The ideaMILL on the 3rd floor of the Millennium Library has a video capture device and a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) that plays VHS tapes. If your video is in VHS format, you can use these tools to turn your video into a digital file.
If your video is not in VHS format, you may still be able to use our video capture device. It uses RCA connectors for audio and video, the same connectors VCRs use to connect to a TV. If you have a device that plays your video, and if that device has the RCA connectors you would use to connect it to your TV, you can bring in your player and those cables and we can connect it to our device.
Converting your video is a real-time process, so if you have a 2-hour video to convert, you will need to spend at least 2 hours at the computer while it plays.
You will need a USB memory stick or portable hard drive to save your video. Video files will be large (an hour of video can be over 2 GB). It's best to bring an empty USB stick if possible, and it's better if it's a high-speed USB3 device.
ideaMILL staff will set you up on one of our computers with the converter and get you started. If you have questions during the process, staff are available to assist.
You can book the video converter in person at the ideaMILL, by calling us at 204-986-5543, or by visiting us on the web at winnipeg.ca/ideamill, clicking on the 'Equipment & Software' tab, and clicking on the 'Book Equipment Here' button.
transfer vcr to digital was a game-changer for me. Now, I can enjoy watching my favorite old movies and family videos anytime, anywhere, without worrying about deteriorating tapes.
