Why VHS Labels Matter More Than You Think
You open a box in the attic and find a stack of tapes—some with handwritten notes, others labeled cryptically like “SP/SLP,” and a few with nothing but faded stickers. These aren’t just outdated formats. They're containers of forgotten birthdays, school plays, and family vacations. But if the labels are vague or blank, how do you know what’s worth digitizing?
Understanding VHS labels is the first step in recovering what’s hidden inside your old home movies.
Common VHS Label Clues to Look For
When trying to identify what's recorded on a VHS tape, here are some common label elements to look for:
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Date or Year: Look for handwritten dates, especially on the spine. These help anchor the event in time.
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Tape Speed Codes: If you see “SP,” “LP,” or “SLP,” those refer to recording speed and video quality.
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Brand Labels: TDK, Maxell, and Sony often used stickers with color codes or built-in space to write.
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Tape Duration: You might see “T-120” or “T-160,” referring to the number of minutes the tape could hold at SP speed.
If a tape is blank or unclear, don't toss it. You can still convert VHS to digital and skip the guesswork—especially if you're short on time or don't own a working VCR.
What to Do With VHS Tapes That Have No Labels
Not every VHS cassette comes with helpful clues. Many were reused, overwritten, or simply never labeled to begin with. If you're left with mystery tapes, here are a few options:
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Manually check them—if you have a VCR
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Digitize first, then sort—with a professional service that can name files based on visible content
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Use cloud playback tools—to preview and organize your memories digitally
At Heirloom, customers often send in boxes of unlabeled tapes. We digitize everything, let them review content safely online, and even credit their account for blank tapes when nothing is found.
Why It's Worth Digitizing Your VHS Collection
Each VHS cassette holds a magnetic signal that fades with time. Even if the label says “Christmas 1992,” there’s no guarantee it still plays. The only way to know—and protect it—is to digitize.
With a VHS to digital solution, you can stream your home videos securely in the cloud instead of shuffling through old hardware or relying on discs.
And if your collection includes VHS-C tapes, you’ll need a special adapter. You can learn more about how VHS-C to VHS adapters work, or simply convert VHS-C to digital with the same care.
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