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Digital Services
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How much does it cost to convert VHS to digital in Australia?
Converting a VHS tape to digital in Australia costs $45 per tape at Tapes To Digital, and the per-tape price drops as you add tapes: $38 per tape for 5–10 tapes, $32 per tape for 11–20, $28 per tape for 21–30, and $24 per tape for 30 or more. Every one of those prices includes GST.
Tapes To Digital charges the same price at every location, and the same price whether you drop your tapes off in person or post them in from anywhere in Australia. There is no city loading and no postal surcharge.
Mixed formats count together towards the bulk discount. Twelve tapes made up of six VHS, four Video 8 and two MiniDV are priced at the 11–20 rate of $32 per tape, not as three separate small orders.
| Number of tapes | Price per tape (GST included) |
|---|---|
| 1 – 4 tapes | $45 |
| 5 – 10 tapes | $38 |
| 11 – 20 tapes | $32 |
| 21 – 30 tapes | $28 |
| 30 or more tapes | $24 |
Full service details are on the VHS tapes to digital conversion page.
What is included in the price?
Every Tapes To Digital conversion includes up to 3 hours of footage per tape and an MP4 file as standard. MP4 is what most people actually want: it plays on a phone, a laptop and a smart TV, and it uploads to any cloud service without extra software.
An archival AVI or MOV master is available at the same price on request. It is not supplied automatically, because it is a far larger file than the MP4 and most customers do not want it. If you do want the archival master, ask for it when you book.
Your original tapes are always returned to you along with the digital files.
What extra charges can apply?
Tapes To Digital sets out every extra charge before you commit:
- Footage beyond 3 hours on a tape: $11 per extra 90 minutes, confirmed with you at the end of the job once the real running time is known.
- DVD copies: optional, $12 per disc, one disc per 2 hours of footage. The discs are not copy-protected.
- US (NTSC) or French (SECAM) tapes: $15 extra per tape. Australian tapes are PAL and carry no surcharge.
- Mould cleaning or tape repair: from $28 per tape, on top of the conversion price.
How much does 8mm cine film, Betamax or Betacam cost?
At Tapes To Digital, 8mm cine film is priced by reel rather than per tape: a 3″ reel is $35, 4″ is $55, 5″ is $65, 7″ is $85, 8″ is $95 and 9″ is $105.
Betamax is the standard tape ladder plus $10 per tape. Betacam is $65 for a small cassette and $95 for a large cassette.
Related: Convert 8mm to Digital: Preserve Your Vintage Films the Right Way
How long does VHS to digital conversion take?
Most Tapes To Digital orders are finished in 7 to 10 business days from the day the tapes are received. Small orders can often be turned around in 1 to 2 days if you need them urgently — say so when you book. Tapes are converted in real time, so one hour of tape takes one hour to capture, and a large collection takes proportionally longer.
Will I be charged for a blank or unconvertible tape?
No. Tapes To Digital does not charge for blank tapes or for tapes that turn out to be unconvertible. The one exception is a batch that is mostly blanks, because checking each of those still takes real time — in that case a small handling fee may apply, and you are told about it before it is charged.
What hidden fees should you watch out for?
Not every provider quotes the whole price up front. The common surprises are:
- Setup or handling fees that were never mentioned in the quote
- Digital delivery charges added at the end of the job
- Rush fees of 25%–50% on top of the per-tape price
- Poor-quality transfers that have to be paid for a second time somewhere else
The Tapes To Digital per-tape price already includes GST, up to 3 hours per tape and the MP4 file, so the figure you are quoted is the figure you pay. You can see what else sets us apart on our Why Choose Us page.
Why does a good conversion cost more than a cheap one?
At Tapes To Digital every tape is converted using professional converters, not consumer capture sticks. That is the difference between a file you will still be happy with in twenty years and one you will want redone.
The usual signs of a bargain transfer are:
- Blurry or smeared picture
- Audio drifting out of sync with the vision
- Digital files with dropouts and glitches
- Careless tape handling that damages the original
Our work is technical, but it is also personal — you can read more about that in our company culture.
Related: Why Now Is the Time to Convert Audio Tapes to Digital
Where can I drop off tapes in Australia?
Tapes To Digital has 11 by-appointment drop-off points: Killara, Beverly Hills, Parramatta and Macquarie Park in Sydney, Fairy Meadow in Wollongong, Crestmead in Brisbane, Greenvale in Melbourne, Victoria Park in Perth, Watson in Canberra, and Kurralta Park and Virginia in Adelaide. Tapes can also be posted in from anywhere in Australia for exactly the same per-tape price.
These are by-appointment drop-offs rather than shopfronts, so the exact street address is sent to you with your booking confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
1. How much does it cost to convert VHS to USB in Australia?
The conversion itself is $45 per tape at Tapes To Digital for 1–4 tapes, falling to $24 per tape at 30 or more, GST included. Every conversion comes back as an MP4, which you can keep on a USB drive, a computer or in the cloud.
2. Are there bulk discounts for VHS conversion?
Yes. The Tapes To Digital price drops at 5 tapes, 11 tapes, 21 tapes and 30 tapes, and mixed formats count together towards the same discount.
3. What file format will I receive?
An MP4 as standard, with an archival AVI or MOV master available at the same price on request. DVDs are optional at $12 per disc, one disc per 2 hours.
4. What formats does Tapes To Digital convert?
VHS, VHS-C, MiniDV, Video 8, Hi8, Digital 8, Betamax, Betacam, camcorder tapes, audio cassettes, home-recorded DVDs and 8mm cine film.
5. Do I get my original tapes back?
Always. Every original tape is returned to you with the digital files.
Related: Mini DV to Digital: How to Bring Your Old Tapes Back to Life
Getting a price for your own tapes
Count your tapes, including the MiniDV, Video 8 and Hi8 ones, because they all count together. That total tells you which Tapes To Digital rate applies — $45, $38, $32, $28 or $24 per tape, GST included — and most orders are back with you in 7 to 10 business days.
To book a drop-off or arrange to post your tapes in, call +61 485 031 678, message us on WhatsApp, or email contact@tapestodigital.com.au.
Visit our VHS tapes to digital service page today and get a custom quote with no obligation.
