Understanding Digitising
Why converting old tapes and photographs is more than just making a file
When people talk about “digitising” old tapes or photographs, it can sound like a simple process: press a button, create a file, job done.
In reality, there are many different ways to digitise media, and the quality of the result can vary enormously depending on how the process is handled.
At Cherish Me, we believe it’s important to highlight these differences so families can make informed decisions when preserving their memories.
The simplest way to digitise
The most basic method of digitising a VHS tape or camcorder recording is to connect a video player to a computer using a small USB capture device.
With photographs, convenience often comes in the form of scanners with automatic feeders that can process batches quickly.
At first glance, this seems fast and efficient, but there are a few important things to consider.
Tape is played in real time and recorded directly onto a computer. At the end of the process, you have a digital file that can be watched on a computer, phone, or television.
This approach can work, but it is often very compressed, limited in quality and valuable detail from the original recording is lost during capture.
Similarly, photographs scanned using automatic feeders can sometimes suffer from roller marks, reduced image detail, or even damage to delicate prints. While convenient, this method may limit future restoration or enhancement.
Quick enhancement devices
Some inexpensive devices and software attempt to automatically improve footage during capture. Many use very simple de-interlacing techniques designed to smooth jagged lines and sharpen the image. While this can sometimes make the video appear instantly clearer, it can also introduce problems such as:
colour bleeding
harsh contrast
oversaturated colours
artificial sharpening
These effects may look impressive at first glance, but they can also damage the original image information.
A more careful approach
Another way to digitise media is to treat it more like an archive or broadcast preservation process.
Instead of capturing straight to a highly compressed file, the recording is captured at a much higher quality, preserving as much of the original signal as possible.
This creates a larger master file, but it retains far more of the detail and information from the original recording.
From this master file, different versions can then be created for viewing or sharing.
It may seem excessive for some situations, but for families who value the importance of their recordings, whether for future generations or for historical interest, a careful approach can make a significant difference.
Real-time capture
Digitising tape is also a real-time process.
If a VHS tape runs for two hours, it takes two hours to capture.
During this time, the equipment should be monitored to make sure the tape plays correctly and the recording is captured safely.
It is not simply a case of pressing a button and waiting for a file to appear.
Editing and restoration
Once the recording has been captured, the file can be cleaned up in editing software.
This may include:
trimming unwanted sections
adjusting colour balance
improving contrast
correcting brightness
These are gentle adjustments designed to make footage easier to watch while respecting the original recording.
Modern AI enhancement
In recent years, new tools have emerged that can significantly improve older footage.
Modern AI-based restoration tools can help with:
stabilising shaky camcorder footage
reducing noise and flicker
improving colour balance
upscaling older recordings to higher resolutions
These processes can produce impressive results, but they are time-intensive and require high-quality source files to work effectively.
If a tape has already been heavily compressed during digitising, much of the detail needed for these improvements may already be lost.
Why the capture format matters
Many people request their videos on DVD because it is a familiar format. DVDs can still be useful, but they have strict technical limitations.
Video on DVD must be compressed into a format called MPEG-2, which often reduces the quality compared with the original recording.
For this reason, it is often better to first create a high-quality digital master and then produce DVDs or smaller viewing files from that master.
Preserving memories for the future
The most important goal of digitising is not just convenience. It is preservation.
Old tapes and film degrade over time, and playback equipment is becoming harder to find.
By capturing recordings carefully and preserving as much detail as possible, these memories can be safeguarded for the future.
The Cherish Me approach
At Cherish Me, we aim to balance careful preservation with practical viewing formats.
Whenever possible, media is captured at high quality before creating the final files for viewing, sharing, or archiving.
This approach helps ensure that important memories are not only accessible today but preserved for years to come.
