SARAH and BO from Tekkie Help take us through the steps of preserving old video, VHS tapes and print photos as digital copies. Plus, how to make them more accessible to enjoy for generations to come.
Keeping up with tech
Specialised equipment is now needed to read tapes in old video formats such as VHS tapes or camcorder options like Hi8 and DV. You may already have converted these to a DVD some years back. However, technology is quickly evolving, and old media types are becoming obsolete. Not only that, tape film degrades with time, and this is accelerated in Singapore due to the high humidity.
If you want to preserve and protect your family memories and make them accessible to enjoy for generations to come, here’s how you can do it.
Converting DVDs
Videos on DVDs are most likely converted files from camcorder tapes. Since DVD players are becoming obsolete, use a portable DVD player to copy the files to your computer.
If they’re in a format that cannot be read by your computer, a software called Handbrake can help convert the files to MP4.
Converting VHS, Hi8 and tapes
Converting tapes at home is a little trickier. You will need the working camera to play the tapes and connect the camera to your computer to capture the footage. If you don’t have the camera, Tekkie Help can do the conversion for you. In fact, we’re one of the very few companies in Singapore that has the technology to convert older-style tapes, especially Hi8.
Digitising printed photos
Take time to digitise old, printed photos too. We love the Google Scan app; it captures photos and instantly stores them in your Google Photos or even Apple Photos library. We also recommend creating printed photo albums. These make your memories easily accessible to family and friends, and act as an additional backup.
Guarantee future access
Once your memories are digitised and protected with AppleIDs and secure passwords, it’s important to consider how they can be accessed in the event of someone passing away. One way is to include all your access logins and passwords in your will. As access details change often, another way is placing them in a locked Excel file. Have the password for this in the will.
We also encourage families to set up a joint photo library as a digital photo hub. This would be on a separate and unique account. Each family member can then regularly import the photos they wish to share, and all family members have access to the joint photo library.
Back up regularly
Make it a habit to back up your files regularly, especially each time that you transfer a new batch of images to your computer.
We recommend a 3-2-1 backup strategy whereby you have three copies of your data in two formats and with one copy off-site.
Ask Tekkie Help
Tekkie Help can help you in managing, organising and protecting your memories. They also run workshops on Creating a Robust Backup Solution, which are helpful if you’re not sure that your backup is set up properly or if you don’t yet have a backup.
This article first appeared in the July 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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