Mail us your old tapes and discs — we digitize them and deliver your memories back as modern digital files, ready to watch and share.
Starting from$10per tape or disc + shipping
Formats: VHS · Hi8 · MiniDV · More
"These tapes sat in a shoebox for 30 years. Now my grandkids can watch their grandmother's wedding on their phone."
— Sandra M., Louisville, KY
Memories fade. Tapes degrade. Every year you wait, a little more is lost to time. Let us save what's still there.
Who We Are
Two guys in a garage who get it.
We're not a big faceless company. We're two people who understand that what's on these tapes can't be replaced. Once they're in our hands, we treat them like our own family's memories. That's not a policy — that's just how we work.
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Real Equipment, Real Care
Dedicated playback hardware and professional capture cards for every format. No cheap adapters, no shortcuts.
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Digital Delivery Your Way
Google Drive or a private YouTube channel. Watch on any device and share with family instantly.
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Your Originals Come Home
Every tape and disc is returned to you after digitizing. You cover return shipping — we'll never discard your media.
Supported Formats
If you've got it, we can digitize it.
Not sure what format your tapes are? Just reach out — we'll help you identify them.
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VHS
The classic home video format from the ‘80s through early 2000s.
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Hi8
Sony's popular 8mm camcorder format through the ‘90s and 2000s.
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MiniDV
Small digital cassettes used by consumer camcorders in the late ‘90s and 2000s.
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Sony Handycam Disc
Mini DVD discs from Sony Handycam camcorders. We've got you covered.
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8mm / Video8
The compact cassette that made camcorders affordable for everyday families.
New
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Photo Scanning
Boxes of printed photos digitized into a shareable online library. Just $0.15 per photo.
Have something not on this list? Reach out — chances are we can help.
Delivery Options
Get your memories back.
We deliver digitized videos and photo libraries in the format most convenient for you. Both options let you watch, browse, and share from any device.
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Google Drive
Download to your own computer, share links with family, or keep in the cloud.
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Private YouTube Channel
Stream in the browser or on your TV. Share unlisted links with exactly who you choose.
The Process
From your shelf to your screen.
Four simple steps. You mail, we capture, you receive. Your originals always come home.
1
You
Pack & Mail Your Tapes
Gather your tapes and discs. Pack them in a padded envelope or small box and mail to our address. Include your name, email, and preferred delivery method. We recommend USPS with tracking.
💡 Tip: Bubble mailers work great for small batches. For larger orders, a USPS flat-rate box is secure and affordable. Please insure your shipment — once your tapes are with us they're in good hands, but we can't be responsible for carrier damage on the way here.
2
Us
We Digitize With Professional Equipment
Each tape is played back on dedicated hardware and captured using professional video capture software. We check quality, clean the signal, and encode to MP4 (H.264) — a modern format that plays on every device.
🎬 We use hardware capture with professional capture cards — not screen recording or cheap adapters. Your footage gets the care it deserves.
3
Us
We Upload & Send You the Link
Your digitized videos are uploaded to your chosen destination — Google Drive or a private YouTube channel. We email you the link as soon as everything is ready, with files clearly named by tape.
4
You
Watch, Share & Keep Your Originals
Stream from any device, share with family, or cast to your TV. Your original tapes are shipped back to you — safe, intact, ready to store for decades more.
📮 We pack your originals carefully and ship them back to you. Return shipping is covered by you — we'll invoice the actual cost.
Every format. The right gear.
Each format needs different playback hardware. We've built the setup to handle them all properly.
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VHS & Hi8 Decks
Dedicated playback hardware for each tape format.
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Disc & MiniDV
Sony Handycam disc and MiniDV players.
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Photo Scanning
High-resolution flatbed scanning for printed photos of any size.
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Capture Cards
Professional-grade video capture interfaces.
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MP4 / H.264 Output
Plays on any device, forever.
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Cloud Delivery
Google Drive or private YouTube.
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Private & Secure
Your footage is only ever shared with you.
At a Glance
What to expect.
$10
Per tape or disc, all-in
5–7
Business days to digitize after receipt
2
Delivery options: Drive or YouTube
/bin/sh.15
Per photo scanned into your digital library
Pricing
Simple. No surprises.
One flat price per tape or disc. No subscriptions, no setup fees, no minimums.
Standard Service
Per Tape or Disc
VHS, Hi8, MiniDV, 8mm, Sony Disc & Photo Scanning
$10
/ tape or disc + shipping
No minimums. You cover shipping both ways — we handle everything in between.
Everything Included
Professional hardware capture for your specific format
MP4 / H.264 output — plays on any device
Delivery via Google Drive or private YouTube channel
Your originals returned with tracked return shipping
Clear file naming and organization by tape
5–7 business day turnaround after receipt
Email notification with your link when ready
Photo scanning available at $0.15 per printed photo
Common Questions
What formats do you accept?
VHS, Hi8, Video8, MiniDV, Sony Handycam discs, and most other consumer tape and disc formats. We also scan printed photos at $0.15 per photo. Not sure what you have? Email us and we'll identify it.
How does photo scanning work?
Pack your printed photos in a box or envelope and mail them to us the same way you would tapes. We scan each one at high resolution and deliver them as a digital library via Google Drive or private YouTube. At $0.15 per photo, a box of 100 photos is just $15. You get your originals back along with a beautifully organised digital collection.
Who are you guys?
Two people running this out of a garage with the right equipment and a genuine love for preserving memories. Your tapes stay with us from arrival until we ship them back.
What about shipping?
You cover shipping both ways — to us and back. We recommend insuring your package on the way here. Return shipping is invoiced at actual cost when we send your originals back. We're not responsible for carrier damage in transit.
What if a tape is damaged or unreadable?
We'll let you know and won't charge for tapes we can't capture. Partially readable tapes are digitized for whatever footage is recoverable.
When do I pay?
Once we receive your tapes and count them, we'll email an invoice. You'll agree to our simple terms and pay before we begin. We accept all major cards.
Do I get my originals back?
Always. Every tape and disc comes back to you — we'll never discard, keep, or copy anything beyond completing your order.
The Honest Part
A few things worth knowing.
🙋
We're two real people
This is a small operation — two guys, the right gear, and a lot of respect for what these tapes mean. You're not sending your memories to a warehouse.
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Please insure your inbound shipment
Once your tapes are with us, we treat them like our own. You cover shipping both ways — we recommend insuring your inbound package. A few extra dollars of insurance is worth every cent.
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In our hands, they're precious
From the moment your tapes arrive, we take full responsibility. We log every one, handle them carefully, and pack them just as carefully for the trip home.
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Simple terms before you pay
Before we charge anything, we'll send a short plain-English terms agreement. No legal jargon — just a clear understanding of what we're each responsible for.
Ready to Start?
Mail us your tapes.
Pack your tapes, include your contact info and delivery preference, and send them to:
Generation Tape — [Your Mailing Address Here]
Questions? Email us at hello@generationtape.com
①
Pack your tapes
②
Mail to us
③
We digitize
④
You get the link
⑤
Originals returned
Place Your Order
Let's bring your memories back.
Fill in the form and we'll send a confirmation with our mailing address and invoice. Your tapes are safe with us the whole way.
Order Summary
Add tapes above to see your total
Estimated Total$0
Final total confirmed once we receive your tapes. Shipping both ways is covered by you — return shipping invoiced at actual cost. Payment collected before we begin.
We've got your order!
Check your email — we'll send our mailing address and next steps within a few hours. We can't wait to bring your memories back.
Our Story
The people behind the tapes.
Generation Tape is a two-person operation built on genuine expertise, decades of friendship, and a shared belief that these memories are worth saving.
Co-Founder
Collin Mairena
Collin is the brains behind the production. A professional photographer with a craftsman's eye and a collector's obsession, he has spent years understanding the hardware and quirks of every consumer video format made before the year 2000. He knows how these machines work, how they fail, and how to coax the best possible image out of a tape that hasn't seen daylight in decades. When your footage comes back looking better than you remembered, that's Collin.
Co-Founder
Albert Tejera
Albert brings 15 years of experience in tech and business to Generation Tape — but the heart of this project is personal. The idea was sparked the day Collin digitized Albert's parents' wedding tape, unwatched for 35 years. Seeing his family gather around a screen and light up at footage they thought was gone forever made something click. He knew this feeling was worth sharing — and that with Collin's skills and his own background, they could bring it to families everywhere.
Wedding Video Booth — DC, MD, VA & NC
The tape they'll rewind forever.
A 90s-style video booth where your guests pour their hearts out — wishes, advice, laughs, and love — captured on camera the way memories were always meant to feel. Warm. Real. Yours.
Flat Rate$999full day, all-inclusive
Currently available in DC · Maryland · Virginia · North Carolina
What You Get
Not a photo booth. Something better.
Anyone can rent a photo booth. We show up with a camera, a vibe, and a stack of prompt cards — and we stay until the last guest has had their moment. What comes back to you isn't just a video. It's a time capsule of everyone who showed up for you on the most important day of your life.
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Full Booth Setup at Your Venue
One of our team members arrives early, sets up the booth, and handles everything. You won't think about it once — we just run it.
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Printed Prompt Cards
Guests who freeze up get a little nudge — prompts like "Your best advice for a long marriage" or "The moment you knew these two were meant to be." Gets the good stuff out of people.
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We Stay for the Whole Event
From cocktail hour to last dance, we're there. No time limit, no rushing guests. Everyone who wants to leave a message gets their moment.
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Delivered as One Beautiful Video
Every message edited together into a single video, delivered via Google Drive or private YouTube with a shareable link to send to family and friends.
The Aesthetic
We'll match your vibe. You pick the camera.
Every couple is different. Before your wedding we'll hop on a quick call to talk about the feel you want — golden and cinematic, raw and grainy, bright and modern. We'll recommend the right camera and shooting style to match.
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VHS Camcorder
Warm, grainy, and unmistakably nostalgic. Feels like you found it in a shoebox 20 years from now. Perfect for couples who love the retro aesthetic.
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Digital HD
Crisp, clean, and timeless. Every face beautifully captured, every word crystal clear. Great for couples who want to share widely.
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Super 8 Film Style
Soft, dreamy, and cinematic. That warm flickery look that makes everything feel like a memory even while it's happening.
Delivery
Watch it. Share it. Keep it.
Your completed video is delivered digitally so you can watch it the moment it's ready — and share it with everyone who was there.
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Google Drive
Download your video, back it up, share the link with your whole family in one message.
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Private YouTube
Stream it from any device. Share an unlisted link with guests — no account needed to watch.
Optional Add-On
Social Media Ready Clips
Want to share highlights on Instagram or TikTok? We'll cut your tape into short, vertical, social-ready clips — the funniest moments, the most heartfelt ones, the ones that'll make people cry at their phones. Delivered ready to post.
Available for an additional fee — inquire when you book.
Included in every booking
✓ Full day on-site coverage
✓ Printed prompt cards
✓ Setup & breakdown
✓ Edited full-length video
✓ Digital delivery via Drive or YouTube
✓ Pre-event screening call
Book Your Date
Let's make sure the date is yours.
Our schedule fills up — especially on peak wedding weekends. Send us your details and we'll be in touch within 48 hours to confirm availability and set up a quick screening call.
1
Submit your inquiry with your date, location, and event time below.
2
We confirm availability and reach out within 48 hours.
3
Screening call — we talk vibe, camera style, and make sure we're fully aligned before the big day.
4
We show up, set up, and handle everything. You just enjoy your wedding.
Wedding Inquiry
We've got your date! 🎂
We'll be in touch within 48 hours to confirm availability and set up your screening call. We can't wait to be part of your day.
