If you are like me, there is a good chance that you have stacks of VHS tapes finding refuge in your basement, closet, garage, or extra storage nooks in your home. As a side note please move your VHS tapes out of your garage, attic, and basement, right now, they are not safe!
While you may think VHS tapes are safe in containers in your garage or basement, environmental factors play a big role in their preservation
VHS tapes were a great way to preserve our happy memories in the 80s and 90s, but they are not the most reliable storage method. If you didn’t know this already, VHS tapes easily become damaged by heat, humidity, and everyday wear and tear (each time you play they degrade) The magnetic strips on the VHS tapes were not designed for long-term use, and it’s possible that within 10 years VHS tapes as we know it will not be able to be played due to their complete degradation.
Additionally, they are becoming obsolete as technology advances with people finding it harder to find working VCRs to play them. Digitizing your collection is a great way to preserve and protect your memories so you and your family can still enjoy them with modern technology.
VCRS are no longer in production, if you have one at home, each time you play your tapes they are degrading from 'wear and tear' and may become unusable
Here are a few reasons why you should consider digitizing your VHS tapes:
Preservation: Digitizing your VHS tapes to a digital format is a great way to preserve them for future generations. Digital images are less susceptible to damage from light, water, and other environmental factors, and can be easily backed up to ensure that they're not lost in disasters (floods, fires, natural disasters).
Accessibility: Digital videos (think streaming) are much more accessible than VHS tapes. With digital videos, you can easily view and share them with family and friends by sending them a link or a thumb drive, no matter where they are in the world. Likewise, you can also create shared digital albums that can be easily sent and shared with family and friends.
By digitizing your videos you can access them on your computer, phone, and tv
Compatibility: VHS tapes use analog technology, which is becoming obsolete, digitizing your tapes ensures that you'll be able to play and view them on modern devices. Some of our clients choose multiple methods to back up their tapes, for instance saving them to a thumb drive, preserving their favorites on DVD, and uploading them to a program like Google Photos are all examples of what our current clients (and ourselves) have used!
Young Jonathan practicing his song flute, VHS tape digitized and preserved using Google Photos
Space-saving: Digitizing your VHS tapes can save a lot of space in your home; you don't have to worry about where to store the physical copies and you can still have access to all of them. For instance, once the tapes are digitized you can choose if you want to keep the originals (having them as a back-up is still a good option) but you do not need to be as worried about their storage (environmental factors) because you will have multiple backup options in different locations.
Digitizing your video collection is a great way to preserve them for future generations, make them more accessible, and save space. With today's technology, it's easier than ever to digitize your tapes, and the benefits are well worth the effort. It's a great way to ensure that your memories will be around for years to come. If you need help starting this process, feel free to contact us, and we would be happy to help you with the next step!
Michele Anderson is currently a Photo Specialist and Social Media Coordinator with History Creators. Michele enjoys interacting with clients and finding ways to preserve their family history. She has worked on large-scale projects for local families and institutions, and her work has even been featured in a recent documentary! Read her full bio here.
