The computer age has changed everything, from the way we capture precious moments to the way we watch movies has changed drastically. We moved from film photos to digital images, from VHS tape to streaming video, from vinyl to music files… you know. However, before we had pocket-sized devices that could store or stream massive amounts of video, audio, and images, we saved memories of our favorite content and records in analog form—usually on tapes that would be damaged over time.
To enjoy all of this media again and save it to the future, you need to digitize it. This guide will focus on digitization of storage formats that rely on outdated players – if you save content to a CD or DVD (which can still be plugged into your computer and external optical drive), then you can stop reading now.
While we encourage you to convert content yourself, if you prefer to spend money to get a professional to do it, professional companies can digitize old recordings for you – just google search to find it. If you can’t find the right option locally, many companies are willing to handle the content mailed. For DIY enthusiasts, we will guide you through your choices and explain how they work.
We guess you saved many old family movies and favorite childhood movies on VHS tape. To digitize this format, you need a device that plays the video, an adapter that outputs the video, and a computer to capture the video.
If you don't have a VHS player around you, you can borrow one from your friends, or buy a second-hand mobile device from websites such as eBay. On the back of the player, find the S-Video or composite video output. These ports may have tags, or you can view these links to find their pictures.
Many cheap adapters can plug into these sockets and connect them to the USB port of your computer. Both the Elgato Video Capture ($74 for Amazon) and the V.TOP USB 2.0 video audio capture card ($30 for Amazon) do the job.
Many of these adapters come with their own acquisition software for recording USB inputs to your computer's hard drive. If not, you can also use free tools like Avidemux (for Windows) or QuickTime (for macOS). If you prefer a computer-free process, you can buy an alternative all-in-one device, such as the ClearClick Video To Digital Converter ($120 at Amazon), which can digitize the tape directly onto the memory card.
If you are demanding quality, you can use a dedicated video capture card installed in your desktop computer (such as the Hauppauge Colossus 2 for $124) or an external acquisition box (such as the AVerMedia AVerCapture HD for $100) . But these expensive tools are actually designed for higher quality video sources like game consoles—and they are a bit too much for old VHS tapes. That said, they will make your digital video look as good as possible.
For analog video formats older than VHS, follow the same principle: find a machine that can play movies, preferably with S-Video or composite output, and find some way to convert the output to your computer's USB format. If you simply can't find the necessary hardware, you can usually find professional services to do the job for you.
The conversion audio tape works the same as converting video tape. You need to wipe off any device that can still play old cassettes and convert it into a format that your computer can access, usually USB.
On the cassette player, look for red and white RCA connectors or ports marked "Line Out". If your old player doesn't have the right features, consider buying a used player with this feature. Even a standard headphone jack can output audio in emergencies, but this should be the last option.
If your computer has a 3.5mm line input port (not a microphone input – this is a different format), you only need one cable. Depending on the output of the cassette holder, that could be a $4 stereo audio patch cable or a $5 RCA to stereo cable.
To go the USB route, you need a device to convert the output of the cassette player into a USB input. Something like the V.TOP Digital Audio Capture Card ($17 for Amazon) does this, or you can buy an all-in-one player and converter like Reshow Cassette Player ($22 for Amazon) or ION Tape Express Plus ($40 on Amazon). However, classic tape holders and dedicated cables may produce higher quality digital files.
For vinyl records, the process is similar: find the right cable and convert the output of the record player (whatever it is) into a computer-compatible input, such as a 3.5mm line input or USB port.
In view of the continued popularity of vinyl records, many players now have built-in digital conversion tools. With devices like Sony PSLX300USB ($128 for Amazon) or Iron Triangle AT-LP60-USB ($126 for Amazon), you only need a USB cable and a computer to record.
The conversion device you choose may also come with acquisition software that can convert your tape or record to MP3 format. Some even offer tools to edit and remove excess hissing between tracks. If not, Audacity is the best free audio conversion software. It is compatible with Windows and macOS and has a lot of options to save and process capture audio. This Audacity tutorial provides more information on what settings and options should be used to convert old media.
This is probably the easiest conversion, because you don't need any special hardware or skills: your smartphone camera can easily digitize any printed image. Just make sure to take pictures in a place with plenty of light and carefully align the physical image with the camera.
Don't take photos with standard camera apps, check out the programs specifically for digitizing old photos. We love PhotoScan, an app that connects to Google Photos. It crops, straightens and rotates photos for you, removes glare and imperfections, and corrects brightness and color. If you don't like PhotoScan, Pic Scanner Gold (for iOS) and CamScanner (for Android and iOS) offer similar services. Of course, if you like editing images, you can apply some corrections and fixes yourself.
One of the reasons why PhotoScan is chosen is that it allows you to easily store new digital images in Google Photos. This app will save an unlimited number of photos for free (although it only accepts sizes up to 16 megapixels), automatically sort and tag your images and make them accessible on any platform. Apple and Microsoft also provide excellent image management services.
To digitize your printed photos at the highest resolution possible, you can choose to replace your phone with a dedicated scanner. This process will take longer, but will eventually produce higher quality pictures. Your hardware options range from bulky versatile devices like the Brother DCP-L2540DW ($125 for Amazon) to portable and compact machines like the Fujitsu ScanScap iX100 ($190 for Amazon). For more tips on scanning, check out our paperless guide.
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