The Home Video Archive Project

11 Conversations

I have a problem. Over the past 17 years, I've been collecting videotapes, taping stuff I like off-air. And because I hate throwing things away, I've accumulated rather a lot of them.

Almost 3000 of them.

These are all on VHS tapes, which, as you might imagine, take up a lot of space. We currently have about 2500 of them on shelves in our living room, which makes the room a little oppressive (and impressive, frankly). But it's been impractical for quite a long time.

I've been dreaming about a time that I could archive all this material (some of which is extremely unlikely to ever be repeated) for a long time. My ideal solution would be a huge rack of hard drives in the cellar holding all the digitised material, so I could call it up at will. Trouble is, at current prices, that would cost something approaching £12000 for the hard drives alone, not counting mounting hardware.

I'd given up on recordable DVD because of media costs and the expense of the equipment. I thought it would be a while before the blanks came down to an affordable price.

Then, last week, I discovered that, all of a sudden (it seems) blank DVD-R discs had suddenly plummeted - some sites can now sell them for less than a pound each. Suddenly, the price of archiving my collection had dropped to something I could contemplate.

The recorders were also dropping in price. I could now pick up a DVD Recorder for £700 - not an awful lot more than I'd paid for my second VHS recorder all those years ago.

Which Recordable DVD Format

There are a fair number of recordable DVD formats at the moment - DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM. They have differing levels of compatibility with existing equipment, but the one which promises most compatibility is DVD-R - a write-once format akin to CD-R. Usefully, it is also the cheapest disc type around.

So, I decided it was time to take the plunge. I bought a Panasonic DMR E20 DVD-R/DVD-RAM machine. I wasn't particularly bothered about the DVD-RAM, I couldn't afford or wait for DVD-RW, and DVD+R(W) is still too expensive and not as compatible.

MPEG Compressing VHS tapes? Are you mad?

I wondered the same thing. VHS tapes are inherently low-bandwidth, but they're also very noisy, something which can cause a lot of problems for MPEG compression, especially if you want to compress a lot to fit (for example) 4 hours on a single 4.7G disc (the second worst picture quality on the Panasonic. So it was with some trepidation that I started recording from my first tape - a reasonably representative one, with an edition of Film 90 that looked as if it had been recorded in a snowstorm. And, to my delight and surprise, the quality of the resulting recording was perfect - well, the picture quality was crap, but not noticeably crappier than the original VHS tape, so my plan for using this method for archiving my collection would clearly work

It's not DVD quality, but that doesn't matter. These aren't broadcast quality tapes, so as long as I can preserve the contents in a watchable format, I'm delighted.

Project Progress

  • Disc 1
    • Entertainment USA
    • Film 84
    • Horizon
      - Mathematics
    • Making The Most of the Micro
      - Fragment
    • Commercial Breaks
    • Tomorrow's World
      - Now You See it
    • Micro Live
    • Film 84
  • Disc 2
    • Film 90
    • The Late Show
      - Twin Peaks
    • Tomorrow's World
      - Virtual Reality
    • The Return Of Mr Bean
    • Academy Awards 1985
  • Disc 3
    • Film 86
    • Cheers
      - Diane Chambers Day
    • Cheers
      - Relief Bartender
    • Cheers
      - Strange Bedfellows (Part 1 of 3)
    • Cheers
      - Strange Bedfellows (Part 2 of 3)
  • Disc 4
    • Bugsy Malone
    • Films Of The Year 1984
    • Space 1999
      - All That Glisters
  • Disc 5
    • 4 Computer Buffs
    • Micro Live
      - Christmas Special
    • Micro Live
  • Disc 6
    • Spitting Image
    • Spitting Image
    • Spitting Image
    • Yes Minister
      - Party Games
  • Disc 7
    • Star Wars Documentary
    • The Making Of Indiana Jones
    • Horizon
      - How To Film The Impossible
  • Disc 8
    • Weekend In Wallop
    • Saturday Live
  • Disc 9
    • Twilight Zone
      - Nightmare At 20,000 Feet
    • Doctor Who
      - Attack Of The Cybermen
    • Doctor Who
      - Mark Of The Rani
  • Disc 10
    • French And Saunders
  • Disc 11
    • Airplane!
    • Film 85
  • Disc 12
    • The Time Machine
    • Cheers
      - Rebound (Part 1 of 2)
    • Cheers
      - Rebound (Part 2 of 2)
    • Cheers
      - I Call Your Name
    • Cheers
      - Fairy Tales Can Come True
    • Cheers
      - Sam Turns the Other Cheek
  • Disc 13
    • Max Headroom
    • Star Trek Memories - Leonard Nimoy
  • Disc 14
    • Cheers
      - Coach in Love (Part 1 of 2)
    • Cheers
      - Peterson Crusoe
    • Cheers
      - Coach in Love" (Part 2 of 2)
    • Cheers
      - A Ditch in Time
    • Cheers
      - Diane Meets Mom
    • Cheers
      - Whodunit?
    • Cheers
      - The Heart is a Lonely Snipehunter
    • Cheers
      - An American Family
    • Cheers
      - Diane's Allergy
  • Disc 15
    • The Young Ones
      - Demolition
    • The Young Ones
      - Oil
    • The Young Ones
      - Boring
    • The Young Ones
      - Bomb
    • The Young Ones
      - Interesting
    • The Young Ones
      - Flood
  • Disc 16
    • Micro Live
      - If I Had A Hammer...
    • Animation at Cambridge
    • Wogan
      - Carl Sagan
  • Disc 17
    • Happy Families
      - parts 1-3
    • Happy Families
  • Disc 18
    • The Young Ones
      - Bambi
    • The Young Ones
      - Cash
    • The Young Ones
      - Nasty
    • The Young Ones
      - Time
    • The Young Ones
      - Sick
    • The Young Ones
      - Summer Holiday
  • Disc 19
    • Film 85
    • Film 86
    • Return Of The Jedi
      - Creatures
    • QED
      - TV special Effects
  • Disc 20
    • Alas Smith And Jones
    • The Secret Policeman's Ball
  • Disc 21
    • Saturday Live
      - Steven Wright, Hale And Pace
    • Bafta Craft Awards 1985
  • Disc 22
    • Cheers
      - Teacher's Pet
    • Cheers
      - The Executive's Executioner
    • Cheers
      - Cheerio Cheers
    • Cheers
      - The Mail Goes to Jail
    • Cheers
      - Bar Bet
    • Cheers
      - The Bartender's Tale
    • Cheers
      - Behind Every Great Man
    • Cheers
      - King of the Hill
    • Cheers
      - If Ever I Would Leave You
  • Disc 23
    • Cheers
      - The Belles of St. Cletes
    • Cheers
      - 2 Good 2 Be 4 Real
    • Cheers
      - Rescue Me
    • Cheers
      - Birth, Death, Love and Rice
    • Cheers
      - Woody Goes Belly Up
    • Cheers
      - Someday My Prince Will Come
    • Cheers
      - Diane's Nightmare
    • Cheers
      - I'll Gladly Pay You Tuesday
    • Cheers
      - The Groom Wore Clearasil
  • Disc 24
    • Cheers
      - Fools and Their Money
    • Cheers
      - Love Thy Neighbor
    • Cheers
      - Take My Shirt... Please?
    • Cheers
      - Suspicion
    • Cheers
      - From Beer to Eternity
    • Cheers
      - The Bar Stoolie
    • Cheers
      - The Triangle
    • Cheers
      - Cliffie's Big Score
    • Cheers
      - Don Juan is Hell
  • Disc 25
    • Cheers
      - Second Time Around
    • Cheers
      - The Peterson Principle
    • Cheers
      - Dark Imaginings
    • Cheers
      - Save The Last Dance For Me
    • Cheers
      - Fear is my Co-Pilot
    • Cheers
      - Strange Bedfellows (Part 3 of 3)
  • Disc 26
    • Star Trek
      - The Doomsday Machine
    • Star Trek
      - Catspaw
    • Star Trek
      - I, Mudd
    • Star Trek
      - Amok Time
  • Disc 27
    • Doctor Who
      - The Two Doctors
    • Doctor Who
      - Timelash
  • Disc 28
    • Micro Live
    • 4 Computer Buffs
    • Database
    • Micro Live
    • Micro Live
  • Disc 29
    • Micro Live
  • Disc 30
    • Micro Live
    • Alan Moore Interview
  • Disc 31
    • Micro Live
    • Micro Live
  • Disc 32
    • Micro Live
    • Micro Live
    • Micro Live
    • BBC News
      - Zebrugge Ferry Disaster
  • Disc 33
    • Saturday Live
    • Saturday Live
    • Saturday Live
  • Disc 34
    • Saturday Live
    • Saturday Live
  • Disc 35
    • Saturday Live
      - Lenny Henry
    • Saturday Live
      - Pamela Stephenson
    • Carrott Confidential
  • Disc 36
    • Saturday Live
      - Chris Barrie
    • Saturday Live
      - Michael Barrymore
    • Saturday Live
      - Peter Cook
  • Disc 37
    • Saturday Live
      - Rowan Atkinson
    • Saturday Live
    • Saturday Live
      - Lenny Henry
    • Open Space
      - Have You Heard The One About The Englishman?
  • Disc 38
    • Micro Live
    • First Aids
    • Film 87
    • BAFTA Craft Awards 1984
    • Film 93
  • Disc 39
    • A For ABBA
    • ABBA in Concert
    • Kate Bush: Wow
    • Top of the Pops
      - Kate Bush, Boomtom Rats, Jilted John, M
    • Film 93
      - Jurassic Park
    • Film 93
  • Disc 40
    • Filthy, Rich and Catflap
      - Dead Milkmen
    • Filthy, Rich and Catflap
      - Game Show
    • Filthy, Rich and Catflap
      - Dinner Party
    • Filthy, Rich and Catflap
      - A Death in the Family
    • Filthy, Rich and Catflap
      - Breakfast Television
    • Filthy, Rich And Catflap
      - Smear Campaign
  • Disc 41
    • Doctor Who
      - Revelation Of The Daleks
    • Doctor Who
      - Vengeance On Varos
  • Disc 42
    • Horizon
      - Cold Fusion
    • Hammer House Of Horror
      - The Silent Scream
    • Radio Times Video Awards
    • Antenna
      - Fractals
    • The Late Show
      - American Psycho
    • The Late Show
      - Police Squad
  • Disc 43
    • Inspector Morse
      - The Last Enemy
    • The Rutles
  • Disc 44
    • 24
      - 6:00pm-7:00pm
    • 24
      - 7:00pm-8:00pm
  • Disc 45
    • Secret History
      - Magic at War
    • The Hollywood Machine
    • The Hollywood Machine
  • Disc 46
    • Election
    • Scrubs
      - Pilot
  • Disc 47
    • Saturday Live
      - Tracey Ullmann
    • Saturday Live
      - Ben Elton (host)
    • Saturday Live
      - Fascinating Aida
  • Disc 48
    • Film 85
  • Disc 49
    • Film 85
    • Films of the Year 1985
    • Paul Daniels Halloween Magic Show
    • Monty Python's Flying Circus
      - 33
  • Disc 50
    • A Night Of Comic Relief
      - part 1
  • Disc 51
    • A Night Of Comic Relief
      - Part 2
    • The Last Resort
      - Christmas Clip Show
    • Gold Blend Advert
  • Disc 52
    • TV Hell
      - part 1
  • Disc 53
    • TV Hell
      - Part 2
    • Comic Relief
    • The Late Show with David Letterman
  • Disc 54
    • Murder Most Horrid
      - The Case Of The Missing
    • Murder Most Horrid
      - The Girl From Ipanema
    • Murder Most Horrid
      - He Died A Death
    • Murder Most Horrid
      - A Determined Woman
    • Murder Most Horrid
      - Murder At Tea Time
    • Murder Most Horrid
      - Mrs Hat And Mrs Red
    • Murder Most Horrid
      - Dying Live
    • Murder Most Horrid
      - The Body Politic
  • Disc 55
    • Girls On Top
      - Four-Play
    • Girls On Top
      - Staying Alive
    • Girls On Top
      - C.O.D.
    • Girls On Top
      - Cancel Toast
    • Girls On Top
      - Ident. Candy Time
    • Girls On Top
      - Skankin'
    • Girls On Top
      - Mr Fluffy Knows Too Much
    • Girls On Top
      - Big Snogs
    • Girls On Top
      - Hark
  • Disc 56
    • Girls On Top
      - Who's Ya Uncle Shelley?
    • Girls On Top
      - Bring Me More Flamingoes
    • Girls On Top
      - Mr Yummy Brownie
    • Girls On Top
      - Lower The Donkey
    • Inspector Morse
      - Service of All The Dead
  • Disc 57
    • Computer Dreams
    • Computer Dreams
    • The Late Show
      - Film Previewing
    • Computer Visions
  • Disc 58
    • Tin Toys, Knick Knacks And Algorithms
      - John Lassetter
    • The Making Of Don Quichotte
    • The Search For Realism
    • Moving Pictures
  • Disc 59
    • The Orson Welles Story
    • Paul Daniels Live at Halloween
    • Wogan
      - Clive Barker, James Herbert
  • Disc 60
    • Hysteria 3
    • Enterprise
      - Broken Bow
  • Disc 61
    • Edge Of Darkness
      - 1: Compassionate Leave
    • Edge Of Darkness
      - 2: Into The Shadows
    • Edge Of Darkness
      - 3: Burden Of Proof
    • Edge Of Darkness
      - 4: Breakthrough
  • Disc 62
    • Swimming With Sharks
  • Disc 63
    • Edge Of Darkness
      - 5: Northmoor
    • Edge Of Darkness
      - 6: Fusion
  • Disc 64
    • O Brother Where Art Thou?
  • Disc 65
    • Friends
      - The One After I Do
    • Friends
      - The One with the Red Sweater
    • Friends
      - The One Where Rachel Tells...
    • Friends
      - The One With The Videotape
  • Disc 66
    • Salem's Lot
  • Disc 67
    • 24
      - 8:00pm-9:00pm
    • 24
      - 9:00pm-10:00pm
  • Disc 68
    • Life Story
    • Equinox
      - The Emperor's New Mind
    • The Genes Debate
  • Disc 69
    • Academy Awards 1986
    • Moving Pictures
      - Action Movies
  • Disc 70
    • Enterprise
      - Fight Or Flight
    • Enterprise
      - Strange New World
  • Disc 71
    • Enterprise
      - Terra Nova
    • The Questor Tapes
  • Disc 72
    • Academy Awards 2002
  • Disc 73
    • Omnibus
      - Alfred Hitchcock
    • Film 86
  • Disc 74
    • Enterprise
      - The Andorian Incident
    • Enterprise
      - Breaking The Ice
  • Disc 75
    • 24
      - 11:00pm-12:00am
    • Enterprise
      - Civilization
  • Disc 76
    • Friends
      - The One With Rachel's Date
    • Friends
      - The One With The Halloween Party
    • Friends
      - The One With The Stain
    • Rough Science
      - The Science of Celebration
  • Disc 77
    • Scrubs
      - My Mentor
    • Scrubs
      - My Day Off
    • Scrubs
    • Scrubs
  • Disc 78
    • Dan Dare
      - Pilot of the Future part 1
    • Dan Dare
      - Journey to the Centre of the Sun part 1
    • Enterprise
      - Cold Front
  • Disc 79
    • Have I Got News For You
    • Chef!
      - A River Runs Thru It
    • Scrubs
      - My Nickname
  • Disc 80
    • Last Night Of The Proms 2002
      - part 1
  • Disc 81
    • Last Night Of The Proms 2002
      - part 2
  • Disc 82
    • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
  • Disc 83
    • BAFTA Awards 1987
  • Disc 84
    • Tutti Frutti
      - 1: The Boy Can't Help It
    • Tutti Frutti
      - 2: On The Road Again
    • Tutti Frutti
      - 3: Gin A Body Dig A Body...
  • Disc 85
    • Dinotopia
      - Pilot
  • Disc 86
    • Tutti Frutti
      - 4: Don't You Rock Me, Daddy O
    • Tutti Frutti
      - 5: Love Hurts
  • Disc 87
    • Celeb
    • Have I Got News For You
      - Charles Kennedy & John Sergeant
    • Enterprise
      - Dear Doctor
  • Disc 88
    • 9/11
      - part 1
  • Disc 89
    • Friends
      - The One With The Stripper
    • Friends
      - The One With Monica's Boots
    • Enterprise
      - Silent Enemy
  • Disc 90
    • Horizon
      - The Blind Watchmaker
    • Horizon
      - The Joy Of Finding Things Out
  • Disc 91
    • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
  • Disc 92
    • 9/11
      - part 2
    • Scrubs
      - My Own Private Jesus
    • Reputations
      - Uri Geller
  • Disc 93
    • Friends
      - The One With Ross' Step Forward
    • Friends
      - The One Where Joey Dates Rachel
    • Soap
      - Episode 80
    • Soap
      - Episode 81
    • Soap
      - Episode 82
    • Enterprise
      - Sleeping Dogs
  • Disc 94
    • Howard Goodall's Great Dates
      - Mozart
    • Enterprise
      - Shadows of P'Jem
  • Disc 95
    • Howard Goodall's Great Dates
      - Wagner
    • Tutti Frutti
      - 6: A Wop Boppa Loo-Bop A Wop Bam Boom
  • Disc 96
    • Coupling
      - Faithless
    • The Office
      - 2/1
    • Friends
      - The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath
    • The League of Gentlemen
      - The Lesbian and the Monkey
  • Disc 97
    • Coupling
      - Unconditional Sex
    • The Office
      - 2/2
    • Enterprise
      - Shuttlepod One
  • Disc 98
    • Copenhagen: An Epilogue
    • The Copenhagen Fallout
    • Dave Gorman's Important Astrology Experiment
  • Disc 99
    • Coupling
      - Split
    • Dave Gorman's Important Astrology Experiment
    • Soap
      - Episode 83
    • The Woman Who Married Clark Gable
  • Disc 100
    • Copenhagen
  • Disc 101
    • Friends
      - The One with the Secret Closet
    • Friends
      - The One with the Birthing Video
    • Friends
      - The One Where Joey Tells Rachel
    • The League of Gentlemen
      - The One Armed Man Is King
  • Disc 102
    • Coupling
      - Remember Me
    • The Office
      - 2/3
    • Howard Goodall's Great Dates
      - 1937
  • Disc 103
    • Enterprise
      - Fusion
    • The League of Gentlemen
      - Turn Again Geoff Tipps
    • Scrubs
      - My Drug Buddy
  • Disc 104
    • Look Around You
    • The League of Gentlemen
      - The Medusa Touch
    • French And Saunders
    • French And Saunders
  • Disc 105
    • French And Saunders
    • French And Saunders
    • French And Saunders

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Infinite Improbability Drive

Infinite Improbability Drive

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