For many Australian families, a box of old VHS tapes or Super 8 reels is a ticking time bomb of nostalgia. Whether it’s footage of a 1980s Christmas lunch in the backyard or a grainy recording of a school swimming carnival, these memories are irreplaceable. A common question we receive at our studios, from Sydney to Parramatta, is: "How long will it take to get my digital files back?"
While we all live in an era of instant gratification, professional digitisation is a meticulous craft that cannot be rushed without risking the integrity of the original media. Understanding the timeline helps you plan for special occasions, like milestone birthdays or anniversaries, where these videos often take centre stage.
The most critical thing to understand about transferring VHS to digital is that it occurs in real-time. Unlike a modern file transfer where you "drag and drop" a gigabyte in seconds, a three-hour VHS tape takes exactly three hours to play through our high-end playback decks and capture cards.
There is no "fast-forward" button for quality. Every minute of your footage must be watched—digitally speaking—by our capture software to ensure the signal is stable and the audio is synced. When you factor in the physical inspection of the tape, the setup of the equipment, and the final encoding of the MP4 or DVD format, a single tape represents several hours of dedicated labor.
While we strive for efficiency, several variables can extend the time your media spends in our care.
A single wedding tape is a much faster project than a "legacy box" containing 50 tapes, three film reels, and a stack of 35mm slides. Large archival projects are processed in batches to ensure consistency.
Tapes stored in humid Australian sheds or garages often suffer from degradation. If we encounter mould or "sticky shed syndrome" (where the binder on the tape becomes gooey), the tape requires specialised cleaning and stabilisation before it can even touch a playback head. Attempting to play a damaged tape immediately can destroy both the media and our professional equipment.
Most Australian tapes are in the PAL format. However, if you have tapes sent from relatives in the United States or Japan, these are likely NTSC format. These require additional processing and specialised hardware to convert correctly, which can add time to the workflow.
Our workflow is designed for security and transparency. Most customers outside our local hubs use a tracked Australia Post satchel to send their memories to us.
Not all media is created equal. Audio cassette to digital conversion follows a similar real-time rule, but Super 8 film digitisation is even more involved. Because we digitise film frame-by-frame to ensure the highest resolution and flicker-free playback, the processing time per foot of film is higher than that of magnetic tape. Similarly, scanning 35mm slides at high DPI (dots per inch) for archival quality requires individual attention to each frame to ensure correct orientation and colour balance.
In the world of media preservation, "fast" can be a red flag. Cheap, "one-hour" conversion services often skip the vital inspection and cleaning phases. They might use low-quality USB capture dongles that result in "interlacing" lines or dropped frames. At Tapes To Digital, we believe in doing it right the first time. Because your tapes are aging and degrading, they may only have one or two "good" plays left in them. We make sure those plays count.
When you trust us with your family's history, you aren't just getting a file; you're getting peace of mind.
Tapes To Digital is Australia’s leading specialist in video to digital services. We bridge the gap between obsolete technology and the modern digital lounge room. From VHS and Betamax to vinyl records and 35mm negatives, our mission is to rescue memories before they fade away. Whether you are in a quiet suburb or a bustling city, our mail-in service makes professional digitisation accessible to every Australian.
How long does it typically take to digitise 10 VHS tapes? Turnaround times vary based on our current queue and the condition of your tapes. While we work as efficiently as possible, we provide estimates at the time of intake rather than fixed guarantees.
Can I get my tapes back faster if I pay more? We prioritise quality and careful handling for every customer. Because digitisation happens in real-time, the physical process cannot be sped up, but we always aim for the most efficient workflow possible.
Do you offer digital delivery for faster access? Yes! Choosing delivery via Google Drive allows you to view and share your memories as soon as the conversion and quality checks are complete, without waiting for a USB to arrive in the mail.
What if my tape is broken or has mould? Damaged media requires a restoration assessment. This process takes longer as the tape must be stabilised or repaired before digitisation can be attempted.
Is my media kept in Australia? Absolutely. All conversion work is performed locally by our specialised technicians to ensure the highest security and fastest possible return times.