Patrick Jones Blogs

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In the mid-1980s, Sony introduced its first Handycam Video8 camcorder as a smaller alternative to VHS and Betamax. These camcorders used 8mm tape (e.g. Hi-8) and were considered state of the art. Of course, technology is ever-evolving, making once high-tech video tapes and gadgets irrelevant and outdated. Perhaps you have stacks of these compact tapes gathering dust in the dark corner of a closet. If so, you’re probably wondering what to do with these old tapes or if it’s even possible to watch them since your camcorder is long gone. Although watching old 8mm movie reels without a projector or VHS tapes without a VCR is easier, it’s possible to watch Hi8 videos without a camcorder. 

How to Watch Hi8 Tapes on TV 

If you still own a working camcorder, can borrow one from a friend, or found a compatible one on the secondary market, you’re in luck. Simply plug the camcorder’s AV output connections into the corresponding inputs on your TV. Then select the correct TV input, press play on your camcorder, and sit back and watch your long-forgotten videos. 

8mm/VHS Combo VCRs 

For a brief period, Goldstar (now LG) and Sony (PAL version only) manufactured decks that featured both an 8mm player and VHS VCR built into the same cabinet. This Hi8 tape player is similar to modern-day DVD/VHS combo units. Instead of having a DVD player on one side, they include an 8mm player along with a separate section for recording and playing back VHS. You may be able to find a secondhand one, but be prepared to spend a few hundred dollars and make sure the model is compatible with Hi8 cassettes. The best bet is to look for a Sony Digital8/Hi8 VCR. 

Transferring Hi8 Tapes to Your Computer 

While the type of camcorder and video capturing software on your PC determine the exact method for uploading, editing, and saving digital video files, these are the basic steps: 

Connect an A/V cable to the A/V output jack on the Hi8 camcorder

Connect the other end of the A/V cable or S-Video cable to the A/V input or S-Video jack on your computer

Cue the video in the camcorder to the beginning of the footage being transferred

Turn the camcorder to the Playback, VCR, or VTR mode and make sure your PC is on

Open the video capture software

Select Import or Start Recording in the software and press PLAY on the camcorder

After editing, save the video to your PC’s DVD drive, a memory card, or the cloud 

Why Digitizing Hi8 Tapes is The Best Option 

Hi8 tape is rather delicate and subject to deterioration. The tape is coated with metal-oxide particles that can become brittle and loose. Exposure to extreme temperature changes can cause the oxide and tape backing to contract and expand by differing amounts. This can damage large portions of your old-school tapes and render them unwatchable. Cassettes should be stored upright in a vertical position and completely rewound with the full reel side on the bottom. If you stored tapes properly, they may still be in good condition. 

Regardless, it’s best to get these tapes converted as soon as possible to prevent further deterioration. If you have the right equipment to watch them, you can likely convert Hi8 tapes yourself. Online tutorials provide step-by-step guidance on how to do this but keep in mind this takes patience and may come with some trial and error. Amazon sells a Hi8 tape converter that plugs into a camcorder to enable converting various video tape formats into digital with the touch of a button. At ScanCafe, our technicians have vast expertise converting this obsolete format from yesteryear into digital files you can watch and share anytime, anywhere. No need to sweat the details when we can do the heavy lifting for you!

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VHS fell out of mainstream use as a movie format many years ago. In fact, Hollywood studios stopped releasing movies on tape in 2006. Today, streaming media dominates the home video market with impressively eclectic libraries offering crystal-clear picture quality. Yet, many people still find nostalgic charm in watching old VHS tapes other folks relegate to garage sales or donate to thrift stores. If you’re among those that kept your collection of VHS tapes but tossed your VCR years ago, you may be wondering how to watch VHS tapes without a VCR. Luckily, you have several options on how to play VHS tapes, depending on your budget and preference. 

Buy a Used VCR 

VCRs are becoming more collectible — due to scarcity and the nostalgia factor. You can scour local thrift stores or look online on eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or third-party sellers on Amazon. It’s possible to find working secondhand VCRs at a reasonable price, although shipping can be quite costly since these old dinosaurs are heavy. Watching old video tapes on a VCR/CRT combo like the one you bought your pre-teen back in the mid-1990s is the most authentic option. Keep in mind buying a used VCR takes some sleuth work and ultimately is a gamble because there’s no guarantee it will work. Always test your VCR with a tape you don’t care about before risking one from your coveted collection! 

How to Play Video Cassette Tapes on TV 

So you tracked down a used VCR and now you have to figure out how to hook it up this old-school relic to a state-of-the-art HD or 4K TV. Here are four options for doing so. 

HDMI Converter Box: The easiest way to play VHS tapes on a big screen will set you back about $30. The converter box takes the signal from a set of RCA or S-Video cables and sends them to your TV through an HDMI cable without loss of quality. 

S-Video Cables: These cables produce a much sharper image than RCA cables, which is a huge benefit for VHS tapes. They’re easier to manage than RCA cables and inexpensive. The primary issue is that most new TVs don’t have S-Video inputs. 

RCA Cables: This method requires an RCA port on both your VCR (not an issue) and TV (which could be an issue). These are the old cables with three colored output plugs that most people still have lying around. 

Coaxial Cables: Most new TVs have a coaxial port for digital antennas that can be used to connect your VCR. Coaxial cables emit an encoded video signal your TV must decode, making the already shoddy picture quality worse. The TV needs to be set to channel 3 or whatever channel is set on your VCR. 

DIY Digitization 

VHS tapes didn’t look great when they were manufactured and time hasn’t been kind after two decades of humidity, dust, and abuse. Converting VHS tapes makes the most sense unless of course you dig reliving fond memories of tapes jamming in the VCR, mechanical clicking, fuzzy picture quality, annoying glitches, and endless rewinding! You can attempt to do this yourself if you have a VCR, computer with or without a DVD drive, an analog-to-digital converter…and a lot of patience. 

Convert VHS Tapes to Digital Professionally 

At ScanCafe, we make it easy to revisit nostalgic VHS memories with your choice of a digital download, USB, or DVD and uncompressed or lightly compressed files. We use professional decks equipped with video stabilization features to ensure the best possible playback and perform color correction and repairs at no extra charge, when possible. The digital files will look better than the originals without any of the quirky qualities people love and hate about VHS!

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Back in the day, you bought rolls of film and took vacation photographs, then had them developed and printed. You enjoyed putting them in photo albums and getting the best shots enlarged and framed. If you’re over a certain age, you definitely remember those good old days. But if you grew up in the digital age, this might seem like a rather quaint concept. Nevertheless, nearly every family has boxes of photos and albums inherited from their grandparents and other relatives, even if they’ve been stored sight unseen for decades! 

Decluttering Old Photos 

While sorting and organizing old photos is a daunting job, you’ll feel a huge sense of accomplishment after completing this task. Identifying, categorizing, and minimizing photos is the most efficient and cost-effective method for decluttering, digitizing, sharing, and creating a wide array of photo-related projects. 

Storing Old Photos Properly 

Now that you’ve digitized your best old family photos, you need to organize the digital files. If you don’t, you’ll soon discover the disarraying world of digital clutter! Culling photos and good file management skills are essential to being able to retrieve photos quickly. This means setting up folders with name labels that make the most sense to you. And instead of storing thousands of images on your computer or smartphone, here are a few other options: 

DVDs

Flash or thumb drives

External hard drives

Cloud storage 

If you’re wondering what to do with old family pictures or any other images with artistic, historic, or sentimental value, it’s fine to keep the best originals after digitizing them. Just keep in mind they’re much higher maintenance than their digital twins! The TLC they need depends to a large degree on how they were stored over the years. It’s much more economical to have them professionally scanned and restored digitally. Traditional conservation of physical prints should be reserved for original photos that have significant value, whether monetary or personal. 

What to Do with Old Photo Albums

If any of your photos are in those once-popular magnetic photo albums with sticky pages with acidic glue and damaging plastic, this can be a huge problem. You can attempt to carefully remove the photos from the albums using dental floss and scan them yourselves. Better yet, send the entire album to ScanCafe and our technicians will remove the photos from the album in sequence and then scan and replace them in the same sequence. If we can’t remove them, we’ll contact you to discuss possible solutions. In most cases, originals kept in this type of album aren’t worth keeping after we scan them because the digital files are far better quality. 

DIY Photo Projects 

If you have the desire and time, it’s easy to transform obsolete media formats into ingenious gifts. For example, old VHS tapes are fairly easy to disassemble to create storage boxes and shelves for small items such as photos, jewelry, and books. Digital photos can be used to create slideshows and digital frames, while either traditional prints or digital images are great for creating hand-made postcards, greeting cards, heirloom photo ornaments, and unique collages. 

Creating Scrapbooks 

While the scrapbooking craze hit in the early 2000s and has since waned, some people still create old-fashioned albums with printed photos, fancy papers, paper ephemera, etc. The first step is to cull and organize all your print or digital photos. It’s easy to create a digital scrapbook with Adobe Photoshop Elements or using any number of websites that offer colorful page layouts and decorative elements. A simple layout can be completed in less time than it takes to do a load of laundry! And digital scrapbooking doesn’t require photo corners, glue, or supplies. While old-fashioned scrapbooks can be fun to create, going digital offers a number of benefits. Digital scrapbook pages can be instantly shared with family and friends via the cloud, uploaded to online galleries or social media, or printed and bound into books. 

After decluttering, the sky’s the limit on creative possibilities for print and digital photos alike!

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Dust is one of those things in life you can count on with utter certainty! If it seems like dust accumulates seconds after you clean a surface, that’s because it does! Like other objects in your house, old VHS tapes form dust when they shed tiny bits of themselves. Even worse, dust on VHS tapes can cause mold to form, as can exposure to moisture in humid environments like attics and basements. Mold can work its way into tiny cracks and bends in video tapes, eventually making them unplayable. Taking proper care of your tapes instead of leaving them in a humid basement or hot attic is advised if you wish to preserve them. 

How to Clean VHS Tapes 

In some cases, you may luck out and be able to rescue neglected VHS tapes with proper cleaning methods. Here are two different methods to try at home. 

Method 1: Electronic Tape Cleaner 

An electronic VHS tape cleaner doesn’t contain harsh chemicals so it’s gentle and safe to use, as well as the easiest method for cleaning old VHS video tapes. Refer to your instruction manual to ensure you’re using the cleaner correctly since there is some variation between models. 

Supply List 

Electronic tape cleaner

VCR

Phillip’s head screwdriver

Alcohol

Q-tips 

  Instructions

Fast forward the tape to the end in your VCR.

Insert the tape into the electronic tape cleaner, close it, and press the clean button.

Remove the tape from the machine and use a screwdriver to open the casing.

If the casing has a seal or sticker, use a small knife to break the seal and then open it.

Place a small amount of isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip, then gently swab the casing and the inside of the empty reel to remove mold, dirt, and dust. Be careful not to clean the reel with tape.

Don’t screw the casing back on fully yet, but make sure it’s loosely secured.

Run an additional clean cycle with the electronic tape cleaner by fast-forwarding the tape.

After the clean cycle is complete, remove the tape from the machine.

Dip a second Q-tip into alcohol and gently swab the inside of the other empty reel. Remember not to clean the reel containing the tape.

Screw the casing back together securely.

Fully rewind the tape, then clean it one additional time. 

Method 2: Manual Videotape Cleaning 

If your electronic tape cleaner didn’t completely remove dirt or dust, you can try this method, however, be forewarned it’s risky. Tape can easily be damaged when you attempt to manually clean it, so great care needs to be taken. 

Supply List 

Cotton gloves

Tissue or cotton cloth 

  Instructions

If tapes have been exposed to moisture or humidity, you must dry them out completely.

Wear a pair of clean cotton gloves.

Lift the top side flap of the tape casing where the tape is visible running from one reel to the next, then carefully pull out approximately 12 inches of tape.

Gently wipe the exposed tape using a cotton cloth or tissue, but don’t use any liquid since this can damage it.

After cleaning, spin the reels with your finger to pull the tape back into place.

Pull out another 12 inches of tape from the reels and wipe it with a cotton cloth or tissue. 

Now that you’ve cleaned your VHS tapes, don’t forget about your VCR! Like everything else, dust and debris have likely found their way into your deck. VCR cleaning tape is an inexpensive and easy way to prevent your VCR from eating your tapes! 

Preserving Video through Digitization 

While proper storage and care are essential to preserving your video tape collection, digitizing them is the only way to do so forever. At ScanCafe, our skilled technicians love transferring VHS tapes to digital files. When you send us your tapes, you can choose between a digital download, DVD, or USB. You’ll never have to worry again about dust infiltrating your tapes, but since it’s insidious, we suggest regularly cleaning your computer and other devices!

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Some people watch VHS tapes for the nostalgia factor, others watch them because they’re cheap to buy, while many own such massive movie libraries they simply cannot fathom the thought of discarding them or buying new DVDs. Although many old VHS tapes still play remarkably well, others are broken or damaged. As such, you may think they’re unredeemable and worthless, but that’s not true in many instances.  

Facts About VHS Tape Repair 

A damaged VHS tape kind of presents good news, bad news, good news scenarios! If a tape looks like a mangled ball of metallic yarn, the good news is you can creatively upcycle it into something else. The bad news is that this jumbled mess will never display a moving image ever again! The other big issue is that VHS tapes degrade over time, so although some of your collections look pristine, problems could be lurking under the surface. VHS tapes can lose their magnetic charge, moisture can damage them, and they can suffer from progressive generation loss the more they’re copied. And let’s not forget those times your VCR “ate” your video and caused tape crease errors. Although tape crease errors aren’t typically fixable, the good news is that they’re usually limited to one area.

How to Fix Common VHS Tape Issues

Although physical problems with VHS tapes may seem insurmountable, issues like tape slippage and broken tape are fixable if you have the patience and right tools. Of course, if you decide to get damaged tapes scanned professionally, be sure to check if they include repairs like splicing in their digitizing service. For all you do-it-yourselfers out there, you’ll be happy to know that if you encounter any of the following common issues, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to fix your VHS tapes at home. In addition to trying these steps, you’ll find many other guides on how to fix a VHS tape if you do an online search. 

Lines on Screen and Poor Audio 

Step1: Locate the tracking button or wheel on the front of the recorder

Step 2: Insert the cassette into the VCR and push the play button located on the remote or front of the machine

Step 3: Push the tracking button or adjust the tracking wheel while the tape plays until the picture and sound playback is acceptable

Step 4: Optionally, purchase and insert a head cleaner into the VHS player

Loose Tape 

Step1: Turn the tape over and unscrew the five screws that hold the cassette together

Step 2: Turn it right-side up and push the small tab on the left side of the cassette to open it

Step 3: Hold the front open, gently lifting the top of the cassette, being careful not to disturb any other internal parts

Step 4: Turn one of the tape reels until there is no loose tape

Step 5: Replace the cassette cover carefully and turn the cassette over

Broken Leaders 

The leader is the clear part at the end of the tape that attaches to a reel. 

Step 1: Locate the empty reel from which the leader detached

Step 2: Wrap Scotch tape around the inside core of the reel a few times, leaving 2–3 inches of tape exposed

Step 3: Attach the leader to the adhesive side of the exposed tape  

Preserve VHS Tapes by Converting Them

If you’re interested in converting VHS tapes, plenty of online tutorials offer step-by-step instructions on how to transfer VHS to digital. If putting a videotape Humpty Dumpty back together again or converting old tapes isn’t your thing, your best bet is a professional video transfer service. 

Like most products and services, all scanning companies aren’t created equal. It pays to do a little research and look at several key factors before selecting a scanning service. While most companies appear to be located in the US, many outsource people’s precious memories to other countries. You’ll also want to choose a scanning service with a long track record and quality control standards including door-to-door order tracking.

At ScanCafe, we digitize VHS tapes quickly and affordably using professional decks equipped with video stabilization to ensure the best possible playback. Our expert technicians remove blank footage and will also try to repair your video cassettes at no extra charge. We’re one of a few select companies that provide order tracking and the only one to offer a $1000 safety guarantee and cell phone updates. When you choose ScanCafe, you’ll never have to worry again about losing precious memories due to damaged VHS tapes or obsolete technology you can no longer watch!

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Invented by Kodak in 1935, 35mm slides became the most popular photographic format by the 1960s due to their compact size. Kodachrome was especially popular because it offered superior colors to Ektachrome. Like negatives, the popularity of slides greatly declined with the introduction of digital cameras. Even so, it’s incredibly common to find photographic slides in old photo collections. Pre-digital era photographers are likely to have several images stored in this format. Others may have inherited a few boxes of slides among their family heirlooms. Regardless of how you acquired slides, the thing that is true of all of them: is that they’re at risk of deteriorating and being lost forever if you don’t act soon to digitize them.

What is a 35mm Slide?

Unlike negatives, a 35mm slide or transparency generally refers to a positive image captured on film. The film is cut into individual frames and mounted in cardboard or plastic to help protect the material and allow projection. Color 35mm film slides are common, while black-and-white ones in any size format are relatively rare. 

Slides were originally designed as a space-saving format to store photos. In addition, this handy format made it easy to project photos on a screen for a group to view at the same time rather than people flipping through an album individually. Over time, as digital formats and online sharing became more common, slides fell out of favor. Many hobbyists and professional photographers kept the format alive for a bit longer because they preferred the superior details captured in a film to that of early digital photos. Today, since digital photography and excellent quality cameras on smartphones are universal, slides have largely been relegated to gathering dust in boxes.

How to Digitize 35mm Slides

By now, you’re likely wondering how to digitize slides. The good news is that there are a couple of options to convert slides to a digital format:

Professional Slide Scanning

If you’re willing to invest some money in the project, professional conversion services are probably the best choice, especially when you wish to digitize many boxes or carousels of slides. Professional scanning services have the equipment and expertise to efficiently convert slides. They typically provide digitized images in a number of digital formats, including online downloads, USB flash drives, and CDs. The process is not only quicker but also yields high-quality images that can be printed and enlarged. In addition, well-established and highly-rated professional service can expertly restore photos contaminated with dust or debris spots, both of which are a common problem with slides that have been stored for a while.

The Do it Yourself Method

If you’re planning to digitize 35mm slides yourself, then you need to start with the right equipment. Most standalone scanners are designed to digitize both 35mm negatives and slides. These units take the slide and project it onto a receptor that captures the image and digitizes it internally. You can pick and choose the slides you want to scan and retain or discard the rest. If you don’t factor in the time involved, this approach is less expensive than using a service. Although many 35mm slide scanners are available, you need to consider several factors when shopping for one.

Image quality – Don’t waste your money on a low-megapixel scanner to scan your 35mm slides. You need a scanner in the range of 9 megapixels or higher for best results. Although many discount scanners are available, the image quality is greatly compromised in order to keep their price low. The best gauge of quality is the extent to which you can enlarge an image once scanned. Low-megapixel scanners generally only yield a 4 x 6 image at best. Good scanners can produce poster-size images without loss of detail or quality.

Scanning speed – Again, low cost means a slower machine to convert 35mm slides to digital. If you have a lot of extra time on your hands to scan slides, then this may not be such a huge consideration. But if you don’t want to spend months processing slides, a better quality scanner can deliver faster results and multi-slide scanning capability. Keep in mind that fast scanners require more data storage, so you’ll likely need a sizable storage card until you download the images to your computer.

Compatibility formats – The large majority of scanners work well with most computers that are up to two 2-years old. If your computer is older, then you may run into issues, especially on systems running an OS older than Windows 10 or an earlier Mac OS.

Comparison shopping – Don’t settle on the first scanner you find. Amazon, B&H, and Adorama offer competitive prices on many scanners. Walmart and Target are a couple of other stores worth checking out, although their stock tends to be limited when it comes to higher end models. Before you settle on a model, a trip to your local Best Buy, Staples, or another store that sells computer accessories will enable you to see how these scanners work and learn more about their features firsthand. 

Consider renting or buying – If your scanning needs are a one-time event and you believe that you can complete this task over a weekend or within a week, consider renting. This approach may be more cost-effective than buying a scanner. Many high-end scanners are available for rental periods at a fraction of the cost of an outright purchase.

What is the Best Scanner for 35mm Slides to Digital

When you’re shopping for photo scanners, look at online reviews from unbiased sites and get a recommendation from someone you know that already digitized their slides.

Flatbed scanners: If you are working with a very tight budget then you can use a flatbed scanner, although you’re unlikely to get very high-quality images this way. Still, it is a viable method to digitize slides into photo files for online sharing. Image quality is dependent to a large degree on the intensity of the internal scanner light. You should factor in a certain amount of editing time for each scanned image to enhance the quality. Additionally, just laying the slides on the scanner won’t work. You’ll need to create some kind of cardboard backing to reflect the light back through the slide in order to capture a decent quality image. Since this will generate a collage of slides as one image, you’ll need to crop out the individual images using photo editing software such as Photoshop. Although not ideal, the flatbed scanning method is still an option worth considering for those who want to minimize costs.

Standalone scanners: Most negative photo scanners also have the capability of scanning 35mm slides, additional negative sizes, and even Super 8 and 8mm film. It’s important to check the specs prior to buying the scanner to ensure it has the capability to digitize 35mm slides.

Bottom line…getting 35mm slides scanned professionally is the best way to share precious memories with family, friends, and preserve them for generations to come.

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Converting videotapes to digital files is the best way to preserve them for posterity. This also frees up storage space, eliminates clutter, and a lot of time spent dusting! If you’ve already digitized your old videos, congratulations are in order, however, you may still have some homework organizing them! If you haven’t done so, we recommend considering the best storage methods for digital video files prior to getting them converted. Although digital file formats won’t visibly add to physical clutter and collect dust like your old VHS tapes, you need to give some thought to organizing and storing them. Disorganized digital folders and semi-cloud-synced albums may not present the same issues as non-archival shoeboxes and dust-covered cases, but can easily lead to unnecessary woes. 

Storage Options for Digital Videos 

Storage options include flash drive storage, DVDs, and the cloud. Understanding the pros and cons of each can help you decide the best storage method to suit your needs. 

DVDs 

By the 2000s, DVDs were clearly the preferred video format and VHS began to lose its status as the go-to format. Digital files can be burned to DVDs and you can do this yourself if you have the right equipment, or choose this option when you send videotapes to ScanCafe. 

Pros: DVDs have withstood the test of time, with proven reliability for more than two decades. DVDs are far sleeker than VHS tapes and other analog media. Although DVD recording options are on their way out, playback devices are still readily available, making this a viable option for storing digital family memories and movies. 

Cons: DVD recorders are becoming increasingly scarce. Most new laptop models don’t come equipped with built-in DVD writers. When you look at flash drive vs. DVD storage, DVD capacity pales in comparison. A DVD can store several hours of video footage and a few GBs of files, but thumb drives offer so much more. DVDs can be played by anyone with the right equipment, which isn’t a problem unless your content is confidential. 

Thumb Drives/Flash Drives 

When you send old analog media to ScanCafe, we can transfer VHS tapes to thumb drives. When they were first introduced, thumb drives, flash drives (also called jump), and USB sticks quickly made 3.5-inch floppy disks obsolete. Today, these drives typically can hold a minimum of 256 megabytes and a maximum of several gigabytes of data, due to improvements in technology over the last two decades. 

Pros: Thumb drives offer compact portability, vast storage capability, ease of use, security protection functionality, and fast access. 

Cons: Due to their small size, thumb drives can easily be misplaced or lost. If the thumb drive is plugged into a computer infected with a virus, it is vulnerable to malware that will make it unreadable. Improperly ejecting a drive you’re working on can corrupt the data. 

Cloud Storage 

Storing digital videos and other files in the cloud that is shareable across devices seems like a better choice than hogging valuable storage space on your PC or phone. A dizzying array of choices can make this option seem daunting, but an abundance of reputable reviews from unbiased sources can help inform your choice. Cloud storage has become more affordable due to competition from a growing number of providers, such as IDrive, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Amazon Drive, and Apple iCloud Drive. 

Pros: Cloud storage offers many positive perks including scalability at the push of a button (up or down), accessibility and sharing from any device at any location, pay-per-usage pricing, emergency backup, quick access if you have a fast internet connection, and storage immortality because this method eliminates obsolete hardware. 

Cons: If your internet connection is subpar, accessing your files in a timely manner could prove frustrating. Digital downloads in the cloud are prone to a growing number of ever-clever hackers. 

Bottom line… What works best for someone else may not be the best option for you. If you opt for the cloud, we suggest doing research to find the most secure, affordable, and reliable solution. Like flash drives, cloud solutions have different price points and storage capacities.

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All video formats aren’t created equal and some are far more commonplace than others. While the video format MP4 is so popular it gets taken for granted, have you ever wondered, what is an MP4 file? Short for the less catchy MPEG-4 Part 14, this high-quality video format inspired by the QuickTime File Format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization. Version 1 was released in 2001 under the ISO/IEC 14496-1:2001 standard, followed by Version 2 in 2003. 

The popularity of the MP4 video file is attributed in good part to its successful use by Apple iTunes at the height of the company’s worldwide fame. It also helps a great deal that YouTube championed the MP4 video format, given the mega-site boasts more than 2 billion logged-in users every month and 74% of U.S. adults watch videos on this platform. Last, the MP4 is compatible with virtually any device, making it incredibly versatile.

Windows Compatibility

File Viewer Plus

Microsoft Windows Video

Microsoft Windows Media Player

Nullsoft Winamp

Roxio Creator NXT Pro 5

Corel VideoStudio Pro X8.5 Ultimate

CyberLink PowerDVD 16

VideoLAN VLC media player

Wondershare Filmora 6

MPlayer 

Mac Compatibility

Apple QuickTime Player

Apple iTunes

Roxio Toast 15

Eltima Elmedia Player

VideoLAN VLC media player

Wondershare Filmora 6

MPlayer 

iOS Compatibility

Apple Music

olimsoft OPlayer

PentaLoop PlayerXtreme Media Player

Google Drive 

Android Compatibility

BooKPia MP4 Video Player for Android

BIT LABS Simple MP4 Video Player

Google Drive

Video labs VLC for Android 

The Pro and Cons of MP4 Files 

In addition to being compatible with numerous video players, the MP4 file is far better at compressing video file data than most formats, therefore it enables better video and sound quality in smaller file size. The quality of MP4 files is superb for streaming video over the internet with close to DVD quality. As such, video sharing platforms often actively encourage users to upload their files in MP4 format. The only con is that when MP4 files are imported, on occasion they may cause video software to crash. 

Why We Offer MP4 at ScanCafe 

Digitization converts VHS videos into formats including MP4, MOV, and AVI. At ScanCafe, we convert videos into MP4 files because this is the best format for video resolution and storage size, and offers the unsurpassed capability to relive favorite movie memories on virtually any device or software. You can select from a USB drive or DVD when you send us videos to digitize, and if you plan on doing any editing, we suggest selecting the Uncompressed H.264/MPEG-4 Files option.

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The fact that 300 hours of video are posted to YouTube alone every minute is rather daunting if you’ve never posted anything and are considering doing so. Add Instagram and TikTok to the mix and this makes the likelihood of posting eye-catching clips seem slim to none! Instead of shooting videos on your smartphone like millions of other people, create reels that stand out in the crowd. If you have long forgotten videos and movie reels gathering dust in your basement or corner of a closet, dig them out. While the treasures on these magnetic tapes or celluloid reels may primarily hold sentimental memories for your family, nostalgic throwback clips have a universal appeal. Of course, you can’t create something unique until you get your old videos and/or movies digitized, so that’s the first step. 

What Is a Highlight Reel? 

The concept of a highlight reel is the same as creating a slideshow or photo album that features your best images, except this is a collection of videos or movies. It can also include digitized slides, negatives, and photos if you wish. A highlight reel created from digitized videos and movies should only include the best footage in terms of overall interest and picture quality. To create a reel that knocks peoples’ socks off, leave everything else on the chopping block. 

How to Make a Video Highlight Reel 

How to make a highlight video depends on whether you have a PC or Mac, although the process is similar. It doesn’t matter if the original media was a video or movie because you’ll be working with the same digitized format. A highlight reel can include silly antics that seem quaint by today’s standards, groovy hairdos and clothing you can’t believe were once in vogue, or poignant moments reserved for close friends and family members. 

Video Editing on Windows 

Filmora is an easy-to-use free download editing software with excellent reviews that offers basic to more advanced editing features. This makes it a good option for beginners and experts alike. Follow these steps to create highlight reels. 

Plug the media you want to use in the appropriate drive, then scroll from “File” to “Import Media”

Select the media you want to import

Open Filmora

Create a new project and give it a title

Drag all the imported media into the editing section of Filmora, where you’ll edit the length of the reel and crop or enhance any photographs

Organize the clips in the order you want

Optimize the video by adding sounds, transitions, and effects

Share with family and friends via the cloud or on sites such as YouTube and Facebook 

Video Editing on Mac 

The iMovie app is available for free and enables you to drag photos and videos into a new project while adding text and audio to each slide. Here is a step-by-step guide: 

Plug the media you want to use in the appropriate drive, then scroll from “File” to “Import Media”

Select and import the desired media

Open iMovie

Open a new project, and give the reel a title

Choose a template as a theme (similar to PowerPoint)

Drag your digitized videos, movie clips, and/or photos into the new iMovie project

After you import them, drag all the content into the timeline at the bottom of the screen to order it and make adjustments

To optimize your video, enhance various elements including sizing, image resolution/quality, and contrast

To add transitions, audio, and themes, scroll through the “Effects” menu for desired options

Share on any site you wish with friends, family, and the world if you wish 

If you have digitized memories and don’t know where to begin, organizing them first makes creating a highlight reel a lot easier.

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When taking a journey back in time to look at the history of videos, one has to start with film, since that’s where the magic of motion pictures started. In fact, film history dates back to 1891 when the Edison Company successfully demonstrated the Kinetoscope invented by Thomas Edison’s assistant William Kennedy Dickson. This was the first device to show moving pictures. Three years later, the Kinetoscope was commercialized in parlors where one patron at a time could watch short movie clips through a peephole viewer. 

When Was The First Movie Made? 

Although it is sometimes cited as the earliest documented film in history, The Horse in Motion by English photographer Eadweard Muybridge was a series of cabinet cards that pictured a sequential series of six to twelve “automatic electro-photographs” depicting the movement of a horse. Shot by Muybridge in June 1878, these photos are the first known example of chronophotography, an important step in the development of motion pictures. 

The honor of the oldest surviving film in existence goes to Roundhay Garden Scene. The one-minute silent short was recorded by French inventor Louis Le Prince in Leeds in the north of England on October 14, 1888. Interestingly, Le Prince is largely unknown today, even though he was granted patents on both a 16-lens device and a single-lens type several years before either Thomas Edison or the Lumière brothers. Le Prince mysteriously disappeared on September 16, 1890, and was never seen again, despite an exhaustive search by French police and Scotland Yard. 

Louis and Auguste Lumiere, the two French brothers who developed a camera-projector called the Cinematographe are credited for the first commercial movie screening. On December 28, 1895, a film made by the Lumiere brothers was unveiled to the public at the Grand Café in Paris. The Cinematographe was smaller, lighter, and used less film than Edison’s technology. 

The Jazz Singer, released in 1927, was the first feature-length movie with synchronized dialogue, officially marking the end of the silent-film era.

 Fantasia and The Wizard of Oz are two early motion pictures that utilized Technicolor technology in the late 1930s. 

When Was The Video Camera Invented? 

Looking back at video camera history, the first question that springs to mind is, “Who invented the video camera?” The first video camera was invented by Scottish engineer John Logie Baird, when he created a variation of an older device known as a Nipkow disk. This mechanical device broke an image into “scanlines” using a rotating disc with holes cut into it. This innovation led to Baird developing the first television, a dream many scientists had thought about for decades. 

Early Video and Television Technology 

In 1924, Baird transmitted a flickering image across a few feet and on January 26, 1926, gave the world’s first demonstration of a true television for 50 scientists gathered in an attic in central London. In 1927, Baird’s television was demonstrated over 438 miles of telephone line between London and Glasgow, after which he formed the Baird Television Development Company. The following year, his company achieved the first transatlantic television transmission between London and New York and the first transmission to a ship in the mid-Atlantic. At this time, he was also able to give a demonstration of the first known color and stereoscopic televisions. By the 1930s, new all-electronic designs based on a cathode-ray video camera tube replaced mechanical variations with electron scanning technology. 

Launch of Color TV 

In 1950, both CBS and RCA were competing to be the first to release a color television. When the FCC tested the two systems, the CBS TV was approved, while the RCA model wasn’t due to low picture quality. RCA ultimately won the color TV war when its far superior model gained FDA approval on December 17, 1953. Achieving optimal bandwidth required to broadcast color programming enabled RCA to tape shows in red, green, and blue and then broadcast them to television sets. But the public didn’t start buying color TVs in earnest until the 1960s because early sets were extremely expensive. By the 1970s, color TV sales outpaced black-and-white models for the first time. 

 Ampex made a color videotape recorder in 1958, which NBC used to tape An Evening with Fred Astaire, the oldest surviving network color videotape.

The Tournament of Roses Parade telecast by NBC on January 1, 1954 was the first coast-to-coast color broadcast.

 The premiere of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color in September 1961 is credited with inspiring consumers to purchase color TVs. 

Satellite TV 

Launched on July 10, 1962, from Cape Canaveral, Fla, the Telstar 1 satellite was the world’s first active communications satellite. Two days later, the first global television signal was transmitted from Maine to Brittany, France. The first images in the broadcast included views of the Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower, remarks from President John F. Kennedy, clips from a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs, shots of the American flag waving in the breeze, and images of French singer Yves Montand. 

The aluminum satellite dish used by consumers was invented by Stanford University professor and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientist H. Taylor Howard in September 1976.

Early home satellite systems cost about $10,000 to install. 

The Rise of VHS 

Prior to VHS becoming the go-to media for taking and watching movies, Super 8 movie cameras were all the rage. Although Betamax video technology hit the market first in 1975 and featured a superior picture quality, it was quickly dethroned by VHS. 

In 1976, JVC launched VHS and the VCR in Japan and on August 23, 1977, this video format was released in the U.S. 

At the height of its popularity in 1999, consumers spent 12.2 billion on VHS rentals and purchases! 

Introduced by Sony and Panasonic in 1995, the MiniDV was considered a state-of-the-art recording format and a far more compact option for home recording than the large VHS camcorders. Although MiniDV tapes were cassettes, the quality was comparable to digital quality picture and sound. But like any technology, a new kid called DVD was waiting in the wings to dethrone both VHS and the MiniDV. 

Evolution of DVDs 

With more storage, better picture and audio quality, interactive features, and no need to rewind, it’s no wonder DVD quickly became the new video king when it was introduced in 1997. By 2000, DVDs had nearly replaced shelves stocked with VHS tapes. Although digital streaming has taken over the world, the DVD media format is still widely accepted and used by people of all ages. 

The Streaming Age Takes Center Stage 

Old-school movie projectors, heavy video camcorders, slide projectors and their associated media have become antiquated relics thanks to digital technology. While digital technology began in the early 1990s, companies such as YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Spotify, and Hulu, revolutionized streaming media in recent years. 

Netflix: Founded in 1997 as a movie rental service that shipped DVDs via mail, in 2007, the company launched streaming movies and TV over the internet. Netflix currently has 203.66 million subscribers. In 2013, the Netflix series House of Cards was the first original online-only streaming television show to receive major nominations for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2020, Netflix set an all-time record with 160 Emmy Award nominations, the most for a network in a single year. 

Amazon Prime Video: As of January 2020, there were more than 150 million Amazon Prime Video users. Launched in late 2010, Amazon Studios develops and produces original films and television shows distributed through theaters and Prime Video. Award-winning Amazon Studio television shows include Transparent and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, while the 2016 movie Manchester by the Sea won two of six of its Oscar nominations. 

Digital Downloads: Driven by rapid leaps in internet use, widespread availability of mobile devices, and the ever-increasing popularity of online video content, global video streaming has experienced huge growth. In 2020, video-on-demand revenue reached an estimated $61 billion and about 239 million people in the U.S. watched digital videos. 

TikTok has 689 million monthly active users worldwide, with 62% in the U.S. between 10 and 29-years-old.

An estimated 74% of U.S. adults currently watch YouTube and the number of total U.S. watchers is predicted to increase to 228.1 million by 2024. 

Accessing Old Video Formats 

The best way to watch old videos and movies is to get them digitized. Movies, videos, and photo slides/negatives are all subject to varying levels of degradation. Getting them professionally digitized preserves history, especially the personal and film history that holds sentimental memories for you and your family.

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While many people have fond memories of Generation VHS, most keep their unwavering love of video tapes to themselves! For others, VHS may seem like ancient history, but it was the medium of choice for decades to watch movies and record favorite television shows. Remember pulling a new tape out of the shrink-wrap and the paper-backed sticker label fell out of the sleeve? Of course, not all VHS memories are warm and fuzzy. Anybody who owned one of the earlier VCRs likely remembers fiddling around with tracking, a finicky adjustment affecting the head position. And once the machine wore out, it started chewing up your tapes. Of course, all these decades later, many people wonder what to do with old VHS tapes. 

Are VHS Tapes Recyclable? 

Unfortunately, while the outer cases of VHS tapes are plastic, the inner tape is made of a phthalate-laden form of the plastic polyethylene (aka Mylar) which isn’t recyclable. Tapes are magnetic so they are coated with toxic metals (e.g. chromium and iron oxide). Although you can’t throw them out with your weekly garbage or recycling, some recycling centers accept them. 

As the saying goes, one persons’ junk is another person’s treasure, so consider donating old video tapes to a local thrift store. Check first to see if they accept this media. You could sell them online or at a garage/yard sale. Keep in mind most don’t fetch more than a buck or two. Word to the wise – don’t give away Disney animated classics that were released in a special edition (e.g. Black Diamond Classics) because many are incredibly collectible and valuable. 

DIY Projects for Repurposing Old Tapes 

If recycling, donating, or selling them isn’t your cup of tea and you’re still wondering what to do with VHS tapes, try repurposing them. The rectangular shape makes VHS tapes fairly easy to disassemble to create unique art or gifts. For example, you can create storage boxes and shelves for small items such as photos, jewelry, books, and even the few video tapes you wish to keep. Remember trying to repair damaged VHS tapes back in the day and thinking about pulling the entire length of tape out of the case instead? Now you can and make all sorts of nifty things in the process, from gift ribbons and DIY pom-poms to strong rope. 

Convert VHS Tapes to Digital 

If you own video tapes with precious memories of important events or favorite movies, the best option is to digitize them. Converting them is a great way to get rid of stacks of old videotapes contributing to clutter and collecting dust. And since most people no longer have a VCR, this is the only way to revisit the past, whether tapes hold memories of your children’s first steps or the daytime soap opera you recorded and could barely wait to watch when you got home from work. At ScanCafe, we make it easy to revisit Generation VHS memories, with your choice of a digital download, DVD, USB drive, and uncompressed or lightly compressed files.

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Perhaps you uncovered some old unexposed film rolls along with a film or movie camera in your parents’ or grandparents’ attic. You’re intrigued and thinking about shooting pictures or a home movie, but have questions, starting with does film expire and how long does undeveloped film last? 

What You Need to Know About Expired Film 

Most negative and movie films have an expiration date. This is typically about two years after the month of manufacture, which is actually a “best if used by” date. The older the film, the more unpredictable it will be in terms of quality. Another crucial factor that determines the outcome is how film is stored. With that said, the old film you found in an attic will be wildly unpredictable if subjected to hot temperatures. Heat is film’s worst enemy and can cause increased grain, color shifts, and even brittleness. On the other hand, when stored in cold temperatures, degradation tends to be slower, especially color film kept in a freezer. 

How Long Will 35mm Film Last? 

The question of how long does 35mm film last undeveloped depends on the type of film and the conditions to which it was subjected. Color films are made of layers of silver halides with dyes and color masks. These dyes degrade at different rates depending on the type of film. Some films skew towards blue (especially Ektachrome which was colder than Kodachrome when brand new), while others take on a magenta or yellow hue. Black and white film with silver halides degrade as well, but at a much slower rate than color dyes. Even without major color shifts, color film is vulnerable to changes that range from slightly muted colors to overall desaturation that results in one dominant color. Most expired films also suffer from mottling or spotting, streaking, inconsistent grain, contrast issues, etc. 

How Long Do Film Reels Last? 

If stored optimally in sealed canisters at low humidity and with minimal viewing, film reels can last as long as 70 years. If the unexposed film was stored in a freezer, chances are you can use it and get decent results. If you’re not sure if the reel has sound, it’s easy to find out. The major problem for both movie and negative film is that Kodachrome processing was officially discontinued at the end of 2010. A handful of specialized labs may be able to process it through a black and white reversal process. 

Converting Old Film to Digital 

Whether you wish to shoot unexposed film or discovered a stack of old 35mm negatives and/or home movies, the best way to prevent further deterioration and preserve them is to convert them ASAP to digital. And after movies are digitized, don’t throw out the reels because you can repurpose them to create a wide array of intriguing décor!

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“When a movie character is really working, we become that character. That’s what the movies offer: Escapism into lives other than our own.” ~ Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times film critic from 1967-2013 

Although Chicago’s 1863 World’s Columbian Exposition was home to the world’s first movie screening, the storied history of the Chicago film industry officially dates back to the early 1900s. At that time, Chicago was a world leader in the rental of moving picture films and general patronage of motion pictures. By 1907 more than 15 film exchanges were in operation in Chicago, controlling 80% of the film distribution market for the entire country. Even after Chicago studios departed for Hollywood, Chicago remained an important distribution market. The 800 to 1500 blocks of South Wabash in the Loop housed high-profile distribution offices for MGM, Columbia, Warner Brothers, Republic, Universal, RKO, and Paramount. 

During the early 1900s, Chicago also had more film theaters per capita than any other city in the U.S., with five-cent theaters or nickelodeons playing a significant role in commercial development throughout its neighborhoods. The Balaban and Katz chain was the largest theater chain in the studio era (1919-1952), with 50 theaters in Chicago alone. They were known for building beautiful movie palaces to show movies and present popular stage shows. Among these are the still thriving Chicago Theatre (formerly Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre) which opened in 1921 and the James M. Nederlander Theatre built-in 1926 (formerly Oriental). 

Early Chicago Movie Studios 

Based in Uptown, Essanay Studios (originally The Peerless Film Manufacturing Company) was founded in 1907 by George Spoor and Gilbert Anderson. The studio released more than 2,000 shorts and feature films in their 10 years in Chicago, most notably 15 comedy shorts starring Charlie Chaplin. The studio produced silent films by other great stars such as Gloria Swanson, Wallace Beery, and Gilbert “Broncho Billy” Anderson, who won honorary Academy Awards for his time at the studio. While Essanay packed up and moved to Hollywood in 1917, the building at 1345 Argyle Street was designated a landmark in 1996. The original Essanay lettering and terra cotta Indian head Essanay trademarks still greet visitors. 

In 1907, William Selig, a former magician and theatrical troupe manager founded the Selig Polyscope Company at 3900 N. Claremont. Bordered by Irving Park Road and Western Avenue, the studio covered three acres, employed more than 200 people, and specialized in animal productions. When Thomas Edison’s motion picture patents became a barrier, Selig “borrowed” technology from the competing Lumiere Brothers. In 1909 when legal issues caught up with him, Selig moved to Los Angeles, where he created the first Hollywood movie studio. Selig stopped film production in 1918, transitioning from an animal and prop supplier to other studios and a zoo and amusement park operator. 

The Windy City is Home to Many Film Productions 

The Chicago Film Office, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, has been instrumental in attracting the production of feature films, television series, commercials, and documentaries. Since 1980, more than 1,100 feature films and television productions have been shot in Chicago, including the popular and award-winning films Ordinary People, Risky Business, Sixteen Candles, The Color of Money, The Untouchables, Home Alone, A League of Their Own, Groundhog Day, Chicago, and The Dark Knight. Together, these 10 films won 14 Oscars. Recent television programs filmed partially or entirely in Chicago include Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Empire, and the fourth season of Fargo. 

Famous Chicago Movie Locations 

A beautiful lakefront, Lake Shore Drive, the Loop and “L”, landmark architecture, attractive suburbs, and more offer enticing backdrops for movies and television shows. Here are a few locations you’ll likely recognize if you’re a movie buff who calls Chicago home. 

The Dark Knight: Lower Wacker Drive, LaSalle Street

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: Chicago Board of Trade, Wrigley Field, Art Institute of Chicago

High Fidelity: Wicker Park

Home Alone: Winnetka, Oak Park

My Best Friend’s Wedding: Lake Shore Drive, Comiskey Park, Union Station

Public Enemies: Biograph Theater

The Untouchables: Union Station, Chicago Cultural Center, Blackstone Hotel, Chicago Theater, etc. 

In the long tradition of movies and filmmaking in Chicago, ScanCafe is proud to offer film digitizing services in the Windy City. Converting old movies is the best way to preserve celluloid memories for posterity.

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If you love old-school media, perhaps you still listen to cassette tapes, or maybe you already digitized your favorites and have no idea what to do with these objects from yesteryear. You may also have cassette tapes that no longer play, which isn’t uncommon because this type of media is vulnerable to deterioration. Instead of discarding them, why not repurpose them into cool craft projects? Here are four ideas for unique decorations created from these once groovy, now obsolete tapes. 

Playful Pencil/Pen Holder 

This is one of the easiest projects to create that doesn’t require step-by-step directions. To transform cassette tapes into a nifty desktop pencil holder or small, open-topped box, grab four cassette tapes and one compact disc for the base. Apply adequate gel-type super glue to the edges of each tape to “weld” together. Make sure everything is even so it sits flat on the base. Last, glue on the base, and voila! 

Smartphone Stand 

This is another one that is easy to make and customize using double-sided decorative craft papers or even old magazine pages. Instead of the tape, you’ll use the case. 

Remove the original cassette liner as a template and attach it to the edge and corner of your paper using paper clips or binder clips.

Make a light pencil mark where you need to cut and next to the two folds.

Carefully cut out the two remaining edges using a ruler and mat knife or scissors.

Fold the paper along the two-fold areas, using the ruler to keep the edge straight while you fold.

Place the new decorative liner in the case.

To add pizzazz, glue flat-backed rhinestones or themed stickers on the outside. 

Distinctive Succulent Planter 

This cassette tape planter will add a beautiful retro element to any room when paired with succulent plants – either real or faux. It is a similar build to the pencil box, but this one uses hot glue instead of super glue. 

Supplies

Four cassette tapes (preferably with pretty colored labels)

Piece of wood for base or CD jewel case (around 4.25″ square)

Hot glue and gun

Styrofoam ball

Gravel

Faux succulents 

Instructions

Use the hot glue gun to adhere the cassette tapes together in a square.

Place glue all around the edge of your piece of wood for the base or CD jewel case

Fill the base and sides of the planter with small rocks and then a small Styrofoam ball.  

Stick the succulent picks into the ball and place more rocks around it.  

Fun Mod Wall Art 

If you’re looking for an unusual piece to hang above your couch or a child’s room and love the idea of gutting tapes, you’ll enjoy this project! 

Supplies

Cassettes (six to nine)

Acrylic craft paint

Gloves

Brushes

Stretched artist canvas

Scissors

Long, sturdy sewing needle

Floral wire

Craft or super glue 

Instructions

Remove all the guts of the cassette tapes – no need to rewind!

After your cassettes are tapeless, wear gloves and paint them any color you wish (e.g. pastels, primary colors, shades of gray, etc.) Paint the front and sides but not the back side. Allow each paint layer to dry, repeat to fully cover, and when pleased with your results, leave them to dry overnight.

Take canvas and paint it a complementary color, or if you’re feeling ambitious, try painting an abstract pattern or splattering paint on top of a base layer.

Measure and place the cassettes evenly and centered on the canvas, unless you’re looking for a more unusual, happenstance look.

While holding the tapes in place, take a long needle and pierce through the inside holes on the bottom of each of the cassettes.

Cut a six-inch piece of wire for each tape.

Affix the tapes to the canvas by threading it through the cassette holes, then into the holes you made in the canvas.

Flip to the back of the canvas and twist wire to secure to the back of the canvas, then repeat for each tape.

Add a dollop of craft glue underneath the top part of each tape where it rests against the canvas. 

Can Cassette Tapes be Recycled? 

You’ve repurposed some cassettes and digitized others, so what to do with discards? You shouldn’t throw cassette tapes out with the garbage or your regular recycling because the tape itself is hazardous and this type of plastic can take centuries to degrade. Check to see if a local recycling center accepts them. Try donating them to a thrift shop or see if you can get pennies on the dollar at an old-school record shop.

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Believe it or not, some amateur filmmakers love shooting movies on outdated, low-fidelity, silent, and kind of expensive 8mm film. Used movie equipment is fairly easy to find and the film is still made, but like anything secondhand, buyer beware. On the other hand, you may view a stack of old 8mm or Super 8mm movies as ancient relics, but can’t help but wonder if treasured memories hide within these reels. If you don’t know how to view super 8 film without a projector, the good news is you can. Here is a look at three methods – the first two take a lot of patience and aren’t particularly useful for Super 8mm film with sound, while the third is completely pain-free. 

Method 1: Vintage Film Editor 

Inexpensive cut-and-splice devices known as vintage film editors were popular once upon a time when people enjoyed editing their own home movies. Most models look like mini-projectors with two arms that hold the reels. The less expensive models involve hand cranking the film through the machine while a light behind it illuminates it on a small screen. Sprocket-less editors are easier on old film reels than projectors, if used properly. This method is akin to watching a magnificent movie on a smartphone or miniature television, so best reserved for determining if a reel is worth digitizing. Cost for the used editor: $14.99 to $80 plus shipping costs if bought online. Popular brands: Baia, Kalart, Mansfield, Minette, and Vernon. 

Method 2: Use a High-Powered Magnifier 

You can use a loupe or a large magnifying glass to view 8mm film, but this method only provides a brief preview. Carefully pull out the film beyond the leader (white starter tape) to see what’s on the first few frames of footage. You’ll need a high-powered magnifying glass of at least 10x for this to work. Look for one with built-in lighting or use an outside light source. This method won’t reveal much about the quality of the film, but in a pinch provides a clue as to whether it is worth proceeding to the third, pain-free method. If not, consider repurposing reels into unique décor before tossing them. Cost for a new 10x magnifier or loupe: $7.99 to $30.00. 

Method 3: Professional Digitizing 

Whether you own regular 8mm or Super 8 movies, choosing the right scanning service is the most pain-free method. Processionals do the heavy lifting so you can sit back and enjoy celluloid memories on forever formats. Look for companies with user-friendly websites, great customer service, guaranteed safe handling, competitive prices, and excellent customer reviews. 

How to Play 8mm Tapes 

To watch 8mm tapes without the original camcorder, you’ll need to purchase an 8mm tape deck. It’s best to purchase a used one because new models can set you back several thousand dollars. If you can find a reasonably priced deck, follow these steps: 

Connect the tape deck to the television with RCA cables. These are typically red, yellow, and white, with two cords used for audio (if you want stereo sound) and one for video.

Power on the tape deck and set the television to the proper video setting. 

ScanCafe is the top choice when you’re looking for the easiest and best way to watch old 8mm movies. Every reel in your order is cleaned, viewed, scanned, and edited by a dedicated technician. Our service includes spot cleaning and simple repairs such as fixing bad splices at no additional charge. We use HD scans that capture details, never crop frames, perform scene-by-scene color correction, and guarantee safe handling! 

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Soon after cassette tapes were introduced in 1963, ongoing efforts focused on improving the sound quality. Mass production began in Germany and by 1966, more than a quarter-million recorders were sold in the U.S. alone. This innovation changed the way people listened to music and recorded the spoken word. 

Although compact, audiotapes certainly don’t have the fidelity of high-quality vinyl and suffer from degradation over time. If you still have cassette tapes, especially of personal recordings or DIY curated music selections, it’s advised to get them converted to digital files before the sounds are lost to history. 

How to Transfer Music from Cassette to Computer 

Although a huge array of music is available on paid and free streaming services, many people still own collections of cassette tapes associated with fond memories of their youth or college days. Luckily, there are several ways to recapture your musical memories and convert them to digital files, from time-consuming to pain-free. 

How to Connect Tape Player to Computer 

To transfer a cassette tape to a computer, you’ll need to decide which option is the best for you, based on your budget, time you wish to spend on the project, and your technical abilities. The first option is to purchase an inexpensive USB cassette converter, with models as low as $25.00 on Amazon. The second option will set you back more money unless you have a working cassette player. And the third method is to send your favorite audio cassettes to a professional digitizing service and let them do the work for you. Here is a look at each and a popular open-source audio recording and editing software called Audacity. You’ll need this to capture audio if you opt for the tape deck method.

USB Cassette Converters 

Simply plug the device into your computer’s USB port and use the included software to record the audio into a .mp3 format. As with any other device, look at several online reviews to see which models are highly rated before making a purchase. 

Regular Cassette Tape Deck 

You’ll need a cassette tape deck with RCA output jacks or tape player with 3.5mm mini-plug and a stereo RCA cable with mini-jack connector or mini-male to stereo mini-male cable. If the RCA cable has red and white RCA connectors on both ends, you’ll need to buy a mini-male to 2 RCA female adapter. Keep in mind using this adaptor can decrease the audio quality. 

Step 1: Connect Tape Deck to Computer 

In order to record the audio from the cassette tape to your computer, connect the male RCA side of the cable (red and white) into the female RCA connectors on the tape deck. Make sure the RCA jacks on the tape deck say “Line Out” or “Audio Out.”

Connect the other end of the cable to your computer. If you’re using the RCA cable with a mini-jack connector on the other end, then plug it into the female line-In jack on the back of your computer (the blue one out of the three). 

Step 2: Record Audio from Cassette Tape with Audacity

After the cassette tape deck is connected to your computer, use Audacity to capture the audio. 

Open Audacity and click on Edit and then Preferences at the bottom. If it’s not already there, click on Audio I/O on the left-hand menu. Then select the Input Source to record sound from the section heading called Recording and under that, a drop-down menu called Device. 

If your computer is operating on any version of Windows, DO NOT select Microsoft SoundMapper. If necessary, try other options under the drop-down until you get the sound to record. Then adjust the volume for your recording by clicking on the downward pointing arrow on the right-hand (red) VU recording level meters. 

Click on Monitor Input or Start Monitoring and then click the Record button. If the sound is too far to the right (red bars), adjust the input volume level by dragging the slider to the left in the Mixer Toolbar (slightly lower and to the left of the recording levels meters). 

When finished recording, click the Stop button (yellow color) and go to File and choose Save Project As. This will save it in Audacity so you can make edits later. 

To export the final edited version of your recording to .mp3 or .wav format, click on File and choose Export As. Other file options supported by Audacity include .aiff (for Apple computers), .ogg, and .flac. We suggest saving them as an uncompressed .wav or compressed .mp3 file, since these are the most universal. You can save the files to any folder set up on your computer, cloud storage, iTunes, or burn a CD if you wish. 

Tip: Pause the recording at any time for parts of the cassette tape you don’t want to be transferred to your computer (e.g. songs from yesteryear you no longer like). 

Tape Deck with CD Recorder 

Some units enable playing and recording from either the cassette deck or CD player. A three-in-one unit also has a USB Codec. While a normal tape deck costs $50 to $150, one with a CD recorder option will likely set you back $200 to $350, and a used three-in-one unit is nearly $700 on Amazon. 

Using a Professional Service 

At ScanCafe, we love transferring fragile audio into digital formats you can listen to without the need to fast forward and rewind. We use a state-of-the-art deck to capture the sound of both sides of the tape from beginning to end to a .wav file, so we never miss a beat. We also track your cassette tapes door to door to ensure their safety and deliver files back to you as a digital download or USB option. 

Digitizing old cassette tapes means you can access your favorite tunes anywhere, anytime, including from your smartphone!

The post Tips to Record Cassette Tapes to Computer appeared first on ScanCafe.

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Congratulations on making the decision to digitize fragile media formats! Now that you’ve decided to preserve celluloid and video memories, it’s advised you do research to find the best film transfer service to meet your needs and budget. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Film or Video Service 

Although you might think the price is the number one consideration, these six factors should be front and center when selecting a scanning service. 

Ensure the service can handle your media, e.g. 35mm film reels or MiniDV tapes

Make sure you choose a company that offers door-to-door safe handling and tracking

Only select a service that states on their website that processing is done in the USA

Visit the company website to see how long they’ve been in business, if they have user-friendly ordering, and transparency about how the entire process works

Read customer testimonials on the company site, Google, Facebook, and professional reviews that compare several scanning services

Check to see if various options are offered for the delivery of digital files 

Best Video to Digital Transfer Service 

When you’re looking for online articles reviewing top video conversion companies or the best film transfer service, ScanCafe will likely be among the mix. At ScanCafe, we use professional decks equipped with video stabilization to ensure the best possible playback when converting videotapes, including removing blank footage. And our expert technicians will try to repair video cassettes at no extra charge. 

If you need a quality film scanning service to convert movies, ScanCafe has vast expertise in transforming old home movies into treasures you can enjoy and share anytime, anywhere. We can digitize 8mm, Super 8, 16mm, and 35mm movie film. We manually inspect, clean, splice, and put a film on a new reel if necessary, prior to processing. HD scans to capture details and full-frame scanning without cropping are also standard. 

At ScanCafe, we process all media in our state-of-the-art lab in the heart of the Midwest, with door-to-door tracking, barcoding, versatile delivery options including free digital downloads, and an unparalleled safe handling guarantee! 

Video and Film to Digital Converter Comparison 

Here is a brief comparison of ScanCafe’s video and film conversion services to four competitors to help you make an informed decision. Many companies offer periodic promotions, however, the prices listed below reflect regular rates. ScanCafe is the only one in this group that offers free scene-by-scene color correction and dust and scratch reduction. 

ScanCafe 

Video formats: VHS, VHS-C, SVHS, Hi8, Digital 8, MiniDV, and BetaMax

Professional formats: Umatic, PAL, and Betacam

Video scan resolution: SD

Video price: $21.99 per tape

Film formats: 8mm, Super 8, 16mm, 35mm

Film scan resolutions: 1440x1080px for 8, super8, and 16mm; 1620x1080px for 35mm

Film price: .28 cents per foot

Delivery options: DVD, USB drive, and digital download 

Walmart 

Video formats: VHS, VHS-C, Other VHS variations, BetaMax, Video 8, Hi-8, Digital 8, DV, DVCAM, MiniDV, and DVC

Video scan resolutions: Not listed

Video price: $15.96 for the first 30 minutes; $5.46 for each additional 30 minutes

Film formats: 8mm, Super 8mm, and 16mm

Film scan resolution: Not listed

Film price: $15.96 for the first 50 feet; $0.20 per foot after first 50 feet

Delivery options: DVD, USB drive, and digital download

Legacy Box 

Video formats: VHS, VHS-C, MiniDV, Hi-8, Digital 8, BetaMax, MicroMV, and PAL NTSC

Film formats: 8mm and 16mm

Scan resolutions: Not listed

Prices: This service is different from the others because they charge a set fee per box, e.g. $53.99 for two items and up to $1,019 for 40 items; mix and match any media they accept.

Delivery options: DVD, USB drive, and digital download 

ScanDigital 

Video formats: VHS, VHS-C, High8, MiniDV, /Digital 8, BetaMax, BetaCam, and U-Matic

Video scan resolutions: Premium, expert

Video prices: $19.95 and $24.95

Film formats: 8mm, Super 8, Super 8mm with sound, 16mm, and 35mm

Film scan resolution: Not listed

Film prices: 3-inch: $9.50, 4-inch: $19.00, 5-inch: $38.00, 6-inch: $57.00, 7-inch: $76.00, 14-inch (35mm only): $380.00

Delivery options: DVD, USB drive, and digital download 

Video Conversion Experts 

Video formats: Betamax, VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, Hi8, Digital 8, MiniDV, Betacam, Digital Betacam, DVCPRO 25, DVCPRO 50, and DVCPRO HD

Video scan resolutions: SD, Pro SD, Pro HD, Pro 4K

Video prices: $17.95 per hour to $64.95 per hour based on resolution

Film formats: 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm, and 35mm

Film scan resolutions: SD, Pro HD, Pro 2K, Pro 4K

Film prices: 19 cents to 90 cents per foot based on resolution

Delivery options: DVD, MP4, and BluRay

Choosing a Digitization Service

Now that you know what to look for and how to compare services, don’t delay! Choose the scanning service that best meets your needs, but do it soon before precious memories fade or deteriorate. Getting old movies and videotapes digitized is the best way to preserve them.

The post Comparing Film & Video Transfer Services appeared first on ScanCafe.

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