Media conversion station

Download written instructions(PDF, 3MB)

Download video transcript(PDF, 735KB)

Video transcript

This is converting VHS and Camcorder tapes. To begin, we just open the Elgato video software on the computer. We’ll just click that icon there and the software will pop up on the screen. This first screen getting started is where you can title the recording. So, you can see I'm just typing in a new title there for this test recording and then you can also select a length of recording time, either from the drop down or a custom amount on the right. You can see you can just type in that little box how many minutes you want to record for.

Once you are happy with that, we will continue. There'll be a little continue button in the bottom right-hand corner. Next, we are just checking that the settings are all correct for Connect video. It should be those settings there. Then with the VHS player you can put the VHS in. There's no need to press a on button. It will automatically turn on, and if required, you can use the rewind button to rewind your tape back to the beginning. You can also insert camcorder videos with the little attachment there. Once you're happy with that, click play. Then this is where you test the video and audio. So you can see we're on the Connect Video tab on the left there. You can see the video playing there. So, we click continue when we're happy with that.

Then just check your sound is all good. You'll be able to see the audio bar at the bottom there moving around. You should be able to hear the audio yourself as well. Once you've got video and audio, you can now start the VHS from the start. Make sure you rewind if required. Then click play on the VCR player. Then you click record on the record button of the software. That'll start recording both the audio and video component of your VHS or camcorder tape. You can also see that it will automatically stop recording at the preset amount that you've accepted.

Once you want to stop recording, if you don't want it to run out where you've set an amount, you can just manually hit Stop Recording and that'll load up your video there. This is now where you can trim either the beginning or the end of the recording. If you want to only have a part of that recording that you've created, you can drag those arrows there to adjust that. You then hit the continue button again, and it will generate a file of that recording. You can then see it all load on the desktop. From there, once you've found that video, you can open it and transfer it to either a USB or other method of saving the video. Just remembering that it will automatically wipe once you've logged out of the computer.

END OF VIDEO TRANSCRIPT.

Download the written instructions(PDF, 9MB)

Download the video transcript(PDF, 536KB)

Video transcript

It is scanning film and slides. First step is to turn on the scanner with that little button there. You should see the light come up. After that, we will be opening the Epson software, and you should see that load. Then you can choose between professional mode, home mode and full auto mode. We're going with professional mode. After that we'll be selecting Document type. So, we've gone with Film Holder. We're going with positive film, twenty-fourbit color, and three hundred dpi. Then you can select the save location or you can browse there. And I've clicked videos Lucy.

Then you can do the prefix and the start number of your file that you're scanning. Then you can select your JPEG, so your file type that you want to scan. And then these are all the scanning attachments that come with the scanner. You can refer to the instructions and diagrams in the written document to find out more about all those times. But we've got five different scanning attachments for various different film and slide options. I'll be giving you a scanning example now using the thirty-five-millimeter slides. So, to attach that attachment you start by removing the document mat. So that's that little white thing on the top of the lid.

You take that off, you grab your slide and you've got to position it with the shiny side down so you can see how I'm holding that little slide there. And then you slip it in the slide holder attachment very carefully, so you don't damage anything. Then you align the little arrows on the holder with the arrows on the scanning bed. And then you close the lid nice and gently Once you're happy with all of the settings, we've decided for this example to go six hundred dpi. To make the photos a bit better, you go with the preview scan now and you can see that that's taking a little bit longer to preview scan, because the DPI is slightly higher at the six hundred DPI mark.

So, you wait for that preview scan to finish and wait for that little green bar to go across. Once that preview is done, we'll be able to have a little check as to whether we're happy with that. So yep, that scan has come up And, in this regard, you can mess around with how it's laid out. You can check that you're happy with the start number because it's a slide. It's already selected itself to scan that. So, you don't need to manually select a scan area. It's just already highlighted as one book. If you did more scans, it would individually scan each item. So, you can see here the scan has come up and it's a lovely clear scan.

END OF VIDEO TRANSCRIPT.

Download the written instructions(PDF, 7MB)

Download the video transcript(PDF, 756KB)

Video transcript

This is scanning photos and documents. Step one is to turn on the scanner using the power button on the bottom left side. After that, you need to double click the icon to open the scanning software and a window should appear. This is then where you need to choose between full auto mode, home mode, and Professional mode. For this tutorial, we'll be using Professional mode. This is also where you can select things like document type. So we require reflective. For this example, I've selected Document Table for Document Source and then choose either Document or Photo. For the next dropdown image type, we've selected twenty-four-bit color. And then for resolution we've just gone with three hundred dpi.

Next, we need to choose the save location. So, we've just clicked on that yellow manila folder. And then you can click pictures or other. And then that's where you can browse. So, you can see me just browsing there. And once I've selected my save location. That should save all of the documents/ photos that you scan to that space. So that's a really easy way to get it already on your USB if you brought a USB. So, we should just click okay there. And then this is where you can put a prefix. So that'll be the starting name of every file. And then you can choose a starting number. So, for example, you've got test and then one. So, it'll go test two, test three and so on.

After that we're going to be going to image format. So, you can select between various different image formats. And today we're going to be clicking JPEG. Once you're happy with all of those settings, we'll just click okay. The next step is we need to place the photo or document on the scanner glass.

So, you can see I've just got a test piece of paper there. So, we've put that in the scanner. And then you close the lid. For this instance, we're using the document mat. And then you can click the preview button. That should be producing a preview scan right now. As you can see it's just loaded up the picture there. And this is where we can then use our cursor to highlight a section of that scan. So, you can either select the whole thing or multiple parts. And if you select multiple parts that will produce multiple scans. You can also click all if you've done multiple and that will scan them all. And then once you're happy with that, we can just click scan. And that will produce the final scan. So, you just double check that you're happy with the prefix, the start number and the location and all of those settings that you've done before, making sure you're happy with whether it's JPEG, you click okay. So you'll do a little scanning. You can see the green bar going across there. And then once that's finished, it should produce a lovely, scanned document for us. It's brought us to the save location. We can click on that. And we should be able to see a very clear picture.

END OF VIDEO TRANSCRIPT.

The media conversion station is a self-service station for converting of media to a digital format. It is not a professional service. For those requiring large amounts of conversion, or have particularly precious items, we recommend seeking out a professional conversion service. 

Due to the fast-paced nature of technological change, content and media are becoming trapped on old technology. This service aims to provide customers with a way of rescuing personal and home content.

Conversion of a VHS or Camcorder tape occurs in real time. The length of time it will take to convert a tape will depend on the length of the tape itself. A 30-minute tape will take 30 minutes to convert. You are required to sit with the station whilst this conversion occurs. 

You are allowed to convert your own personal home media. You are not allowed to convert commercial or copyright protected media. Please visit this site for more information: Australian Copyright Council website.

Currently we only have the capability to convert VHS-C Cassettes using a VHS-C Cassette converter, that is compatible with the VCR player. 

Noarlunga Library is the only City of Onkaparinga Library which has the full Media Conversion Station, with the capability to do VHS and VHS-C Cassettes. However, Aldinga Library and Aberfoyle Hub have public use Epson Perfection V850 Pro scanners, allowing for conversion of Photos, Documents, Slides and Film. 

Yes, you can use this service. It is required that customers of the station are South Australian Public Library members. This means anyone in South Australia with a membership to a South Australian Public library. If you are not a library member, you can sign up at your local library or online for a digital membership here. 

Yes, Hindmarsh Library, City of Charles Sturt also provide this service, take a look at their website. 

VHS and Camcorder tapes can be disposed of in your regular red/waste to landfill bin.

See the City of Onkaparinga A-Z disposal guide.

Yes, the Media Conversion Station is a free service. The only purchase associated with the service is a USB, if you require to purchase one at the library and don’t have another method of saving or haven’t brought your own USB.

The media conversion station can be booked through the above website links (see booking methods subheading). You can book a self-service session through our computer booking system.

You can book a 1:1 training session through the Eventbrite link. If you get stuck, feel free to give us a call on 8384 0655 and we can help you book over the phone. 

VHS tapes will convert to an MP4 file, a widely used format which works with a range of devices. 60 minutes of tape will fill 1.1GB of storage space. For a full table of video length and storage space comparisons, see page 3 of Converting VHS and Camcorder tape instructions(PDF, 3MB) .