I have some betamax tapes

[shashgo]

I have some betamax tapes of home movies and I want to transfer them to dvd. I have a VHS player but I cannot seem to find anyplace that sells the betamax adapter to make the tape fit into a VHS player and nor can I find a betamax player.

Any ideas how I can do the transfer? I have the software to transfer the stuff from the video tape to the computer.

[MOVIEGEEK]

If you can't find a player on eBay take them to a professional,check the Yellow Pages under "video".
BTW...I know they made VHS-C adapters but I never seen a BetaMax one.

[budz]

A few years ago I was lucky I found a video shop that rented me a betamax machine to transfer all my betamax tapes. I converted them by using a advc-100. As MOVIEGEEK mentioned check the yellow pages. Here in Honolulu there are few shops that do even 8mm films to dvd.

[johns0]

Go to garage sales and pawn shops,i worked on hundreds of beta and vhs and never heard or saw a betamax adapter,wouldnt work if they did fit a beta tape in a vhs shell due to different head switching and pulses and track etc...

[ks47]

...I cannot seem to find anyplace that sells the betamax adapter to make the tape fit into a VHS player and nor can I find a betamax player.

Any ideas how I can do the transfer? I have the software to transfer the stuff from the video tape to the computer.

I don’t know of any cassette adapter that works for Beta to VHS format. Is the tracking the same for both systems?

I’ve been on the hunt for a decent Betamax machine for many years and I’m about given up. I’ve been ripped off a couple of time on the eBay and I’m not about to try again. I’ve also searched far and wide in flea markets, authorized Sony repair shop etc.

The way I did my old VHS tapes, was through stand alone DVD recorder. There are TV tuner/video card that can do it, too, along with analog to digital device as mentioned by budz’s post above. Here’s a website with more info:

http://dvr.about.com/od/capturetvwithacomputer/f/cc_faq.htm

TS

[AlanHK]

betamax adapter to make the tape fit into a VHS player

I'm pretty sure there is no such thing, it's not just the cassete that's different, but the method of encoding.

[guns1inger]

I believe you may be thinking of the VHS-C adapter used for compact VHS camera tapes

[Epicurus8a]

There never was a BETA to VHS adapter because the systems are entirely different.

How old are your BETA tapes? If they're more than 10 years old (approx.), they might be warped, stretched, shedding oxide, etc. In other words, they might not work at all. So keep that in mind before you spend a lot of $$$$.

[Captain Satellite]

There never was a BETA to VHS adapter because the systems are entirely different.

How old are your BETA tapes? If they're more than 10 years old (approx.), they might be warped, stretched, shedding oxide, etc. In other words, they might not work at all. So keep that in mind before you spend a lot of $$$$.

They might be, but if they were stored properly there's a good chance they're just fine. I have plenty of tapes that are 28 years old that play just fine. Yes, I've checked recently when I did a transfer.

The OP can get a fine machine on ebay (or elsewhere) for very little coin.

[Spiny Norman]

It's always worth having just a quick look at other tapes you might have found before throwing them all out. There are a few things that have been lost by careless TV stations (Doctor Who is the most famous example but far from the only one).

[orsetto]

There never was an "adapter" that played Betamax tapes on a VHS machine: if this had been available, Betamax decks would have disappeared from the market 5 years faster than they did. Other than the actual tape being half-inch for both formats, Beta and VHS are mechanically and electronically too different to merge into a single machine- you are probably thinking of the VHS-C adapters mentioned earlier.

At this point almost no one offers Betamax transfer services anymore: you could try looking on Google for facilities in New York or Los Angeles, but outside those two cities I doubt there's anything. You may have to keep hitting Craig's List or eBay to buy your own. Unlike VHS vcrs, which have dropped almost to zero value second hand, used Betamaxes still fetch strong prices. Partially this is due to Beta still having a rabid "cult" following that prefers to play the actual tapes instead of DVD copies, and partially this is due to them being scarce compared to VHS decks.

The trick to buying a used Betamax is knowing what the "sweet spot" is in terms of models to look for: certain models have an utterly irrational"cult" following with no basis in actual merits of the model, which drives the price up to Rolls Royce levels. Other models are known for a high failure rate and repetitive repairs, these should be avoided. In the current used market, the best Betamax bang for the buck are the Sony SL-HF300, SL-HF400 and SL-HF500 series, or slight variations. These were made circa 1986 and have front loading and HiFi stereo sound. They are 3 inches tall but large in width and depth and very heavy. They are easy to repair. All controls are on the front panel so you don't need to worry about a remote, and generic $9.00 replacement remotes can handle all features of a typical Betamax (the original Sony remotes rarely operated anything but the basic transport controls). If you're patient, a good working example can usually be found for about $100. Many buyers refuse to bid on units with the common cosmetic defect of a crack or scratch on the clock window, and/or a control flap broken off (who cares?). These are the ones to go after with a good chance to win. I settled on an SL-HF500 with a clock scratch, it is one of the best-built Betas mechanically and electrically and has served me well in dubbing the Beta tapes in my collection.

The Betamaxes to avoid are the early front loaders that are very tall, the Sony 5000 series. Every one of these in existence is broken and they are somewhat more difficult to repair than other models. Newer "Super Beta" and "ED Beta" models are highly prized by wingnuts who bid them past $1000, don't even look at those listings (although occasionally the super-slim Sony 2700 series shows up for under $150). The very old top loaders are insanely heavy to ship and are nearly all broken down (the 8000 series). The late top-load 5400, 5600 and 5800 are the most beautifully made VCRs ever released, are still repairable, and have a very wide tracking range and often sell for $50 or less. But they do not have stereo sound and they cost $50 to ship. If your tapes are not stereo, the top loading 5x00 models can be a bargain if you find one local that you can pick up from the seller yourself, the shipping cost for these heavy machines is what kills their value.

Overall, I'd say look for an SL-HF300, 400 or 500. Even if you pay to repair one of these, after you're done using it you can resell it and make all your money back, including any repair cost if you keep the receipt as proof. These are "can't lose" Betamaxes, and the easiest to find in affordable, good working condition. Good Luck!

[Scooter_NJ]

You can also look for Sanyo machines. I have 2 Sony and 1 Sanyo Betas and they all perform quite nicely.

[Spiny Norman]

If it's only a handful of tapes, maybe paying a professional company would be a better and easier solution.

[shashgo]

ya i guess a professiolnal service would be good. thanks

[Cornucopia]

While I can't verify any particular models, I do know that some Betacam decks were made backwards compatible to be able to play some speeds/versions of Betamax. So it is just possible that some of these transfer houses may be able to do it for you (I can almost guarantee that they have a Betacam deck). Problem is, in addition to later speeds/HiFi etc being incompatible, most of those decks that will work won't like what they're given when it's Betamax, because the quality of the tape is so much worse. Likely the transfer house won't agree to do it even if they are capable, because they don't want to gunk up the machine...

However, unless you have a LOT of tapes, I'd still recommend a transfer house doing it (one that does Betamax specifically), because they'd be much better at maintaining a clean head, calibrated machine (and the version of the machine is probably a pro model, too), so the transfer will be clearer.

Keep looking...

Scott

[lordsmurf]

I have the ability to work on Betamax tapes. I know quite a few people that have functional Betamax decks in top condition, mostly upper-end machines.

[Cornucopia]

I'd recommend Lordsmurf does it then.

Scott

[Marvingj]

No such animal as Betamax adapter for Vhs.... Just buy a Betamax deck.

[rono7]

I am trying to transfer my old beta tapes to dvd via a dvd recorder. Haven't done any tranfers in many years. Needd to refresh my memory. Do I only need to connect the audio/video out from the vcr to the A/V in on the dvd recorder? Do I also need to connect the RF in/out? I am not getting any signal.

thanks.

[johns0]

You have to switch to line-in on your dvd recorder to get the video from your beta machine,dont need to hook up rf lines,just the video/audio out to in.

[rono7]

Thanks for your quick response. I believe I tried doing this. On my DVD recorder, I have a selection of L-1, L-2 or F-1 inputs. I have it hooked up to the F-1 for convenience. Selected the F-1 input. Not getting any signal from the vcr. ??

[johns0]

Try hooking it to L1 and switch to that.If that fails hook up the beta line-out to your tv line-in to see if you get a picture.

[rono7]

No go. the vcr out must not be working. I don't see any other switches on the vcr to send the signal to the A/V OUT. It plays fine thru the rf's. I also have a portable beta machine that I used way back for camera recordings. I'll have to try that one. Hope it works. I need to record about 20 hours of tape.

[johns0]

If you have to you can record rf out to rf in on your dvd recorder with the beta machine if the other beta doesnt work.

[rono7]

OK. does it matter that I have is the DVD recorder hooked via component to the tv. Then the vcr to the recorder via a/v in puts or RF.

[johns0]

Doesnt matter how you have the dvd recorder hooked up to the tv.Hook the beta up to rf in if video in doesnt work.

[rono7]

OK. Got it. After setting the channel to "3" on both, the vcr and recorder, it works thru A/V out-in connection. Doh!

[johns0]

If you got the rf out connected to rf in on the beta to dvd recorder thats why you are getting a picture since you set the tuners to channels 3,the a/v out goes through the tuner as a channel 3 output.That means your not recording through the a/v output,just the rf output.