Betamax to DVD

[jdavis1137]

Is it possible to copy some old Betamax tapes I have to DVD discs either using a DVD recorder or a computer.

If it is possible, how do I do that?? I have a Betamax VCR and a DVD recorder and a computer.

Any help would be greatly aappreciated. Thank you

[ROF]

I could be wrong, but your betamax cassette recorder could be outputted to your DVD Recorder and you could do a 1 for 1 copy.

[lordsmurf]

I could be wrong, but your betamax cassette recorder could be outputted to your DVD Recorder and you could do a 1 for 1 copy.

That's correct.

[dfisher]

Yes you can. I just finished transfering about 50 of my Beta tapes to DVD on my computer. You need a card with video in to take a feed from your beta deck (just the same as a VHS deck), software for converting it to a dvd compliant file & a dvd burner. All the information you would ever need is posted on this site. Check the various guides & you could do no better than to start with Lordsmurf.

[ROF]

I got rid of almost all my betamax stuff a few years ago, but I still have a few lingering tapes. Why I kept them I have no idea since I already own these features on other modern media.

Question: Did Betamax ever include any form of copy protection or was it killed before the greed machine kicked in?

[mikel]

ROF,
If I recall correctly, ...most if not all, Sony Betamax machines rebuilt the sync signal and were immune to any copyguard, when recording from VHS source.

The first movie released with Macrovision (copyguard) was "The Cotton Club" sometime around 1986. By about 1988, virtually all VHS VCRs would not record copyguarded tapes without problems.

mikel

[Seeker47]

Mikel replied to ROF:

"If I recall correctly, ...most if not all, Sony Betamax machines rebuilt the sync signal and were immune to any copyguard, when recording from VHS source."

"The first movie released with Macrovision (copyguard) was "The Cotton Club" sometime around 1986. By about 1988, virtually all VHS VCRs would not record copyguarded tapes without problems."

I believe you must be correct, Mikel. Per my past observations, Beta was entirely immune to this. Not just with VHS, but with dvd as well.

Incidentally, I still think B1s (the High Band recording mode which was only available on 3 of the high-end Beta decks) looked noticeably better than any S-VHS I've ever seen. It won't matter to anyone now, but this could have been the closest you could get to dvd or laserdisc PQ, in a consumer-level tape format.

Seeker47

[Marvingj]

Being aBetamax Fan, Betamax can record anything VHS, VCD, DVD. Macrovision, CSS can affect it. But as I recall Sony did have a Patent Named CopyGuard. But it only last maybe a year or so, it didn't work effectively. Betamax is still great after all these years. I won't get rid of mines!!!!!!!

[lordsmurf]

Incidentally, I still think B1s (the High Band recording mode which was only available on 3 of the high-end Beta decks) looked noticeably better than any S-VHS I've ever seen. It won't matter to anyone now, but this could have been the closest you could get to dvd or laserdisc PQ, in a consumer-level tape format.

Seeker47

I'd say give a look at Betacam SP

[Seeker47]

Incidentally, I still think B1s (the High Band recording mode which was only available on 3 of the high-end Beta decks) looked noticeably better than any S-VHS I've ever seen. It won't matter to anyone now, but this could have been the closest you could get to dvd or laserdisc PQ, in a consumer-level tape format.

Seeker47

I'd say give a look at Betacam SP

I believe that was THE standard for tv-news crews for many years -- don't know if it still is -- and the tape is still sold at professional outlets. (Was this the metal tape ?) I have even seen some lower-budget features that were shot in the U.K. in Pal Beta-SP, which looked better than you might imagine. But I wasn't aware of it ever being used at the consumer level. Of course, there were also a few ED-Beta models that definitely used metal tape, but did not offer the SP speed, or certainly not B1s. They were quite expensive models, and claimed to have a higher resolution. I never managed to see one of these in action, though.

[Dr_Layne]

I believe digital betacam is used now. Or probably Pro DV. LS is right, Betacam SP is probably the highest quality analog tape format. I happened to stumble across one of these tapes and picked up a player to transfer it. The quality was amazing.

[Srembecki]

I was an expert on Betamax. The Macro they used was ineffective for most concerns. Just simply try a copy from machine to machine. The recording machine would always pick up the slack in the Hoizontal hold.

[lordsmurf]

But I wasn't aware of it ever being used at the consumer level.

No more or less than S-VHS or at one time DV. It's still used today.