Digital converting equipment for in-library use can be found in the Sound Studio. This equipment lets you take your old memories and media and convert them to digital files to store on your computer or USB flash drive. This is a great way to preserve your memories!
The Sound Studio can be reserved in advance by Addison Public Library cardholders. Everyone else can use the Sound Studio as a walk-in if it's available. If you need assistance with equipment, please request an appointment.
Some equipment is available to cardholders to take home from our Library of Things collection.
You can convert or scan all of your analog media or family memories into computer files! Once converted to a computer file, you can upload those memories to social media, burn them to a DVD, email them to relatives, and more.
- 8mm and Super 8 film reels
- 35mm film negatives
- 35mm slide negatives
- Audio cassettes
- Print Photos
- minimum: 2" x 2"
- maximum: 8" x 10"
- VHS Tapes
- Both NTSC (American) and PAL (European) tapes
- VHS-C tapes (Compact VHS)
- Video 8 and Hi-8 camcorder tapes
- Vinyl Records
- 33 and 45 speed
We do not have equipment for Betamax, MiniDV, 16mm film reels, VHS tapes in SEACAM format, 8-track audio cassettes, audio film, or 78 speed vinyl records.
- Elgato Video Capture
- This device connects the VHS players and Video 8 camcorders to the iMac
- This device will work with any playback device that connects using RCA (red, yellow, white) or S-video cables
- Epson FastFoto FF-680W batch scanner
- Stack up to 35 photos scanning as fast as 1 photo per second
- As small as 2"x2" and as large as 8"x10"
- Resolution: 300, 600, 1200
- Epson Perfection V800 flatbed scanner
- Scanning bed is 8.5" x 11.7"
- Scanning resolution up to 12,800
- Four film holders: 35mm negatives, 35mm slides, 6 x 20cm and 4" x 5"
- Music Hall USB-1 Vinyl Record Turntabel
- 33 speed and 45 speed with adapter
- VHS to VHS-C adapter
- VHS-C tapes, or "Compact VHS," can be used in the VHS players with the adapter
- VHS Player for NTSC format
- NTSC is the tape format used in North and South America, and parts of Western Europe
- VHS Player for PAL format
- PAL is the tape format used in Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa
- Video 8 camcorder
- Video 8 tapes only
- Hi-8 camcorder
- Works with Video 8 and Hi-8 tapes
- Wolverine MovieMaker Reels to Digital
- Fits up to 5" film reels
- The Library of Things has the MovieMaker Pro for up to 9" film reels
- Plan your project! Addison Public Library cardholders can reserve the Sound Studio up to 7 days in advanced for up to 2 hours a day. Everyone else can use the room was a walk-in if it's available.
- Consider checking out equipment from the Library of Things to convert at home.
- There are How To guides available for each piece of equipment. Follow the step-by-step instructions to convert your media all on your own.
- Staff are not readily available to assist with equipment. If you need assistance, please Request an Appointment.
- For most formats, converting happens in "real time." If your VHS tape is 2-hours long, it will take 2-hours to convert.
- 8mm and Super 8 film reels take longer. A 3" reel will take about 30-minutes, a 5" reel takes about an 1 hour, a 7" reel takes about 2 hours, and a 9" reel can take up to 4 hours.
- Bring a USB flash drive. Saving to a USB flash drive is faster than uploading files to cloud storage (Google Drive or iCloud).
- 1 hour of video is about 1 GB of storage
- 150-350 photos is about 1 GB of storage
- 230 songs is about 1 GB of storage
- After converting to digital, you can use software like Photoshop, iMovie, or Garaband to edit or restore your files! You can learn more about these programs using the Craft & Maker Databases.
Digital Converting Guides
| Title | Date | File |
|---|---|---|
| How To: 35mm Film-Slides to JPEG | View Document | |
| How To: 8mm Reel to MP4 | View Document |
Craft & Maker Databases
Craft & Hobby
