates, and invite your family. The digitised tapes will be the perfect addition. Start today at memrial.com.