How the 90s VHS look works
90s VHS video filters are in fashion right now, and most producers are using the same filter as everyone else. Why does the filter look like it does? To answer that question, I went to talk to the person that wrote it!
Thanks to Harry Frank and all the team at Red Giant – you can find out more about them here: https://www.redgiant.com
(This is not a sponsored video!)
Edited by Michelle Martin https://www.youtube.com/@OnTheCrux
Graphics by Mr Weebl: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9wk6mlzKKN3_sVMPd2p-3Q
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@TomScottGo
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I had way too much fun adding the filters to this one.
@danielodors
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
How are you so passionate 😭
@flpydisk_sys
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
as a person who does not like vhs filters that much (i use a filter myself but i always fine tune it with real vhs captures to make it accurate) i think a bad inaccurate filter signalizes that its "on a vhs tape"
@早上好中國我有冰淇淋
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
0:06 THE SNACK ZONE BABYYYYYYY
@TikiTikiAnalogCompany2nd
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
The Best Way To Make VHS Accurately Is Replacing Universe VHS To ntsc-rs
@izzyhope58
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
0:17 I'm one of those people. I love working with old tech and to me there's no point in making a vhs effect unless it's with an ACTUAL vcr. Most authentic result you can possibly get, somthing magical about the imperfections and randomness you just can't get with digital effects
@Analog_horror_series-r8u
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Why is nobody saying what is the name of the VHS effect
@O_OH_J
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Who else watching this to trick the youtube ai
@JokaPlayz
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
It's not realistic. AT ALL.
@sanatprasad1594
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
2:12 his guilt at admitting that, like he committed a crime (and maybe enjoyed it)
@camdeeno1
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
i personally do not like this filter, as it doesn't really emulate vhs, i like using either a real tape, or just being lazy and using a program called ntsc-rs
@NixDeGraves
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I remember being at Universal City Walk (its like the downtown walk-around area outside of Universal Studios Hollywood). Some people were handing out free VHS tapes with the music video of a new rapper named Eminem. Nobody in my family knew who it was but we kept the tape because free VHS tapes seemed like a luxury back then since we were kinda poor (why we walked in Citywalk instead of the actual theme park). It was for the song Real Slim Shady (please stand up please stand up). They werent given permission to hand out the VHS promo vids so security made them leave. A year later everyone knew who Eminem was.
@imperialmoh
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
"Some things are better left in the past." 😢
@KadenSlinker
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
What is the name of this filter?
@FennixGamingYT
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
"Most probably wont take the time to actually run their videos through a VHS recorder" Me who literally just dropped $300 on a 1980s professional editing VCR to do exactly that because I'm stupid and I want authenticity XD
@zehr_a_a
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
0:13 EYÜP B !!?????
@VegetableJesus
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
filmcow runs his stuff through a VCR to get the effect
@chrisw443
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Ironically the only effect you would see on a high end good deck, was the CRT lines, as the image was rather good if you had a good deck and a good tv.
@bjtaudio
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Its awful you do not want to go back to VHS!
@hasuno142
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
"And there's more from Tom at the same time next week." 😭😭😭
@Soulmatic-X
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I like the 80s better.
@dandanbeanz
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Gives me vivid memories of Mary Kate and Ashley, we had a few on VHS, the most vivid one I remember is when they went to SeaWorld.
@cookieretrogaming
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
It's interesting how the imperfections of a vhs tape are now something people want as a unique style instead of frowning upon the damaged quality. Maybe this can be compared to the natural vines hanging on a crumbling stone pillar, or the cracked paint on a historical home.
@yourguysheppy
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
TIL the VHS filter was made by torturing VCRs to death
@Ilker_Ali89
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
2:07 … just stick with VHS decks, please.
@C.T.R.E
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
🤔How did he get that filter?
@Mecharnie_Dobbs
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
3:08 I watched VHS tapes for years, and have never seen a scrolling wrinkle.
@thischannelisdeleted
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
You didn’t teach us anything on how to do it
@wikipediaintellectual7088
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Why wouldn't you just buy an old VHS camcorder?
@BongoBaggins
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
You used 80s Memphis design elements to demonstrate 90s fashion 🤔
@Jon.......
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Hmmm, but you didn't explain what was wrong about the "PLAY" button in your thumbnail!
@thelocalshaman8024
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I only returned to see enthusiastic Tom.
@NiteSaiya
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
I knew they exaggerated the quality loss. It's been like 15 years since I watched a VHS but I know defects weren't as common as the filters made them out to be.
@gizaha
April 28, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Thank you Red Giant for giving this effect to the dorks, so it now is overusing in youtube, imature overusing vhs glitches and static. I recently saw a VHS tape and glitches are not like that, not so often at all.