VHS guide
To transfer VHS to a Mac, you need a working VCR, the right analogue output from that VCR, and a USB capture device your Mac can actually see. The simplest chain is: VCR → USB capture adapter → Mac → AirLoom Video.
What usually goes wrong is not the Mac. It is poor capture hardware, mystery adapters, or trying to let cheap dongles "improve" the picture before it reaches your computer. A cleaner workflow is to capture the tape faithfully first and do the restoration afterwards in software.
What you need
Best picture
S-Video usually gives a cleaner separation of luma and chroma than composite, so the picture tends to hold edges better and crawl less. If your VCR only has composite, that is still fine. The important thing is to avoid extra mystery processing between tape and Mac.
Common mistake
Cheap devices often advertise “HD” or “upscaled” output, but that usually means the adapter is making destructive guesses before you ever see the file. VHS is standard-definition analogue video. Capture it honestly, then let AirLoom handle the cleanup afterwards.
Best fit
If you already own a capture chain that works, the app alone may be enough. If you are starting from a box of tapes and do not want to guess at compatible hardware, the AirLoom Connection Kit is the more sensible route.
Common questions
Not a single cable — a short chain. A VCR outputs composite or S-Video, analogue signals your Mac has no native socket for. You need a USB capture device in between that accepts those analogue inputs and appears to macOS as a standard video source. The AirLoom Connection Kit includes this capture hardware along with the right cables, so you don't need to source them separately.
You need something that can still play the tape. A functioning VHS camcorder works as a playback device too. If neither is available, working VCRs can often be found cheaply second-hand, or a professional digitising service can handle a small number of tapes without you needing any hardware at all.
MP4 with H.264 encoding is the safest choice for long-term access — it plays on virtually every device and platform. AirLoom can export to MP4 or MOV. If storage allows, keep a high-quality master file before applying heavy compression, so you can re-export later if you need to.
VHS must play in real time, so a two-hour tape takes two hours to capture. Restoration and export in AirLoom adds time on top — typically anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on your Mac, the length of the recording and the settings you choose.
Yes. AirLoom is a native Mac app and runs on both Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 and later) and Intel Macs. It requires macOS 13 Ventura or later.
Related guides
Straight answer
AirLoom is built around the boring but important part of the job: getting the tape into your Mac cleanly first, then restoring colour, contrast and clarity afterwards. If you want the simplest route, use the bundle. If you already have compatible hardware, start with the app.