VHS to DIGITAL FAQ
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are closed for the foreseeable future
Frequently Asked Questions — Video Tape to Digital Conversion
🧡 Why should I digitise my tapes now?
Magnetic tapes degrade over time — colours fade, mould grows, and playback becomes unreliable.
Digitising now protects your memories before they are permanently lost.
📼 What video formats can you convert?
We convert most consumer and camcorder tape formats, including VHS, VHS‑C, Hi8, Video8, Digital8, MiniDV, HDV, and DVD to digital files. If you’re unsure what type of tape you have, you can email us a photo and we’ll identify it for you.
💾 What digital format will my videos be saved in?
Your tapes are converted to high‑quality MPEG 2 files, which work on most modern devices including smart TVs, computers, tablets and phones.
💿 Do you still make DVDs?
No DVDs are old technology now and are very unreliable.
🧼 Do you clean or repair tapes before converting them?
Yes. All tapes are inspected and lightly cleaned before conversion if required.
If we find mould or physical damage, we’ll contact you to discuss options. Light mould can often be cleaned; heavy mould may require specialist restoration. If your VHS case is broken beyond repair we will replace it for you for $10.
🎧 What is the audio and video quality like?
We use professional-grade equipment to get the best possible transfer from your tapes.
The final quality depends on the condition and age of the original tape, but we always optimise colour, stability and audio clarity during conversion.
⏱ How long does the conversion process take?
Most jobs are completed within 3–7 days, depending on how many tapes you have.
Larger collections may take a little longer, but we’ll give you a clear timeframe when you book.
💸 How much does it cost?
Our pricing is simple: $20 per tape.
There are no extra charges for long tapes.
📍 Where are you located?
We operate from 33 Vinistra Road, Kumeu, Auckland 0810.
You can drop off your tapes in person.
🚚 Can I courier my tapes to you?
Yes. Many customers courier their tapes to us from all over New Zealand.
We recommend using a tracked service and packaging your tapes securely.
We will also return your tapes and USB via tracked courier.
🔒 Do you keep a copy of my files?
No. However, we do keep your files on backup for at least a month so you have time to check that everything is okay.
🌍 Do you convert overseas formats like NTSC?
Yes. We can convert NTSC as well as PAL tapes.
So if your tapes were recorded overseas, we can still digitise them.
🧳 How should I prepare my tapes before sending them?
There’s nothing special you need to do.
Just keep the tapes in their cases if possible, and avoid opening or rewinding old tapes that feel sticky or jammed — we’ll handle that safely.
👨👩👧👦 Do you convert tapes for schools, clubs or businesses?
Yes. We regularly convert tapes for schools, sports clubs, community groups and local businesses.
We can handle large batches and provide organised digital folders for easy archiving.
🛑 What if a tape is blank or damaged?
If a tape is blank, we’ll let you know and you won’t be charged.
If a tape is damaged, we’ll assess it and discuss options before proceeding. There is a charge of $10 if we have to replace a broken case..
📱 How will I receive my digital files?
You can choose from:
• USB drive
• External hard drive (yours or ours)
📱 What size USB or portable hard drive would I need?
We will supply a 32 GB for $20, a 64 GB for $30, a 128 GB for $40, or a black WD Elements SE USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive for $139 which includes copying your files to the appropriate sized drive and for backing up your files for at least a month to give you time to make sure they have copied okay.
You may send your own USB, however, as we would copy the files directly to your USB a backup would not be available.
As a rough guide you would need the following sizes for full 3 hour VHS tapes:
Up to 2 three hour tapes a 16 gig USB
Up to 4 three hour tapes a 32 gig USB
Up to 7 three hour tapes a 64 gig USB
Up to 15 three hour tapes a 128gig USB
For the larger quantities send a portable hard drive. As a guide each hour of video is about 2.8 GBs.
If you provide your own storage please make sure that it is empty as we can't guarantee the safety of anything that may be on your USB or hard drive.
PLEASE NOTE: We are PC based so when sending drives to us please send us ones that are formatted for PC. If sending a MAC hard drive please ensure it is formatted for both MAC and PC.
Payment.
We will invoice you once completed and you can either pay cash when you pick them up or you can pay direct to our Westpac account as per the details at the bottom of the invoice.
If I can't pick them up how much will the courier charge be to return my videos.
Auckland, for packaging and sending via tracked courier $10. Rest of North Island up to ten tapes $15.20. South Island up to 10 tapes $18 to $25. There could be an additional charge if weight is over 10KG. There is a $5 additional charge for rural delivery. We use tracked Couriers for return delivery and always return your tapes so you can check them before disposal. We will email you the tracking link so you can check on your delivery. PLEASE DO NOT supply your own return courier bag as we will have to charge $5 for sending it to the post office.
Can you convert cameras with the hard drive?
Yes we can but because the hard drives usually contain many hours of footage there is a different way of charging. There is a minimum charge of $20 or a charge of $7 for every hour of tape converted, whichever is the greater. We have to charge this way because hard drives take so long to convert it prevents us from using a machine for tape conversions which take far less time.
Reasons why we do not send files via the Cloud.
We convert dozens of tapes every week and it would be virtually impossible for us to keep track of individual clients tapes once uploaded to the Cloud, and we also would have no idea as to whether they had been downloaded or not. Another important reason is that it is in your best interest to get your tapes back so you can check they have converted okay. Also as most tapes have a lot of information on the label we number your tapes and if you don't get the tapes back you won't know what is on the relevant file.
Can I edit the MPEG 2 files on my computer?
Yes, MPEG 2 files are digital so if you have the appropriate software you can edit the files. Check out some editing software suggestions at the bottom of this page.
What if I have a Macintosh computer?
Convert the MPEG 2 files to MP4 files using free Handbrake software so you can import the MP4 files to imovies. Keep the original MPEG 2 files as they are higher quality than MP4s. Download by clicking this link Handbrake
How long does it take to get to get the job done?
If the conversion is for a business and is urgently required we can usually do them the same day, otherwise they are usually done within a few days, although 10 or more may take a week or two depending on our work load.
What format can my video tape be?
We can transfer most common tape formats to MPEG files such as VHS tapes, Mini DV tapes, HI-8 tapes, Digital 8 tapes. etc.
Can you make transfers from a tape recorded at the slow speed?
Yes, however the faster the speed your tape was recorded at, the better the quality.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
What format is best for you to use for editing the video files that we supply you?
Today’s computer age gives most people the opportunity to edit their own video tapes using digital technologies. However, before they can do so the tapes have to be converted to a digital format. There are many video file formats available, each with different features and benefits. The three most popular video file formats are AVI, MP4 and MPEG, also called "container" formats.
Containers are a collections of files containing all the components of a video such as video, audio, subtitles and chapter information. Each container format supports different video and audio formats and compression types giving each format benefits and disadvantages.
The following is a brief description of each of these formats:
AVI
Microsoft's AVI format is an uncompressed video format, which retains the original quality of the video, however, because there is no compression the file size of the AVI format can be extremely large. The AVI file format supports a wide range of video and audio formats in variable frame and bit rates. This makes it an ideal format for storing and editing video, but because the large size it is not suitable for distributing the video via the Internet or even on physical media.
MP4
Also known as MPEG-4 was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group. MP4 supports compression, subtitles, multiple data types and streaming. Due to the trade-off between video quality and having a much smaller file size, MP4s are frequently used to distribute video via the Internet. It is supported by most video editors and allows the use of lossless compression codecs, so the entire workflow can be managed in MP4 format.
MPEG
The MPEG video file format uses MPEG-1 or MPEG-2. It is commonly used to distribute video on DVDs, etc. Adam Design converts videos to the MPEG 2 format. MPEG 2 produces impeccable quality that is superior to MPEG-4. MPEG-2 is the industry standard and capable of handling video streams from local sources like DVDs and broadcast applications. So it is best to edit the MPEG-2 files we supply you with in suitable editing software. After you have edited your files you can play them on most smart TVs or computer. If you want to send the files to friends via the Internet or to save them to YouTube or use them for streaming then you should convert the finished MPEG digital file to the MP4 format as they are much smaller files than MPEG 2. However, make sure that you keep the original MPEG 2 file.
Here are some suitable editing software ideas: Click the green link to download.
Shotcut Free Video Editor (We have had feedback from clients saying that this software was quite good)
Avidemux Free Video Editor
VSDC Free Video Editor
Handbrake (If using MAC imovies convert the MPEG 2 files to MP4 files using the free Handbrake software so you can import the MP4 files to imovies) Keep the original MPEG 2 files as they are higher quality than MP4 files.
Windows Movie Maker (Free trial available here)
Lightworks (A fee applies)
Adobe Premiere (A professional software package, expensive. Free trial available)
Frequently Asked Questions — Video Tape to Digital Conversion
🧡 Why should I digitise my tapes now?
Magnetic tapes degrade over time — colours fade, mould grows, and playback becomes unreliable.
Digitising now protects your memories before they are permanently lost.
📼 What video formats can you convert?
We convert most consumer and camcorder tape formats, including VHS, VHS‑C, Hi8, Video8, Digital8, MiniDV, HDV, and DVD to digital files. If you’re unsure what type of tape you have, you can email us a photo and we’ll identify it for you.
💾 What digital format will my videos be saved in?
Your tapes are converted to high‑quality MPEG 2 files, which work on most modern devices including smart TVs, computers, tablets and phones.
💿 Do you still make DVDs?
No DVDs are old technology now and are very unreliable.
🧼 Do you clean or repair tapes before converting them?
Yes. All tapes are inspected and lightly cleaned before conversion if required.
If we find mould or physical damage, we’ll contact you to discuss options. Light mould can often be cleaned; heavy mould may require specialist restoration. If your VHS case is broken beyond repair we will replace it for you for $10.
🎧 What is the audio and video quality like?
We use professional-grade equipment to get the best possible transfer from your tapes.
The final quality depends on the condition and age of the original tape, but we always optimise colour, stability and audio clarity during conversion.
⏱ How long does the conversion process take?
Most jobs are completed within 3–7 days, depending on how many tapes you have.
Larger collections may take a little longer, but we’ll give you a clear timeframe when you book.
💸 How much does it cost?
Our pricing is simple: $20 per tape.
There are no extra charges for long tapes.
📍 Where are you located?
We operate from 33 Vinistra Road, Kumeu, Auckland 0810.
You can drop off your tapes in person.
🚚 Can I courier my tapes to you?
Yes. Many customers courier their tapes to us from all over New Zealand.
We recommend using a tracked service and packaging your tapes securely.
We will also return your tapes and USB via tracked courier.
🔒 Do you keep a copy of my files?
No. However, we do keep your files on backup for at least a month so you have time to check that everything is okay.
🌍 Do you convert overseas formats like NTSC?
Yes. We can convert NTSC as well as PAL tapes.
So if your tapes were recorded overseas, we can still digitise them.
🧳 How should I prepare my tapes before sending them?
There’s nothing special you need to do.
Just keep the tapes in their cases if possible, and avoid opening or rewinding old tapes that feel sticky or jammed — we’ll handle that safely.
👨👩👧👦 Do you convert tapes for schools, clubs or businesses?
Yes. We regularly convert tapes for schools, sports clubs, community groups and local businesses.
We can handle large batches and provide organised digital folders for easy archiving.
🛑 What if a tape is blank or damaged?
If a tape is blank, we’ll let you know and you won’t be charged.
If a tape is damaged, we’ll assess it and discuss options before proceeding. There is a charge of $10 if we have to replace a broken case..
📱 How will I receive my digital files?
You can choose from:
• USB drive
• External hard drive (yours or ours)
📱 What size USB or portable hard drive would I need?
We will supply a 32 GB for $20, a 64 GB for $30, a 128 GB for $40, or a black WD Elements SE USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive for $139 which includes copying your files to the appropriate sized drive and for backing up your files for at least a month to give you time to make sure they have copied okay.
You may send your own USB, however, as we would copy the files directly to your USB a backup would not be available.
As a rough guide you would need the following sizes for full 3 hour VHS tapes:
Up to 2 three hour tapes a 16 gig USB
Up to 4 three hour tapes a 32 gig USB
Up to 7 three hour tapes a 64 gig USB
Up to 15 three hour tapes a 128gig USB
For the larger quantities send a portable hard drive. As a guide each hour of video is about 2.8 GBs.
If you provide your own storage please make sure that it is empty as we can't guarantee the safety of anything that may be on your USB or hard drive.
PLEASE NOTE: We are PC based so when sending drives to us please send us ones that are formatted for PC. If sending a MAC hard drive please ensure it is formatted for both MAC and PC.
Payment.
We will invoice you once completed and you can either pay cash when you pick them up or you can pay direct to our Westpac account as per the details at the bottom of the invoice.
If I can't pick them up how much will the courier charge be to return my videos.
Auckland, for packaging and sending via tracked courier $10. Rest of North Island up to ten tapes $15.20. South Island up to 10 tapes $18 to $25. There could be an additional charge if weight is over 10KG. There is a $5 additional charge for rural delivery. We use tracked Couriers for return delivery and always return your tapes so you can check them before disposal. We will email you the tracking link so you can check on your delivery. PLEASE DO NOT supply your own return courier bag as we will have to charge $5 for sending it to the post office.
Can you convert cameras with the hard drive?
Yes we can but because the hard drives usually contain many hours of footage there is a different way of charging. There is a minimum charge of $20 or a charge of $7 for every hour of tape converted, whichever is the greater. We have to charge this way because hard drives take so long to convert it prevents us from using a machine for tape conversions which take far less time.
Reasons why we do not send files via the Cloud.
We convert dozens of tapes every week and it would be virtually impossible for us to keep track of individual clients tapes once uploaded to the Cloud, and we also would have no idea as to whether they had been downloaded or not. Another important reason is that it is in your best interest to get your tapes back so you can check they have converted okay. Also as most tapes have a lot of information on the label we number your tapes and if you don't get the tapes back you won't know what is on the relevant file.
Can I edit the MPEG 2 files on my computer?
Yes, MPEG 2 files are digital so if you have the appropriate software you can edit the files. Check out some editing software suggestions at the bottom of this page.
What if I have a Macintosh computer?
Convert the MPEG 2 files to MP4 files using free Handbrake software so you can import the MP4 files to imovies. Keep the original MPEG 2 files as they are higher quality than MP4s. Download by clicking this link Handbrake
How long does it take to get to get the job done?
If the conversion is for a business and is urgently required we can usually do them the same day, otherwise they are usually done within a few days, although 10 or more may take a week or two depending on our work load.
What format can my video tape be?
We can transfer most common tape formats to MPEG files such as VHS tapes, Mini DV tapes, HI-8 tapes, Digital 8 tapes. etc.
Can you make transfers from a tape recorded at the slow speed?
Yes, however the faster the speed your tape was recorded at, the better the quality.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
What format is best for you to use for editing the video files that we supply you?
Today’s computer age gives most people the opportunity to edit their own video tapes using digital technologies. However, before they can do so the tapes have to be converted to a digital format. There are many video file formats available, each with different features and benefits. The three most popular video file formats are AVI, MP4 and MPEG, also called "container" formats.
Containers are a collections of files containing all the components of a video such as video, audio, subtitles and chapter information. Each container format supports different video and audio formats and compression types giving each format benefits and disadvantages.
The following is a brief description of each of these formats:
AVI
Microsoft's AVI format is an uncompressed video format, which retains the original quality of the video, however, because there is no compression the file size of the AVI format can be extremely large. The AVI file format supports a wide range of video and audio formats in variable frame and bit rates. This makes it an ideal format for storing and editing video, but because the large size it is not suitable for distributing the video via the Internet or even on physical media.
MP4
Also known as MPEG-4 was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group. MP4 supports compression, subtitles, multiple data types and streaming. Due to the trade-off between video quality and having a much smaller file size, MP4s are frequently used to distribute video via the Internet. It is supported by most video editors and allows the use of lossless compression codecs, so the entire workflow can be managed in MP4 format.
MPEG
The MPEG video file format uses MPEG-1 or MPEG-2. It is commonly used to distribute video on DVDs, etc. Adam Design converts videos to the MPEG 2 format. MPEG 2 produces impeccable quality that is superior to MPEG-4. MPEG-2 is the industry standard and capable of handling video streams from local sources like DVDs and broadcast applications. So it is best to edit the MPEG-2 files we supply you with in suitable editing software. After you have edited your files you can play them on most smart TVs or computer. If you want to send the files to friends via the Internet or to save them to YouTube or use them for streaming then you should convert the finished MPEG digital file to the MP4 format as they are much smaller files than MPEG 2. However, make sure that you keep the original MPEG 2 file.
Here are some suitable editing software ideas: Click the green link to download.
Shotcut Free Video Editor (We have had feedback from clients saying that this software was quite good)
Avidemux Free Video Editor
VSDC Free Video Editor
Handbrake (If using MAC imovies convert the MPEG 2 files to MP4 files using the free Handbrake software so you can import the MP4 files to imovies) Keep the original MPEG 2 files as they are higher quality than MP4 files.
Windows Movie Maker (Free trial available here)
Lightworks (A fee applies)
Adobe Premiere (A professional software package, expensive. Free trial available)
Adam Design and Video Conversion Auckland, 33 Vinistra Road, Huapai, Kumeu, Auckland 0810.
Phone 09 412 2314
Phone 09 412 2314