The winner of the home video format war, VHS machines could once be found in most American homes. This cheap, ubiquitous format was used for time-shifting programming, in camcorders, and for direct distribution of movies and TV shows. The tapes could fit up to 9 hours of material using extended play (sacrificing picture quality). In the mid-80’s VHS Hi-Fi was introduced, adding full-range stereo sound to the typically monaural linear audio track. A baby brother format, VHS-C, was introduced in order to be able to make camcorders smaller, maxing out at 30 minutes per tape (or 90 minutes on extended play). The genius of VHS-C is that the small cassette fit into a full-sized adapter shell so that the camcorder tapes could be played in a standard VHS VCR.

S-VHS versions of both these cassettes, with higher resolution and color response using higher-grade videotape, were introduced to the high-end consumer market as well as “prosumer” customers like wedding videographers and corporate videographers. Professional grade S-VHS decks had professional editing features like video and audio insert editing. However, even when new, the picture quality quickly degraded once the tape was past the first generation, and the linear audio tracks were noisy with poor frequency response.

WDLN.tv can transfer all four of these formats, including those with Hi-Fi audio. S-VHS linear track reproduction is limited to monaural (both tracks mixed together).

We also have a VHS deck capable of international multi-standard playback. Got a tape that was recorded in Europe on the PAL system, or in South America on SECAM? We can transfer it to a digital file for you.