When I think long and hard about it, I can’t believe today’s younger generations have no idea what a VHS tape is. My childhood was basically recorded on various analog formats, from VHS and MiniDV cassette tapes to VCDs. (Ahh, the throwback feels!)
Back then, we were so confident those memories would last forever; but did you know that VHS tapes have a limited lifespan, too? The tapes are made with magnetic strips, which inevitably lose magnetism over time. If you’ve stored yours appropriately, your old tapes may still have a few more years on them. But if not, it may be about time to convert your VHS tapes to MP4 format before it’s too late. Thankfully, there are companies that offer analog to digital video conversion services — so there’s no need to panic and hunt for an old tape or CD player!
Companies that offer analog to digital video conversion
When we learned of new and improved ways to capture memories, many of us didn’t hesitate to ditch our camcorders and swap them for digital cameras; the same happened when smartphones came into the picture. But in our haste to upgrade our gadgets, it almost didn’t occur to us that our VCRs and VCD players would one day become obsolete.
This being said, we’re grateful for companies that specialise in digitising analog videos — because of them, not all hope is lost. We found two trusted Manila-based companies that not only convert VHS to MP4 files, but can also digitise other analog videos recorded on MiniDV and even Betamax!
Joyride Productions
Not to be confused with the delivery app, Joyride Productions is a Metro Manila-based production house that also offers digitising services. They’re recommended for their excellent service and affordable rates, which start at just ₱300!
They accept the following formats:
- MiniDV
- Hi8
- VHS
- VHS-C
- Betamax
Note: Additional fees for cleaning may apply.
For more information, visit Joyride Productions’ official website or Facebook page.
Tapebuds Video Transfer
Ideal for those in and outside Metro Manila, Tapebuds Video Transfer is based in Muntinlupa, but accepts clients nationwide. They convert VHS and other analog videos to MP4 video files, and you can choose to have them saved in a USB flash drive, DVD, or Google Drive. Their rates start at ₱600 per tape, but they also offer bigger discounts for bulk orders.
They accept the following formats:
- Convert:
- VHS
- VHS-C
- Hi8
- MiniDV
- Digital8
- VCD
- DVD
- Blu-ray Disc
Besides their digitising services, the team behind Tapebuds also practises VHS repairs — so if you’ve got snapped or damaged tapes, they may be able to bring them back to life!
Note: Their Betamax transfers are temporarily on hold.
For more information, visit Tapebuds Video Transfer’s official Facebook page.
Also read: Where to Get Your Film Photos Processed in & Outside Metro Manila
There was a time my teenage self was hoping and praying to never have to see the content of our family’s old home movies — I cringed way too much seeing old embarrassing movies! Now that I’m older, though, I realised that we don’t document milestones (and mundane moments) quite like we used to. I’m glad that there are places that offer VHS to MP4 conversion, along with other digitising services for analog videos, so that memories of the good ol’ days will always be there to look back on.
Do you have a go-to for converting old analog videos? If they aren’t on this list, feel free to share your recommendations in the comments section!
