If your Lakewood home still has a box of VHS tapes gathering dust in the basement or closet, you're not alone. Those tapes hold birthday parties, holiday gatherings, and childhood moments, but they're slowly degrading. Here's how to get them digitized so you can actually watch them again.
How the Transfer Process Works
Digitizing a VHS tape involves converting the analog magnetic signal into a digital file like MP4. Most services connect a professional VCR to a computer via a capture card, then record the tape in real time. That means a two-hour tape takes two hours to digitize. After recording, the service may stabilize the video, correct color, and split the footage into separate clips. You typically get the files on a USB drive or via a download link. Prices vary, but they are usually charged per VHS tape and depend on the provider. To compare options in Lakewood, use the provider checker on this page. Look for services that use high-quality VCRs with TBC (time base corrector) to reduce jitter and tracking errors. Some also offer noise reduction and deinterlacing for smoother playback. Turnaround times range from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on how many tapes you have.
Caring for Your Old VHS Tapes
Before you send your tapes out, take a few steps to preserve them. Store tapes upright in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Avoid stacking them horizontally, as the weight can warp the shells. Check for mold or mildew, especially if they were in a damp basement. If you see fuzzy white or black spots on the tape surface, do not play it; mold can damage your VCR and spread to other tapes. Professional services can clean moldy tapes, but it costs extra. Also, rewind each tape fully before shipping. This reduces tension on the tape pack during transport. If you have tapes that are over 20 years old, expect some image degradation, like color shifts or dropouts. That's normal, but digitizing now prevents further loss.
DIY Option: Do It Yourself
If you prefer a hands-on approach, you can buy a USB video capture card. It is inexpensive and easily bought from eBay or Amazon for about around $25. You'll also need a working VCR with composite video and audio outputs, plus RCA cables. Our step-by-step DIY guide walks you through connecting the VCR to your computer, installing the capture software, and starting the recording. Keep in mind that you'll need to monitor the recording to avoid errors. Also, old VCRs can have dirty heads, so consider buying a head-cleaning tape. The DIY method gives you control over quality and lets you digitize at your own pace, but it requires patience and a bit of technical skill. For best results, use a VCR with S-Video output if your capture card supports it.
What to Do With the Digital Files
Once your tapes are digitized, you'll have a folder of MP4 files. But here's the problem: those files often end up forgotten on a hard drive, just like the VHS tapes sat in a box. You might watch them once, then they sit untouched. The real goal is to make these memories part of your family's daily life, not just a digital backup.
That's where Memrial comes in. You don't need to wait until your tapes are digitized. Right now, from your phone, you can start a private family archive. Upload the photos and videos already on your phone, pin dates to them, and build a shared family timeline. Your digitized tapes can join later. Imagine your aunt in Denver and your cousin in Seattle watching the same old birthday party video together, laughing and reacting in sync during a Watch Party. Or picture a faded black-and-white clip of your grandparents suddenly blooming into vivid color with Colourisation. These features turn static files into living memories.
And since your relatives likely have their own old photos and videos, they can add them too. Memrial brings everything into one private place, no ads, no algorithms, just your family's history. You're the archive owner with full control over who sees what. It's free to start, so you can begin tonight from your sofa.
Ready to Begin?
Your Lakewood family memories deserve to be seen, not sealed in a box. Start your free Memrial archive today and bring your whole family history into one vibrant, living timeline.