VHS home videos, cassette recordings, DVDs and legacy formats are degrading right now. We convert them to modern digital files before they're gone — preserving the moments that matter most.
At a glance
9+
Formats accepted
MP4
Standard video output
MP3
Standard audio output
USB
Or cloud download
VHS, Betamax, Video8, Hi8, MiniDV
Cassette tapes, CDs and DVDs
Files playable on any device
All originals returned after copying
Accepted formats
Every format we convert
From 1970s cassettes to early 2000s camcorder tapes, we cover the formats that homes and businesses across Northern Ireland have in storage right now.
VHS
1976 – early 2000s
The most common home video format. Birthday parties, family holidays, school plays — VHS holds a generation of memories that no modern device can play.
Output: MP4 · Full tape length captured
VHS-C
1982 – early 2000s
The compact version of VHS used in smaller camcorders. Compatible with VHS players via an adapter, but the tapes themselves are increasingly brittle.
Output: MP4 · Compact cassette format
Betamax
1975 – 2002
Sony's rival to VHS. Betamax tapes were used widely in broadcasting and by early home video enthusiasts. Playback equipment is now extremely rare.
Output: MP4 · Legacy format handled
Video8 & Hi8
1985 – mid 2000s
Sony's 8mm camcorder formats. Video8 was standard quality; Hi8 offered significantly improved resolution. Both use the same small cassette shell.
Output: MP4 · 8mm cassette format
MiniDV
1995 – mid 2010s
The small digital tape used in consumer and prosumer camcorders through the 2000s. Often used for weddings, events and school recordings. Digital quality, but the tapes still degrade.
Output: MP4 · Digital tape format
Cassette tapes
1962 – present
Audio cassettes containing music recordings, home recordings, spoken word, interviews and family voices. Many are one-of-a-kind recordings that exist nowhere else.
Output: MP3 or WAV · Full audio preserved
CDs
1982 – present
Audio CDs, data CDs and home recordings on CD-R. Optical discs can degrade or become unreadable as the dye layer breaks down — a process called disc rot.
Output: MP3, WAV or FLAC · Lossless available
DVDs
1996 – present
Commercial DVDs, home-recorded DVD-R discs and camcorder DVDs. We copy the video content to MP4 so it plays on any phone, computer or TV without a disc player.
Output: MP4 · Disc-to-file conversion
Other legacy formats
Not sure? Just ask
Have something not listed here — a reel-to-reel tape, a DAT cassette, a Super8 reel, or something you can't identify? Get in touch and we'll let you know if we can help.
Enquire → we'll advise
Act now
Tapes don't wait. Neither should you.
Magnetic tape degrades even when stored carefully. Oxide shedding, sticky shed syndrome, mould and simple age all destroy recordings permanently. There is no recovery once the content is gone.
VHS tape
10–25
years before significant quality loss begins, even in good storage
Cassette tape
10–30
years typical lifespan — heat and humidity accelerate decay
CD-R / DVD-R
5–25
years for recordable discs — dye-layer degradation is irreversible
Once digitised
∞
digital files don't degrade — copy and back up as many times as needed
Digital output
Files that play everywhere
We deliver in the formats your devices already understand — no special software, no extra steps. Just files you can watch, share and back up.
MP4
Standard output for all video formats. Plays on every smartphone, smart TV, computer and tablet without any additional software. The right choice for sharing and everyday viewing.
Compatible with iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, smart TVs, WhatsApp, YouTube
MP3
Standard output for cassette and CD audio. Small files, universal compatibility, perfectly suited for listening on any device. Ideal for sharing recordings with family members.
Compatible with all music apps, phones, car stereos, Amazon Music, Spotify import
WAV
Uncompressed audio — the archival standard. Every detail of the original recording preserved without any data loss. Larger files, but the best quality for important recordings.
Ideal for archival storage, professional editing, heritage organisations, FLAC conversion
How it works
Simple from start to finish
Four steps from sending us your tapes to receiving your digital files — with your originals safely returned.
1
Send or drop off
Post your tapes and discs to our Magherafelt studio, or drop them off in person. We'll confirm safe receipt and provide a quote before any work begins.
2
We check & clean
Each tape or disc is inspected and cleaned before playback. Deteriorated media is handled carefully to extract the best possible quality from what remains.
3
Convert & review
Content is captured in real time and reviewed for quality. Files are named clearly and organised so you can find what you're looking for straight away.
4
Deliver & return
Digital files delivered by secure cloud download link or USB drive. Your original tapes and discs are returned by tracked post or available to collect.
Why digitise
Preserve. Share. Enjoy again.
Digitising isn't just about rescue — it opens up recordings that have been sitting in a box for decades, making them easy to watch, share and pass on.
Rescue before it's too late
Tape degradation is irreversible. A digital copy means the content survives even if the original eventually deteriorates beyond playback.
Share with family instantly
Send a WhatsApp video of a 1989 family holiday to everyone at once. No player, no cables — just a file anyone can open on their phone.
Watch on any device
MP4 files play on smart TVs, phones, tablets and computers. No tracking down a working VHS player or hoping the heads are still clean.
Back up as many times as you like
Unlike a tape, a digital file can be copied infinitely without any quality loss. Store on a hard drive, cloud and USB — as many copies as you want.
Pass it down to the next generation
A digital archive of family recordings is something that can be handed on. Future generations can access it on whatever devices exist then.
Reclaim the original quality
A good capture from a well-preserved tape often looks better than a worn tape played through an ageing VCR. We capture at the highest quality the tape can still deliver.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Have a question not answered here? Get in touch — we're happy to advise.
We do accept tapes showing signs of mould or deterioration, and we'll do our best to recover the content. However, please mention the condition when you enquire so we can advise on the likely outcome before you send them. Severely mouldy or sticky-shed tapes may require treatment before playback, and we'll always be honest about what level of recovery is realistically achievable.
We treat every tape with care. All originals are inspected before playback and handled using appropriate equipment. The digitisation process itself does not damage tapes — we play them through and capture the output. All originals are returned after the job is complete. If a tape appears too deteriorated to play safely, we'll contact you before attempting playback.
Video and audio capture happens in real time — a two-hour VHS tape takes two hours to capture. A typical small batch of up to 10 tapes is usually completed within 5–7 working days of receipt. Larger collections take longer. We'll give you an accurate turnaround estimate with your quote and keep you updated throughout.
We can copy home-recorded DVDs and CDs — for example, a family event recorded to DVD-R, or a CD-R you burned yourself. We're not able to copy commercially pressed, copyright-protected discs such as retail films, music albums or software. If you're unsure whether your discs are home-recorded or commercially pressed, just ask and we'll advise.
We capture whatever is on the tape as faithfully as possible. If a tape has audio or video faults, we'll note them and still complete the capture — a partial recording is better than nothing, and some faults that look bad on a VCR can look better on a digital file. We don't offer restoration or post-production editing, but we'll tell you what we found and deliver what we captured.
We deliver files via a secure cloud download link or on a USB drive. If you want both, just let us know. The USB option is useful if you have a lot of content or a slow internet connection. Files are named clearly by tape or disc so you can find things easily.
We're based in Magherafelt and welcome drop-offs in person by appointment. For clients across Northern Ireland who can't easily travel, tapes can be posted to us using a padded jiffy bag — most tapes travel safely this way. For large collections or particularly fragile items, we can sometimes arrange collection by prior arrangement. Get in touch and we'll work out the most convenient approach.
Get a quote
Tell us what you have
Let us know what formats you have and roughly how many. We'll come back with a fixed price — usually the same working day.
Most tapes travel safely in a padded jiffy bag via Royal Mail. For large collections or fragile items, get in touch first and we'll advise the best way to send them. All originals are returned after digitisation by tracked post.