I've got dozens, plus dozens, of VHS tapes to be used in my documentary bio NIGHT BIRD SONG. What do I need to do to get this footage ready for editing and the big screen? Any ideas about how to use such archival footage in my film to make it work cinematically? thanks!!
Anything Goes : Archival footage - shot on VHS, how do I to prepare for the big screen. by Stephanie J. Castillo
Archival footage - shot on VHS, how do I to prepare for the big screen.
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VHS has 240-480 lines of resolution. New cinema theaters have 4k projectors which are 2048 lines of resolution. All other cinemas have 2k projectors which have 1080 lines of resolution. In short there is no way VHS is going to look good on a theater screen. At best you might target DVD delivery which is 480 lines. In this case take your footage to a VHS conversion house so you can get digital footage you can edit.
Thanks Cory, heading to the DVD transfer house. Won't look good but it's all I have of my main character and it is better than having nothing to show or showing nothing. I hope I will get some ideas on this thread for how to use these archival films creatively in the edit. thanks again
The "what do I need": there are many post houses that will transfer the VHS material to a digital file for editing. The "how to use": there are many creative ways to use older, archival footage for the big screen. Yours is a documentary - people fully understand that older footage does not look like new footage, so it should be quite easy. After all, you aren't attempting to pass of the archival footage as brand new, shot on 4k material.
Thanks D. Good suggestions. appreciate your thoughts.
There are also a handful of software packages that will allow you to do this yourself if you have the time and dedication
thanks Alan, I'll be looking into this. appreciate your thoughts.
The hardest part might be finding a decent VHS player ..A rare commodity these days
Got one, a friend's got a professional studio and equipment and he's going to help me, thanks for your thoughts. Allen, what software do you recommend? thanks
http://vhs-to-dvd-review.toptenreviews.com/diamond-one-touch-video-captu... sorry for late reply stephanie
Thank you Alan for your recommendation. My partner found a Sony device that will copy well. Appreciate this1
You're very welcome Stephanie. Purchasing top end stuff which costs thousands just isn't worth it for the degree of difference in picture quality