COMPACT VHSC TRANSFERS

NOTE: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING BOTH WAYS. WE DO NOT SEND A BOX. WE BILL FOR RETURN SHIPPING WHEN THE JOB IS COMPLETE. *Unless you choose to have your tapes recycled. Expedited or rushed services only apply to availability of digital files for download and may still be subject to delays based on the condition of what we receive.

This listing is for the transfer of COMPACT VHS-C Tapes to digital files.

HISTORY:
VHSC tapes were first released in 1982 for use in small camcorders. They fit into an adapter that enabled them to be played back in VHS VCRS. VHSC tapes are the same thickness as full sized but only about 3 inches wide.

VERSIONS:
VHSC came in two versions. Standard, and SuperVHS which rendered a higher quality video. We are able to transfer both video versions.

LENGTHS AND QUALITY:
Initially, 20-minute VHS-C cassettes were the norm. That later increased to 30 minutes by using thinner tape and then 45-minute and 60-minute cassettes.

VHSC tape recording times vary based upon the size of the tape and the speed of the recording. The slower the recording speed, the more that could be fit on a tape. However, that slow speed also made the quality of the recording worse. Keep in mind that nobody imagined looking at these videos on screens as big as we have today, so be realistic with your expectations after transfer.

Please note that the price you pay is per tape and covers up to 2 hours transfer per tape. Tapes exceeding 120 minutes will be charged an additional transfer fee for every portion of each two hour block thereafter.

There are three different recording speeds for VHS tapes. Below is a chart so that you can have an idea of how long a full tape can possibly go based upon the T-number on it.

T-20 up to 60 min (1h)
T-30 up to 90 min (1h 30)
T-45 up to 135 min (2h 15)
T-60 up to 180 min (3h)

COMMON VHS FORMAT ISSUES:
There were three different recording formats depending on the country the tape was recorded in: NTSC, PAL, SECAM. The base price includes the transfer of NTSC which is common to the Americas. If your tapes are from someone who served on active duty overseas, it’s a safe bet that they are still NTSC since military PX sold NTSC units. If we discover that you have sent foreign formats, you will be charged an additional $3 per tape as these units are more expensive for us to purchase and maintain here in the United States.