Behind the Scenes: How We Digitise Your Tapes, Films & Photos

Ever wondered how your old VHS tapes, slides, or film reels are magically turned into crisp digital files you can watch on your phone or TV? It’s not magic—it’s professional digitisation.

At Video Rescue, we use a combination of specialist equipment, high-resolution scanners, and expert techniques to ensure your memories are preserved in the highest possible quality. Here's a peek behind the curtain so you can understand exactly how it all works.

What Is Digitisation?

Digitisation is the process of converting analog media—like tapes, photos, and film reels—into digital files such as MP4 videos, JPEG photos, or WAV audio. This process captures and preserves the content, making it easy to access, share, and store for generations to come.

The Key Equipment We Use

📼 1. Video Capture Devices for Tapes

To convert tapes like VHS, Betamax, MiniDV, and Hi-8, we use:

• VCRs and Camcorders: These play the original media.

• USB Capture Devices: They connect the player to a computer and record the video signal in real-time.

• Professional Software: Used to clean, stabilise, and enhance video after capture.

2. Film Scanners for 8mm & Super 8 Reels

For older film reels, we use frame-by-frame scanners, which:

• Capture each frame individually in high resolution

• Use CCD or CMOS sensors for accurate colour and clarity

• Deliver a smoother and more detailed playback experience

3. Slide & Photo Scanners

When digitising 35mm slides, negatives, and printed photos, we use:

• Flatbed scanners for general use

• Dedicated slide scanners for maximum resolution and colour accuracy

• High DPI settings to ensure archival quality results

4. Audio Digitisation Equipment

For cassette tapes and vinyl records, we use:

• Cassette Decks to play the audio clearly

• Turntables with phono preamps to convert vinyl sound accurately

• USB Audio Interfaces to digitise the audio signal into clean WAV or MP3 files

The Digitisation Process Step-by-Step

1. Capture

We play the media through high-quality equipment and capture the signal using professional-grade tools.

2. Convert

Captured analog signals are converted to digital files. This includes:

• Sampling rate: Determines the detail of audio/video

• Bit depth: Affects the richness and clarity of the result

3. Process & Enhance

We use editing software to:

• Reduce noise or static

• Correct colour or brightness

• Stabilise shaky footage or adjust audio quality

4. Deliver & Store

Your final files are saved to USB, DVD or external hard drive, ready to be viewed and backed up. We support formats like:

• MP4, MOV for video

• JPEG, TIFF for images

• WAV, MP3 for audio

Why It Matters to Use Professional Equipment

Most at-home setups can’t match the clarity, consistency or safety of professional digitisation tools. Using our equipment ensures:

• Higher quality results

• Less risk of damaging fragile tapes or film

• More enhancement options to bring faded or damaged media back to life

Want to See the Results for Yourself?

At Video Rescue, we’ve spent over 25 years helping families across Brisbane and Australia digitise their memories. Whether it’s a box of old VHS tapes, a wedding film reel, or slides from the '70s—we’ll convert them with care and precision.

👉 Contact us today to get started or download our order form to mail in your tapes.

Your memories deserve to be seen and shared—not sit in storage.