FAQs About Tape Digitisation

Orders

Could you collect my tapes instead of having them posted?

We understand that your tapes are important to you. If you are in the Market Harborough area we may be able to collect and drop-off your tapes depending on distance. Please contact us to arrange.

Note: In order to keep your tapes safe, we are no longer able accept tapes via post.

Do you accept tapes from other countries?

We only digitise tapes that use the UK PAL system. We are unable to digitise tapes from other countries that use different standards (for example NTSC).

How long does the process take?

We aim to digitise tapes within 14 working days of receipt. In busy periods this may take longer.

Return delivery of tapes and the USB stick will take an additional few days.

Can you digitise tapes that have been damaged or are in poor condition?

To ensure the highest quality digitisation we require tapes to be in good condition. While we try to accommodate various conditions, severely damaged or deteriorated tapes may not be suitable.

For example, we do not process mouldy tapes. Please contact us to discuss the condition of your tapes before sending them.

What happens if my tapes are unsuitable for digitisation?

We won't charge for blank, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable tapes. Refunds are issued for tapes deemed unsuitable for processing.

See Prices and Guarantee for full details.

Do you digitise other formats other than VHS?

Yes — we digitise VHS, S-VHS, VHS-C, MiniDV, 8mm/Hi8, and Digital8 tapes.

What payment methods do you accept?

Most major credit and debit cards are accepted via Stripe for payment processing.

What should I do if I need to cancel or modify my order?

Contact us promptly to request cancellations or modifications. Orders cannot be altered once digitisation has commenced.

Is there a warranty on the digitised files or USB stick?

We provide a satisfaction guarantee on our digitisation service. If you encounter any issues with the quality of the digitised files or the USB stick, please contact us and we'll work to resolve the issue promptly.

Do you offer expedited processing or shipping options for urgent orders?

We do not offer expedited processing or shipping options for urgent orders at this time.

Are there any restrictions on the content of the tapes you can digitise?

We digitise most content but reserve the right to refuse digitisation for content we deem inappropriate.

Technical

What should I do if I encounter playback issues with the digitised files?

If you encounter any playback issues with the digitised files, please contact us for assistance. We'll work with you to troubleshoot the issue and provide a resolution.

How can I play the video files?

Our industry-standard video files are compatible with most modern devices. Some may directly accept the USB stick provided, while others may require adapters or file transfer. Please ensure that your television / device is capable of reading video files from a USB stick.

What format are the video files?

Video files are encoded using the H.264 codec inside an MP4 container with AAC audio. The resulting files are optimised for 4:3 aspect ratio at 768x576 resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio at 1024x576 resolution. The content is deinterlaced to 50 frames per second.

Do you deinterlace the video?

Yes, we deinterlace captured tape footage for smooth playback without interlacing artefacts.

Do you upscale the video?

No, we preserve original quality by not upscaling during digitisation, allowing your hardware/software to upscale during playback if desired. However, we strongly recommend that you resize your footage to at least 1080 pixel height before uploading your footage to YouTube or other social media due to the way they process your footage. If you would like us to do this for you, we'd be more than happy to for an additional £5 per video. Please contact us after placing your order for this service.