Guides

VHS & home video, straight answers

No filler, just what we'd tell you if you asked us directly.

• How long do VHS tapes actually last?Yes, they're degrading right now. Here's roughly how much time you actually have.
• VHS, VHS-C, Hi8, MiniDV — what's actually different?A plain-English guide to what format you're probably holding.
• Signs your tapes are already going badWhat to look and listen for before you press play.
• Should you keep the tapes after digitizing them?Our honest answer, not the one that sells you a bigger box.
• How to pick a VCR if you want to digitize your own tapesThe cheap way, the way we'd actually recommend, and where we got ours.