You’ve got a box of old VHS tapes in the loft. Maybe they hold your wedding day, your children’s first steps, or a holiday with your parents on the Gower Peninsula. You want to save them before they degrade, and you’re in Swansea, so where do you start?
How VHS Transfer Services Work
Local transfer services in Swansea take your tapes and convert them into digital files. The process usually involves a technician cleaning the tape heads, playing the tape in a professional VCR, and capturing the video through a high-quality converter. Some services offer basic editing, like cutting out blank sections or adding chapter markers. They typically output files as MP4 or MOV, and sometimes give you a USB drive or DVD as well. The cost is usually charged per VHS tape, and it depends on the provider. Some charge extra for longer tapes (like those 180-minute ones) or for tapes that are sticky or mouldy. To compare prices and find a reputable provider near you, use the provider checker on this page.
Taking Care of Your Tapes Before Transfer
If your tapes have been in a loft or garage for years, they may need some care. First, check for mould, which looks like white or grey dust on the tape reel. Mouldy tapes should be cleaned professionally, as playing them can damage the VCR. If the tapes are just dusty, gently wipe the cassette casing with a dry cloth. Keep them in a cool, dry place before transfer, and avoid extreme heat or damp. If the tape is stuck or feels tight, do not force it, let the service know. Also, label each tape clearly with the date and event if you can remember. This will help when you later organise them in your digital archive.
The DIY Option: Do It Yourself
If you’re handy and want to save money, you can digitise at home. You’ll need a VCR (still available in charity shops or online), a USB capture card, and a computer. The capture card is inexpensive, you can buy one from eBay or Amazon for around around £20. Our step-by-step DIY guide explains how to connect the VCR to your computer via the capture card, then use free software like OBS Studio to record the video. You’ll need to play the tape in real time, so a 60-minute tape takes 60 minutes. The quality depends on your VCR and cables, but it’s a good option if you have a few tapes and some patience.
What Happens After Digitising?
Once you have digital files, you might save them to a hard drive or cloud storage. But here’s the problem: those files can end up just as forgotten as the tapes in the loft. They sit in a folder, unlabelled, never watched. The memories deserve better, they deserve to be shared and seen.
That’s where Memrial comes in. It’s a private family memory archive, like a private, ad-free Facebook just for your family. And you don’t need to wait until your tapes are digitised to start. You can begin today, for free, from your phone, by uploading the photos and videos already on it.
Build Your Family Timeline Now
Imagine pinning dates to your daughter’s first birthday, the day you moved into your house in Swansea, or that sunny afternoon at the beach. Your timeline grows. You invite relatives, your mum, your cousins, and they add their own photos and videos. Suddenly, the whole family history lives in one private place. Your children will thank you for it.
And when those digitised tapes are ready, they join the timeline too. But the best part? Even before that, you can gather everyone for a Watch Party. Family far apart watch the same old video in sync, reacting together, laughing at the same moments. That’s the real gift.
You’re in Control
You are the archive owner with full control. The originals are never compressed or deleted. Faded or black-and-white footage can be brought back to life with Colourisation. You tag the people in every memory. It’s free to start, and it’s forever.
So stop waiting. Start your family archive today, from your phone, right now. The tapes can come later. Your memories are already precious; don’t let them stay in a loft.