convert Video Tapes
to Digital
Preserve your video tape
memories for many
more decades
It's time to transfer your video tapes to digital media.
Enjoy great moments with RVA Rewind’s video tape conversion services. Transfer VHS, Hi8, Video8, MiniDV, Betacam, U-matic and more to digital video-with options for thumb drives and digital downloads.
Your old video tapes won't last forever
VHS tapes, Video 8 tapes, and MiniDV will breakdown over time causing image quality to deteriorate or stop working altogether. These video formats are also vulnerable to damage from the elements. Digitize your videos and convert VHS tapes today with RVA Rewind and keep your family memories alive for many more generations.
Locally Transferred inRichmond, Virginia
All our digital converting services are performed in Richmond, Virginia. We have an efficient team of people that focuses on your captured video, so the quality is the best. Your video tapes are individually handled with care to ensure the best quality.
Accepted Video Tape Formats
- VHSVHS-CS-VHS
- Video 8Hi-8Digital 8
- Mini DVHDVDVDVCAMDVCPRODVCPRO 50
- BetamaxBetacam SPU-maticU-matic SP
- Video CDDVDMini DVDBlu-ray
We digitize PAL recorded VHS tapes
Do you own VHS tapes that were recorded in the PAL video format? The PAL video format is commonly used in parts of Europe, South America, Africa and Asian countries. We do charge a little more than our standard (NTSC) VHS transfer for this service. If you have PAL recorded VHS tapes and you would like to have them converted to digital, contact us today.
Quick Turnaround & Quality Transfer
Depending on the number of videos that you provide for digitizing, the turnaround time will vary and could take 2-6 weeks or sooner. Once we receive your videos, they will be inspected and examined to determine the best method to digitize them. We can't make your old tapes look brand new but we will do our best to preserve the quality that is there.
EstimateVideo Tape Transfer
Use the form below to get a quick estimate. Prices and tape length may vary as every tape is different.
How many tapes do you have?
How do you want to receive your media?
After your videos have been digitized, we need to place them on a data storage device for you to use.
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Add-On Services
We offer various video enhancement services to help improve the quality of your videos.
Video Transfer |
Media Types
We digitize three of the most commonly used video tape formats.
1975 ~ 2016
Betamax, released in 1975, was the first successful VCR. Years later, VHS became standard for video and lasted through the 2000's. VHS was eventually replaced by DVD's but was still widely used for sharing home videos. The last known company to make VHS equipment stopped production in 2016.
1985 ~ 2007
In the 1980's, camcorders were large due to the size of VHS tapes. Video8 was introduced in 1985 to help make camcorders small while improving picture and sound quality. Hi8 video was introduced in 1989 and delivered better picture and sound. Digital 8 soon followed in the late 90's and early 2000's.
1995 ~ 2016
The MiniDV tape format was the most commonly used consumer digital tape format during the 2000's with DVCAM and DVCPRO dominating the professional market. This digital tape provided DVD quality video in a format that you could transfer to your computer. HDV uses the same small MiniDV tape format but delivered HD quality video.
1971 ~ 2016
The U-matic video tape format (also known as three-quarter-inch) was introduced in 1971 and quickly became popular in the television broadcast industry. However, by 1986 TV professionals wanted a smaller and more portable tape format. Sony adapted their Betamax video format and created the Betacam SP video system, which had higher quality.
Digital Video File Formats
After your tape has been digitized, we can save it into a common digital format of your choosing.
MPEG4 H.264
MPEG-4 is the most popular digital video file format in the world today. This format is great for picture quality and compatibility with old and new computers.
HEVC H.265
HEVC is the successor to MPEG-4. It is designed to deliver great picture quality at a very small file size. HEVC, at this moment, only supports modern operating systems and hardware.
ProRes 4:2:2 | 4:4:4
Apple's ProRes file format is great if you are a video professional or you want your videos digitized in the best quality possible. We offer both 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 digitizing depending on the level of quality you require.
Plus dozens of other digital formats - professional and consumer.
Add+On Video Services
Do you require something a little more than just a video transfer? We offer many additional video processing services to help with restoring or improving your videos.
Noise Reduction
On video tapes, noise is what we call the little speckles that you can see on VHS, Video8, Hi8, and MiniDV tapes. With our noise reduction process we are able to remove up to 95% of the little speckles on your digitized video. This process does increase the conversion time for each tape, which is why it is categorized as an add-on service and is an additional charge.
Color Correcting
It is sometimes hard to notice but as a video tape ages the colors, which usually shifts uniformly, can sometimes get darker. This is where color correction comes into play. We are able to enhance the digitized video’s exposure as seen in the above image. This can take some additional time to process, which is why it is an add-on service and is an additional charge.
Upscale to HD
Upscaling video is a process of taking a standard definition video format and increasing the size of it so that the resolution is close to high definition. We use specialized professional software that uses artificial intelligence to help improve the resolution of your older videos. This process won't make your videos as clear as HD but it will improve the clarity of the picture. This is an add-on service.
ProRes / Uncompressed
Uncompressed and Apple ProRes (minimally compressed) are the highest quality video codec format for professional use. This add-on feature is intended for those who intend to have the digitized video professionally edited. You should not select this option if you want to have a ready-to-play digital format. This is an add-on service.
Video Editing
As standard practice, we record the full tape from start to finish as-is. However, if you would like to have parts of the digitized tape edited by removing, adding, or rearranging sections of video clips or creating transitions between clips, then we can do that for you! This is an add-on service.
Why we are better.
We are a unique business and we can focus more attention and quality to your memories than 'big box' transfer companies.
Safe & Secure
All media is processed in-house in Richmond, VA. We take extra care in handling your media.
30+ Years of Experience
We are media production experts and been converting media into different formats for 30+ years.
We Are Local
Don't worry about your media being sent to another state. We are located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia.
Handle with Care
We carefully handle your media as if it were our own. We return all original media back to you for safe keeping.
Common Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions about our video transfer services.
We will immediately let you know if we find that one of your video tapes are blank and discuss what steps to take next. As standard practice, we convert the entire tape as it is because there could be footage at any point on the video tape. Please note, the processing for video tapes takes the same amount of time whether the footage is an hour long or only a few minutes. For this reason, we charge for video tape conversions per item instead of based upon the length of the footage.
Yes! Once your video tape is digitized, we have many different methods of enhancing the quality of your video. Some methods include: noise reduction, color correction, and video editing.
Yes, you will get back all of your original analog media along with your newly digitized home movies.
When most people decide to preserve their personal memories by digitizing them, they typically want it done once and not have to re-digitize them every 10 years as technology changes. Wouldn’t you rather do it with a company that is dedicated, committed and that specializes in such quality service, and where you know that your personal content will be dealt with professionally and with care? We think you would.
A lot of larger transfer companies use older, over-used, worn out equipment that produces sub par quality transfers. RVA Rewind has over 30 years experience in transfering analog media to digital formats and we record them at the highest quality possible.
Your digitized video tapes are given back to you either as digital downloads from our website or on a thumb drive. You get to choose one of the two options, more than one option can be chosen at an additional charge(s), for how you would like to receive your digitized videos.
Digital files on thumb drives are usually formated as MPEG-4 (industry standard) or other video formats upon request.
Digital Downloads are just available as the industry standard MPEG-4 file format.
Upon request we offer DVD’s but usually don’t recomend them as DVD’s are becoming phased out. Each digitized tape gets its own DVD disc, we will only combine tapes onto a DVD if they are 30min or less in length.
Our Digitizing Process
Our quick and easy digitizing process begins with you.
STEP 1
Drop Off or Mail
You can drop off your media at our office (by appointment only) or you can mail it to us.
STEP 2
Digitizing Begins
We will begin to prepare, transfer or scan your media. This process may take 2 to 6 weeks.
STEP 3
Come Get It
Once we are finished, we will set a time to return your memories along with your digitized files.
Testimonials & Reviews
We've helped many families and businesses throughout Virginia and the country.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★Excellent quality!
Excellent quality!
Matthew S.
Cumberland, VA★ ★ ★ ★ ★Super convenient and reasonably priced
It was so nice to be able to watch our old home movies. The process was very easy and the finished product was great. Super convenient and reasonably priced.
Elizabeth S.
Midlothian, VA★ ★ ★ ★ ★Awesome experience!
Awesome experience!
Rachel T.
Richmond, VA★ ★ ★ ★ ★Pleasantly surprised
We had an old box with 25 year old tapes in it and we were pleasantly surprised to see how well they turned out.
Emily E.
Mechanicsville, VA★ ★ ★ ★ ★RVA Rewind provided great service
RVA Rewind provided great service in converting old family video tapes to digital.
Alice B.
Richmond, VA★ ★ ★ ★ ★Plan to use them again
The whole process was perfect. RVA Rewind returned our photos and VHS tapes back in the same condition that they were sent. We plan to use them again for converting more photographs and old VHS home videos.
