What is analogue media digitisation?
Analogue media digitisation is the process of converting physical analogue media like tapes, films, paper photos, slides, and audio cassettes into digital files that can be viewed, edited, and stored on modern devices (smartphones, laptops, tablets, cloud storage, etc.).
Before digital photography was introduced, the only way to shoot photos and films was through analogue cameras. That’s why many people still have memories on VHS tapes, 35mm slides, or Super 8 films. These formats were revolutionary back then, but today they are obsolete. Furthermore, they deteriorate over time. For this reason, it’s better to store memories in digital formats.
How the digitisation process works
The digitisation process begins with carefully inspecting the analogue media and cleaning it if necessary. Slides can be cleaned with anti-static tools to remove dust and other debris before scanning. VHS tapes are tested for playback quality.
Then, depending on the media type you want to digitise, you’ll use a scanner, film projector, or other capture device to convert the content into digital format. The most popular formats are MP4 for videos, JPEG or TIFF for pictures, and MP3 or WAV for audio. The digitisation process consists of digitising the content first, then stabilising it and enhancing it, if possible. For videos, post-processing is necessary too. This includes reducing noise and correcting colours. AI tools may even upscale the videos to Full HD or 4K, if needed.
The advantages of analogue media digitisation
Analogue media digitisation has many advantages. One of the greatest benefits is accessibility and compatibility with modern devices. After the analogue content is digitised, it can be watched on smartphones, TVs, computers, or shared online with relatives and friends. Another advantage is that analogue media can be preserved before it deteriorates even further. Analogue media has a limited lifespan, and without digitising it, the memories trapped on them could be lost forever.
Degradation of analogue photos, films, and tapes
Digitising analogue media is important for private individuals and for archives. As we’ve seen, all analogue media degrades. Magnetic tapes like VHS, Video8, and audio tapes suffer from the so-called sticky-shed syndrome. This happens when the magnetic coating that stores data starts to deteriorate or flake off.
Slides, negatives, and paper photos suffer from different problems. The main signs of degradation are fading, colour shifts, and moisture (which can turn into mould if they have been stored in attics or basements).
For these reasons, it’s important to act as soon as possible to be sure that the memories aren’t lost. The more time you wait, the more difficult digitisation becomes. It could even reach a point where the content is not retrievable anymore.
Reasons for digitising your memories
Another important reason to digitise past memories is that there is no equipment anymore to play them. VHS players, cassette decks, or projectors aren’t manufactured anymore. The only available options are second-hand, and their quality is often questionable. Even if you still own equipment at home, it may not function properly or be compatible with Smart TVs and other modern devices.
Another reason for digitisation is that your memories can be shared with anyone you want and even saved on multiple devices. By having more backup copies, you protect your media from natural disasters like floods, fires, or earthquakes.
How to digitise your analogue media today
There are different ways to digitise your old media. You can opt for do-it-yourself options using digital cameras and smartphones or using slide scanners, flatbed scanners, or video capture devices. If you have time, these are the cheapest options available. However, often you need a lot of time to digitise them, as digitisation is done in real time. At the same time, you need some degree of technical knowledge. Often, further post-processing is necessary to adjust the quality of the digitisation.
For these reasons, if you have a large collection of analogue media or if your tapes, cine films, and slides are particularly delicate, it is better to use a professional digitising service like MEDIAFIX. MEDIAFIX offers cost-effective digitisation without compromising on quality. It specialises in handling a wide range of media types: from slides and negatives to VHS, MiniDV, and audio cassettes.
The process is simple: you pack up all the media that you want to digitise, send your inquiry through the website, select the quality level, and book additional services like cleaning or post-processing. From that moment on, MEDIAFIX takes care of the whole process and then returns your media in a few weeks.
The difference is that with a professional service, you don’t waste time and energy. At the same time, you’re sure that they use high-resolution scanners and have a professional team of technicians who know how to handle your media in the best possible way.
Whatever option you choose to digitise your media, be sure to act soon. The longer your media stays in the attic, the greater the risk of deterioration.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve seen the importance of analogue media digitisation, the advantages of digitisation, and the best options available. Past memories deserve to be rediscovered, and the best possible solution is to digitise them so that they’re compatible with modern devices like televisions, mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.
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