Convert VHS tape to mp4

[satimis]

Hi all,

I have old stock of VHS tapes which was created from V8 tapes. Unfortunately both my VHS tape player and Sony V8 camera are out of order, unable to work.

I expect to convert VHS tapes to mp4. Please advise what device I have to purchase for this job and where I have to look for them.

Thanks in advance.

[TheFu]

You need a VHS player.

[satimis]

You need a VHS player.

Hi,

Whether following device suitable for my use ?

ClearClick Video to Digital Converter 2.0 (Second Generation) - Record Video from VCR's, VHS Tapes, AV, RCA, Hi8, Camcorder, DVD, Gaming Systems (Bundle Edition)
https://www.amazon.com/ClearClick-Di...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I can connect this device to PC, playing both VHS and V8 tapes?

[TheFu]

There's no player.
It is about $130 too expensive. All you need is a player for the tapes, a cable and a $30 USB TV tuner. I remember this question being asked about once a year in these forums. The hardware involved hasn't changed. I use a 950Q USB tuner https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.p...WinTV-HVR-950Q to convert old stuff. The resolution on all those old tapes is about 360p, so don't expect to be wow'ed. These are old and there were many different versions that all used the same DSP (chip), so they use the same driver.

I've used much more expensive capture methods, but none do any better than that cheap USB stick. The important part is being compatible with V4L2 drivers. Then you can use almost any video program on Linux that you like. https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/ATSC_USB_Devices You don't care about the tuner, just the analog video input (the yellow cord) and perhaps a stereo input. Those inputs need to come from the player(s) you rent or buy.

If the tape players have HDMI output, then this https://www.amazon.com/Video-Capture...dp/B095WW8G8P/ $15 device is probably fine. Claims to support Linux. I didn't research at all. Could be bad quality device.

[satimis]

There's no player.
It is about $130 too expensive. All you need is a player for the tapes, a cable and a $30 USB TV tuner. I remember this question being asked about once a year in these forums. The hardware involved hasn't changed. I use a 950Q USB tuner https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.p...WinTV-HVR-950Q to convert old stuff. The resolution on all those old tapes is about 360p, so don't expect to be wow'ed. These are old and there were many different versions that all used the same DSP (chip), so they use the same driver.

I've used much more expensive capture methods, but none do any better than that cheap USB stick. The important part is being compatible with V4L2 drivers. Then you can use almost any video program on Linux that you like. https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/ATSC_USB_Devices You don't care about the tuner, just the analog video input (the yellow cord) and perhaps a stereo input. Those inputs need to come from the player(s) you rent or buy.

If the tape players have HDMI output, then this https://www.amazon.com/Video-Capture...dp/B095WW8G8P/ $15 device is probably fine. Claims to support Linux. I didn't research at all. Could be bad quality device.

Hi,

Thanks for your advice. Whether I need following device;

Panasonic VCR VHS Player Model # PV-V4022
https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VCR...916227&sr=8-18

People use them playing video tape on TV. How to connect it to PC?

Reading on its name it seems to me that this player can also play Sony V8 tape? I still have video on V8 tapes not yet converted to VHS.

Please advise. Thanks

Regards

[TheFu]

VHS player --> USB Tuner/Converter --> Computer

I know nothing about Sony V8 tapes. SONY is known for using proprietary stuff, so I'd have doubts. If I were looking for a VHS player (I own 2 S-VHS players), then I'd go to pawn shops and ebay. It only needs to work for 20 hrs, right? Closets all over your country have VHS players. Ask your friends.

[Shibblet]

Can't you take old VHS tapes to places like WalMart, Walgreens, or any type of photo-print shop, and have them put it on DVD?

[TheFu]

Can't you take old VHS tapes to places like WalMart, Walgreens, or any type of photo-print shop, and have them put it on DVD?

Appears so. https://www.dvdwalmart.com/services-...otape-transfer web searching is amazing.

I wouldn't expect the lowest price offered there to be what you actually pay, but for 4 or fewer tapes, it could be less cost and will definitely be less hassle. Of course, you won't have the video conversion tool to use for other needs afterwards.

[satimis]

Hi all,

Lot of thanks for your advice and your time spent to help me.

I have 14 VHS tapes taking video world-wide in the past years plus hundreds of photos taken in my past travels. The 14 VHS tapes were converted by me on Sony V8 tapes taken on Sony V8 Video camera. Unfortunately at present I have no device to play those tapes. More than 80% of the photos becomes yellow in colour. I have to re-develop all photos from their negatives.

All my photo negatives are well protected and packed in boxes. I have decided purchasing a new Epson V850 flatbed scanner to do this job. Although my old Epson Perfect 3490 flatbed scanner is still working but it is time for it to retire.

The primary concern to me is time and the quality of digital mp4 video converted from the VHS tapes. I'm prepared to post all photos and video on websites. I have 5 travel websites running on Internet;

Website-1
Travel in Canada and USA including Hawaii

Website-2
Travel in England and countries in northern Europe including Norway, Sweden and Finland

Website-3
Travel in Japan, Taiwan and countries in South East Asia including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Singapore

Website-4
Travel in western an central Europe including Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Austria

Website-5
Travel in China including the major cities such as Bejing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Nanjing, Qingdao, Zibo, Jinan, Shijiazhuang, Dalian, Dandong, Shenyang, Anshan, Qinhuangdao, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Wuhan, Suzhou etc.

There are shops here offering service converting VHS tapes to DVD and MP4 but I have no idea of the quality of the DVD and MP4 converted by them. 2 years ago Sony here offered this service. I'll try contacting them to check whether this service is still available. If available I'll give them an un-important VHS tape for trial.

My PC is quite strong:
CPU - AMD 8-core
RAM - 32G
Hard disk for OS - NVME M.2 PCIE 3.0 SSD 1TB
Hard disks for storage - WD 4TB HD plus WD 2TB HD and WD 1.5TB HD
OS - Linux Ubuntu 20.04

I have long experience in photo and video editing, including adding background music, narration, subtitle etc. Also I have experience in converting words to voice

Comment and suggestion would be appreciated.

Thanks

Regards

[satimis]

Hi all,

If I can find a non-expensive second-hand VHS player I'll purchase it as toy for testing "converting VHS to MP4"

Software converting anlogue video to digital;
HandBrake
The open source video transcoder
https://handbrake.fr/

It is available on Ubntu 20.04 repo
$ apt policy handbrake

handbrake:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 1.3.1+ds1-1build1
  Version table:
     1.3.1+ds1-1build1 500
        500 http://hk.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal/universe amd64 Packages

to any digital format, such as MP4

Maybe I need "Land-USB VCR VHS to Computer PC'
see attached photo

Is it saving the analogue video on PC first before converting?

Regards