If you grew up in Poole, chances are there’s a box of VHS tapes gathering dust in your loft or under the stairs. Those tapes hold birthday parties, seaside trips to Sandbanks, school plays, and Christmases past. For years you’ve meant to do something with them. Now’s the time.
How VHS transfer services work in Poole
Local transfer services in Poole typically take your tapes and convert them to digital files on a USB drive, DVD, or hard drive. The process usually includes cleaning the tape heads, playing the tape in real time, and capturing the video using professional equipment. Some providers also offer basic editing, like cutting out blank sections or adding chapter markers. Prices are usually charged per tape and depend on the provider. To find the best option for you, use the provider checker on this page.
When choosing a service, look for one that uses a time-base corrector to stabilise the signal and reduce jitter. Ask if they keep the original resolution or compress the files. A good provider will give you the footage in a standard format like MP4, but also offer lossless options for archiving. Turnaround time varies, but expect a week or two for a batch of tapes.
Looking after your tapes before conversion
Before you hand over your tapes, check their condition. Store them upright in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and magnetic fields. If a tape is sticky or mouldy, mention it to the service. Do not try to clean the tape yourself, as you can damage it. If the tape is broken, a specialist may be able to repair it, but this costs more.
Also, make sure the tape is rewound to the beginning. This saves the technician time and reduces wear on the tape. Label each tape clearly with the date and event if you can. This helps with organisation when you get the digital files back.
DIY digitisation option
If you prefer a hands-on approach, you can digitise your tapes yourself. A DIY USB capture card is inexpensive, it costs around around £20, and easily bought from eBay or Amazon. Our step-by-step DIY guide covers everything from connecting your VCR to your computer, installing the capture software, and recording each tape. You’ll need a VCR in good working order, composite or S-Video cables, and a computer with enough hard drive space. The process is slow, it takes the same time as the tape length, but you control the quality and can stop and start as you like. Once captured, you can edit the files and share them.
The problem with digital files alone
Once your tapes are digitised, you’ll have a folder of MP4 files. But what then? They end up on a hard drive, forgotten, just like the tapes in the loft. The real magic isn’t just having the files; it’s being able to enjoy them together as a family, and to add the stories behind them.
Why not start preserving your family memories now?
You don’t need to wait until your tapes are digitised. You can start today, for free, from your phone. Imagine a private place where all your family’s old photos and videos live in one shared timeline, no ads, no algorithms, just your memories. That place is Memrial.
As the archive owner, you have full control. Upload the photos and videos already on your phone, pin dates to build a family timeline, and invite relatives to add their own. Your mum’s old photos from the 80s, your cousin’s holiday videos, the grainy footage from your grandparents’ camcorder, it all comes together.
Think of the moments your children will thank you for. A Watch Party where family members far apart watch the same old video in sync, laughing and reacting together as if they’re in the same room. Or the family Timeline, where every memory sits in date order, a scroll through decades of birthdays, holidays, and everyday life.
Bring your old footage back to life
Some of those VHS tapes may be faded or black and white. Memrial’s Colourisation feature can breathe new life into them. And you can tag the people in every memory, so future generations know who’s who.
Start your family archive today
Your old VHS tapes are a treasure. Digitise them, yes, but don’t stop there. Start your Memrial archive now, while the tapes are being converted. Upload what you have, invite your family, and build a lasting home for every memory.
It’s free to start. Your children will thank you.