What Type of Tape or Film Do I Have?
Not Sure What Type of Tape or Film You Have?
Older video tapes, audio tapes and camcorder recordings come in many different formats, and it isn't always obvious what you're looking at.
This guide covers some of the most common video, audio and cine-film formats supported by Tape2USB.
The tables at the end of this guide also provide a brief summary of what can be digitised by Tape2USB.
If you're still unsure, don't worry. You can contact Tape2USB before sending your recordings and describe what you have.
VHS
VHS , introduced by JVC in 1976 is the familiar full-size video cassette used in home video recorders and camcorders.
If you have a standard VHS cassette containing family recordings, weddings, holidays or other home videos, Tape2USB can transfer it to a digital MP4 video file.
Can VHS tapes be converted to digital?
Yes. VHS recordings can be transferred to MP4 digital video files onto USB sticks.
You are welcome to provide your own USB stick or alternative purchase a 32Gb SanDisk USB stick for £9 extra.
Can NTSC VHS tapes be converted to digital?
Yes. NTSC VHS tapes can also be transferred to MP4 digital video files onto USB sticks.
S-VHS
Super VHS (S-VHS) looks identical to standard VHS but was a higher-quality version of the format.
Tape2USB supports PAL and NTSC S-VHS tapes and can transfer recordings to MP4 digital video files.
VHS-C
VHS-C is a later smaller version of VHS commonly used in compact camcorders.
A VHS-C cassette is much smaller than a standard VHS cassette and was designed for use in camcorders.
Can VHS-C tapes be converted to digital ?
Yes. PAL and NTSC VHS-C tapes are supported by Tape2USB.
S-VHS-C
S-VHS-C is the compact camcorder version of S-VHS.
Tape2USB supports PAL and NTSC S-VHS-C tapes.
Video8
Video8 was a popular small camcorder tape format during the 1980s and 1990s.
Video8 tapes are smaller than VHS cassettes and were commonly used in handheld camcorders.
Can Video8 tapes be converted to digital?
Yes. Tape2USB supports Video8 and transfers recordings to MP4 digital video files.
Hi8
Hi8 is a popular higher-quality development of the Video8 format during the 1990s and 2000s.
Hi8 tapes are small camcorder cassettes and can sometimes be confused with Video8 tapes.
Can Hi8 tapes be transferred to digital?
Yes. Hi8 is supported by Tape2USB and is transferred to MP4 digital video files.
Digital8
Digital8 uses a similar physical cassette to Video8 and Hi8 but records digital video.
They were mainly used in Sony HandyCams during the 2000s.
Can Digital8 tapes be digitised ?
Yes. Tape2USB supports Digital8 and transfers recordings to MP4 digital video files.
MiniDV
MiniDV is a small digital video cassette that was widely used in digital camcorders during the 1990s and 2000s.
MiniDV cassettes are considerably smaller than VHS and are often labelled with MiniDV branding.
Can MiniDV tapes be transferred?
Yes. MiniDV is supported by Tape2USB and transferred to MP4 digital video files.
MicroMV
MicroMV is the smallest digital video cassette format before flash memory and SD cards.
They were mainly associated with some Sony camcorders during the early 2000s.
Can MicroMV tapes be converted?
Yes. Tape2USB supports MicroMV.
Betamax
Betamax, introduced by Sony in 1975, is an older home video cassette format.
Betamax was a rival to the Video Home System (VHS).
If you have Betamax recordings that you would like preserved as digital files, Tape2USB supports Betamax transfer.
Can Betamax tapes still be digitised?
Yes. Tape2USB can digitise mono audio Betamax tapes.
DVDs, Mini DVDs and Video CDs
Tape2USB can also convert home-made DVDs, Mini DVDs and Video CDs to MP4 digital video files
Compact Cassette
Compact Cassettes, introduced by Philips in 1963 are the familiar audio tapes used for music, spoken recordings and personal recordings.
Dolby B Noise Reduction along with chrome and metal tapes were introduced during the 1970s.
Can my cassette tapes be digitised ?
Yes, Tape2USB can digitise normal, chrome and metal Compact Cassettes using Dolby B or Dolby C into digital audio files.
Audio file output format options include MP3 (320 kbps Stereo) and 16 bit or 24 bit PCM WAV files up to 96 kHz.
Microcassette
Microcassettes, introduced by Olympus in 1969 are much smaller audio cassettes commonly associated with dictation machines and small voice recorders.
They were popular with journalists, offices and answerphones.
Can my Microcassette tapes be digitised ?
Yes, Tape2USB can digitise mono Microcassettes into speech quality MP3 digital audio files.
¼-Inch Reel-to-Reel
¼-inch Reel-to-Reel or Open Reel tapes are larger audio reels used for music, recordings and other audio applications.
Recording formats on ¼ inch reel-to-reel tape vary from mono full track, mono half track, mono quarter track, stereo half track, stereo quarter track and 8 track.
There are differences between the standard quarter-track mono and the British Radio Corporation (BRC) quarter-track mono tape formats in terms of the audio track layout.
Standard quarter track tapes are recorded using track 1 or track 3 (track 4 or track 2 on side 2).
BRC quarter-track tapes are recorded using track 1 or track 2 (track 4 or track 3 on side 2).
Tape2USB supports both quarter-track mono tape formats.
Can 1/4" reel-to-reel tape be digitised ?
Yes, Tape2USB supports mono and hi-fi stereo, quarter-track (1 ⅞ to 7 ½ IPS) and half-track (3 ¾ and 7 ½ IPS) recordings including larger 10 ½ inch NAB spools.
Tapes recorded at tape speeds higher than 7 ½ IPS will be sped up post production.
Audio file output options include MP3 Stereo (320 kbps) and 16 bit or 24 bit PCM WAV files up to 96 kHz.
MiniDisc
MiniDisc, introduced by Sony in 1992 is a small magnetic-optical audio format developed for digital audio recording.
MiniDisc was moderately successful during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Variants in addtion to the standard ATRAC MiniDiscs included HiMD and NetMD.
Can MiniDiscs be digitised ?
Yes, Tape2USB can digitise Standard Play ATRAC MiniDiscs into digital audio files.
Audio file options include MP3 Stereo (320 kbps) and 16 bit or 24 bit PCM WAV files up to 96 kHz.
Vinyl Records
Vinyl records, introduced by Columbia Records in 1948 replaced the earlier 78 RPM and 110 RPM shellac gramophone records.
These are by far the most popular 7 inch and 12 inch record format along with speeds of 33 ⅓ RPM and 45 RPM.
Can my vinyl records be digitised ?
Yes, Tape2USB can digitse your own vinyl records.
Audio file options include MP3 Stereo (320 kbps) and 16 or 24 bit PCM WAV files up to 96 kHz.
Standard 8 Cine Film
Standard 8 is an older cine-film format which was introduced in 1932 by Eastman Kodak.
It was a popular budget cine film format used to create home movies at 16 fps.
Can my Standard 8 cine films be digitised ?
Yes, Tape2USB can digitise (up to 7 inch reels) silent Standard 8 cine films as HD MP4 video files.
Super 8 Cine Film
Super 8, introduced in 1965 by Eastman Kodak became a popular home-movie cine-film format.
Super 8 film was recorded at two different frame rates, 18 fps or 24 fps.
Some Super 8 cine film projectors also have the Sound On Sound feature where commentary could be added to Super 8 films with sound by using a microphone.
Super 8 cine film has got a larger frame area and different sprocket holes compared to Standard 8 cine film.
Super 8 and Standard 8 cine films with sound can be identified with a brown stripe opposite the sprocket holes.
Can my Super 8 cine films be digitised ?
