Media Identification Center
Use the interactive identifier if you are not sure whether you have VHS-C, Hi8, Video8, Digital8, MiniDV, film, photos, or audio.
Services
Expert help for preserving old media and family history.
From unknown camcorder tapes to full family archives, Past Forward Convert helps identify, digitize, organize, and preserve fragile originals as easy-to-share digital files.
Expert help
Start with understanding, not pressure.
Most customers do not know exactly what they have. The site is built to help you identify the media, understand the options, and feel comfortable before requesting a quote.
Memory Center
Plain-language guides help you understand old formats, protect fragile originals, and choose the best delivery option.
Family Memory Vault
Digital delivery can be organized so your family can watch, back up, and share the memories after conversion.
Identify
Not sure what kind of media you have?
Use the quick identifier here, or send photos with your quote request. You do not need a perfect inventory to start.
Interactive Media Identifier
Answer a few simple questions. If anything is unclear, a photo is still the best final check.
1. What are you trying to preserve?
Formats
Choose a service or send a photo if you are not sure.
The most common starting point is a mixed box. That is okay. The service list is here to help, not to make you diagnose everything yourself.
Full-size VHS tapes and smaller camcorder tapes
8mm and Super 8 film reels
Slides, photo prints, negatives, and family albums
Audio cassettes, microcassettes, and mixed archive boxes
Video Tapes
VHS to Digital
Convert standard VHS tapes into digital files for Google Drive, USB, or optional DVD copies.
Video Tapes
VHS-C to Digital
Digitize compact VHS-C camcorder tapes so family clips are easier to watch and share.
Video Tapes
Hi8 to Digital
Transfer Hi8 tapes from older camcorders to shareable digital files.
Video Tapes
Video8 to Digital
Preserve Video8 camcorder tapes before playback equipment becomes harder to find.
Video Tapes
Digital8 to Digital
Move Digital8 recordings into modern files that can be saved, backed up, and shared.
Video Tapes
MiniDV to Digital
Convert MiniDV tapes from family camcorders, school projects, and events.
Video Tapes
Film Reels
Photos, Slides, and Negatives
Slides Digitization
Scan slides into clean digital images that can be organized and shared with family.
Photos, Slides, and Negatives
Photo Scanning
Turn family prints, albums, and loose photo boxes into digital image files.
Photos, Slides, and Negatives
Negative Scanning
Digitize negatives so older family images can be viewed, backed up, and printed again.
Photos, Slides, and Negatives
Audio
Delivery
USB Delivery
Receive digital files on a labeled USB drive for safekeeping and simple playback.
Delivery
Google Drive Delivery
Share family videos and photo scans with relatives using private cloud delivery.
Delivery
DVD Creation Add-On
Add DVDs for relatives who still prefer discs while keeping digital files primary.
Delivery
Project Types
Mail-In Media Conversion
Mail tapes, film, photos, or audio from anywhere in the United States.
Project Types
Bulk Family Archive Projects
Plan a larger box of mixed tapes, photos, slides, film reels, and audio recordings.
Project Types
School, Church, and Organization Archives
Digitize community recordings, historical materials, event footage, and legacy archives.
Project Types
Archive projects
Bulk family archives and community collections can be planned in stages.
Large projects often include mixed media, unknown formats, and emotional timelines. They do not need to be solved all at once.
Bulk Family Archive Projects
Good for estate organizing, adult children helping parents, family reunion gifts, memorial projects, and boxes with many tapes, photos, slides, reels, or audio recordings.
School, Church, and Organization Archive Projects
Helpful for event recordings, sermons, performances, historical media, and local organization materials that need to be easier to access and preserve.
Output
From aging originals to shareable files.
Google Drive and USB are the primary delivery options. DVD copies can be added when helpful.
Step 1
A box of originals
Tapes, reels, slides, photos, and audio that may be hard to play, identify, or share.
Step 2
Careful digitizing
The media is handled with realistic expectations, clear communication, and attention to the original condition.
Step 3
Organized delivery
Files can be delivered through a private Google Drive folder, USB drive, or optional DVDs when helpful.
Step 4
Family can watch again
Memories become easier to watch, back up, and share with relatives across the country.
Timeline
Set realistic expectations before you start.
Turnaround varies by quantity, condition, and current queue, but simple planning ranges help families choose what to prioritize first.
1 tape
About 2-5 days
Good for testing the process or preserving one important tape.
10 tapes
About 1 week
A common family project size when formats are straightforward.
30 tapes
About 2 weeks
Often planned as a larger family archive or gift project.
Mixed archive
Custom timeline
Best for estates, schools, churches, photo boxes, film, and mixed media.
These are planning estimates, not guarantees. Turnaround depends on quantity, current queue, media condition, format mix, and delivery choices.
Estimate
Build a rough project estimate.
This is not a final quote, but it helps you understand the likely starting point before sending details.
Instant Quote Builder
Build a rough starting estimate, then send the details for a no-obligation quote.
Common service questions
A few answers before you start.
These are the questions families often ask before requesting a quote.
What does Past Forward Convert do?+
Past Forward Convert digitizes old media such as VHS tapes, VHS-C, Hi8, Video8, Digital8, MiniDV, 8mm and Super 8 film, slides, photos, negatives, audio cassettes, and microcassettes.
Where is Past Forward Convert located?+
Past Forward Convert is based in the Appleton and Fox Cities area of Northeast Wisconsin and serves nearby communities such as Menasha, Neenah, Fox Crossing, Kimberly, Kaukauna, Oshkosh, Green Bay, De Pere, and Fond du Lac.
Does Past Forward Convert offer mail-in service?+
Yes. Customers outside Northeast Wisconsin can mail in tapes, film, photos, slides, or audio recordings from anywhere in the United States after requesting a quote.
Does Past Forward Convert offer Google Drive delivery?+
Yes. Google Drive delivery is available and is one of the easiest ways to share converted family videos, photos, or audio files with relatives.
Does Past Forward Convert offer USB copies?+
Yes. USB delivery is available for customers who want a physical copy of their digital files.
Does Past Forward Convert make DVDs?+
Yes. DVD creation is available as an optional add-on, but Google Drive and USB are the primary delivery options because they are easier to preserve and share long term.
How much does media digitization cost?+
Pricing depends on the media type, quantity, condition, delivery method, and timeline. Every project is a little different, but the pricing page gives starting points and a free quote provides the clearest estimate.
Photo identification welcome
Not sure what you have? Send a photo and I can help.
Whether it is one tape or a full family archive, the first step is a clear, no-pressure quote.