The Lookback Lab Blog

July 17, 2023

After two and a half years of serving you, Lookback Lab will be closing its doors permanently on July 31, 2023. Our journey with you has been …

June 9, 2023

Preserving the Past

The Physical Limitations of Analog Media Despite the nostalgic charm of VHS tapes, Hi8 cassettes, and other videotape formats, their physical medium …

March 27, 2023

Video Resolution Explained

Understanding Video Resolution It’s important to understand what video resolution is and why it matters. Video resolution refers to the number …

March 4, 2023

What Is MicroMV?

Introduction In the early 2000s, Sony and JVC released a new video format called MicroMV , which promised high-quality video recording in a compact …

March 3, 2023

What Is Color Depth?

Introduction When you scan a photo or slide, the scanner captures the colors and shades of the original image and converts them into a digital format. …

February 24, 2023

How to Digitize MiniDV Tapes

Introduction MiniDV tapes were a popular format for recording home videos. Technology has advanced, and MiniDV has largely been replaced with digital …

February 19, 2023

How to Watch Your Videotapes in 2023

It’s time to do something with your tapes. You kept them for a reason. They hold meaningful moments in your life. Birthdays, weddings, vacations - …

February 17, 2023

What Is Dmax?

Dmax is particularly important when scanning film negatives or slides. Film negatives and slides typically have a much higher dynamic range than …

February 10, 2023

What Does VHS Stand For?

VHS was a popular analog video cassette recording format that was used for consumer-level video cassette recorders (VCRs). The VHS format was …

February 10, 2023

What Does VCR Stand For?

What is a VCR? A VCR is a device that was used to record and play back analog videotapes. It was introduced in the 1970s and quickly became a …

February 3, 2023

VHS vs VHS-C: A Tale of Two Tape Formats

Feature VHS VHS-C Size Larger Smaller, compact Recording Quality Similar to VHS-C Similar to VHS Playback Compatibility Can be played on any standard …

January 28, 2023

A Step-by-Step Guide to Digitizing Cassette Tapes for Preservation

In this article, we will cover the essential equipment required for digitizing cassette tapes, including a cassette deck, audio interface or USB audio …

January 27, 2023

Hi8 vs MiniDV: The Key Differences

Format and Cassette Size Hi8 tapes are similar in size and weight to Video8 tapes, while MiniDV tapes are smaller and more compact. MiniDV tapes …