Reconnect With Your Favourite Memories
Don’t let your irreplaceable memories degrade on old magnetic tape and remain forgotten in an old box. I provide a safe, secure and professional media archiving service for your precious full size VHS, VHS-C Camcorder tapes, and Digital 8 media to pristine MP4 files, ready for viewing and sharing on any modern device
“Your memories weren’t meant to live in a dark cardboard box.”
Digitising isn’t just about clearing clutter – it’s about keeping your family history alive for the next generation before magnetic tape silently fades.
Why Preserve Your Tapes?
The Danger of Decay
- Signal Loss (Fading Colours & Sound)
- Tape Degradation (Physical Breakdown)
- Mold & Fungus Risk
The Power of Preservation
- Pristine MP4 Video Format
- Digitally Cleaned Sound
- Permanent Digital Preservation
How It Works: Doorstep to Digital
1
Safely Deliver Your Tapes
Local doorstep collection within 5 miles of the Bolton BL4 postcode or secure mail-in guidelines provided upon booking.
2
Expert Digitisation
Tapes are captured in real-time through my professional decks, optimising tracking and audio levels.
3
Receive Your Memories
Instantly stream and download your permanent MP4 files via a secure private Google Drive link, private Youtube link or USB device
Your Transparent Pricing Structure
Base Transfer Rate
Direct, unedited 1:1 digital capture of your tape’s raw signal straight to a modern MP4 file.
£12.50 per tape
Physical Tape Splicing and Ribbon Repair
A precision physical splice repair to rejoin VHS tape and safely restore playback. This flat fee covers physical repair prior to digitisation.
£15 per tape
if needed, upon inspection
Clean & Clip
+£20 per tape
Actively trim out dead air or accidental footage, ensure optimal audio volume levels, and split distinct family events from the same tape into separate, clearly named video files.
Plug & Play USB 3.0
+£10
Your files loaded onto a high quality physical drive. Ideal for inserting straight into modern Smart TVs or desktop computers.
Youtube Family Share Link +£8
Ribbon Recycling
+£2.50 per tape
If you just want the physical clutter gone, I’ll physically extract the magnetic ribbon to render it 100% unreadable and responsibly recycle the shell components.
Post Transfer Tape Care & Return
I’ll pack your original physical tapes back into their box and deliver them safely back to your local doorstep during my designated drop off days.
Free within 5 miles of my BL4 Studio to your original collection postcode.
£10 extra between 5 and 10 miles from the Studio.
Beyond 10 miles – your media will be safely boxed up and sent back to you via Royal Mail tracked delivery – cost calculated at time of order.
Request Your Free Estimate & Local Collection
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay a deposit?
Orders under £100 are payable in full upfront upon receipt of your invoice before any digitisation work begins.
Orders with a total value of £100 or more, a 50% deposit is required. Once we have discussed your project and finalised your exact requirements, I will send over your invoice for your deposit. The balance is payable on completion of the work. Please note that all final digital files and physical media will be securely released and returned once the final balance has been cleared.
How do I get my tapes to you safely?
If you live within a 5-mile radius of my BL4 postcode studio, I’ll handle everything via a secure doorstep collection service completely free. For orders between 5 and 10 miles away, a flat £10 fee covers my pickup and final delivery journeys. If you’re further away, then box up your media and send it to the Studio. We will coordinate all this once your deposit is placed via email / phone.
What happens if my tapes are damaged or have mold?
Every tape undergoes a thorough visual inspection when it arrives at the studio. Tapes must be free from heavy white mold or severe casing damage. However, if your tape ribbon is snapped or split, I can perform a precision splice repair for £15 per tape to safely restore it prior to digitisation. Any tape deemed unsafe or unrepairable will be safely returned to you un-transferred or responsibly recycled with your permission (fee payable).
How long does the digitisation process take?
Video capture is a real-time process, meaning a 3-hour tape takes a minimum of 3 hours to play and record into my system, followed by file encoding and quality checks. Standard turnaround time is typically 5 to 7 working days from collection, depending on the size of your archive. I’ll give you a clear time estimate when reviewing your initial enquiry.
Do you edit the footage or just transfer it?
Standard Base Transfer (£12.50 per tape) provides a direct, unedited 1:1 copy of your tape’s raw signal straight to a digital file. However, I also offer a premium Clean & Clip Edit upgrade (+£20 per tape). With this upgrade, I’ll actively trim out dead air or accidental floor recordings, level out the audio volume, and split distinct family events from the same tape into separate, clearly named video files.
How will my new digital videos be delivered?
I highly recommend a secure digital delivery via a private Google Drive link*, which is completely free. This allows you to instantly download, back up, and share your videos with family worldwide with no risk of physical degradation over time. Alternatively, I can load your files onto a plug-and-play USB 3.0 flash drive for a flat £10 surcharge, which is ideal for viewing directly on modern smart TVs.
Want to share your videos with family straight away? See “Can I share my videos with my family?” below for details on my YouTube family share link.
*links active for one month only after delivery, therefore the USB is highly recommended.
Can I share my videos with my family straight away?
Yes — for a flat £8 for up to three clips per tape*, I’ll upload your finished video privately and unlisted to YouTube, so only people with the link can view it. This makes it easy to instantly share with relatives near and far, straight to their phone, tablet or smart TV, with no downloading or file transfers required. The link stays active for one month from delivery, after which it’s removed for privacy and storage reasons. Your USB drive remains your permanent copy, so please make sure it’s kept somewhere safe.
* more clips would require a per project estimate
What happens to my original physical tapes afterwards?
The choice is entirely yours. I can pack your original tapes back into your box and return them safely to your doorstep alongside your completed project. Alternatively, if you simply want the clutter gone now that your memories are safe in the cloud to download*, I offer a secure destruction and recycling service for a flat fee of £2.50 per tape, where the magnetic ribbons are physically extracted and rendered completely unreadable.
* Google Drive link expires ONE MONTH from delivery
