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Topic: Mobility

VCR converts old tapes to digital video (yes, you read correctly)

Summary: Just when you thought that six-foot-high stack of video tapes you've been hiding in the basement was a dream deferred ("one day I'll watch Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark on original tape..."), good news arrives: now you can rip those crusty tapes to digital files and burn them to the next bound-for-the-basement format, DVD.

Andrew Nusca

By for The ToyBox |

Ion VCR 2 PCJust when you thought that six-foot-high stack of video tapes you've been hiding in the basement was a dream deferred ("one day I'll watch Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark on original tape..."), good news arrives: now you can rip those crusty tapes to digital files and burn them to the next bound-for-the-basement format, DVD.

Simply stated, Ion's VCR 2 PC is a VHS player with a USB port. It converts movies into MPEG-4 files, and the included software will take those files and prepare them for various portable devices. Put into perspective, the $250 player is considerably cheaper than buying an entire movie collection all over again on another format.

The VCR to PC can also function as a general purpose converter, with standard video and audio-in sockets on the front for hooking up other equipment, like that VHS, VHS-C, or 8MM camcorder that houses all of your old home videos. It's a simple solution for digitizing all of the content hanging around on old media.

As the Retro Thing blog noted, it's the last chance to be kind and rewind. You know, if you're into that kind of thing.

Do you still have tapes lying about the house? Tell us in TalkBack.

Topics: Mobility, Hardware

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Talkback

26 comments
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  • Macrovision Copy Protection

    It would be interesting to note whether this device overrides the Macrovision copy protection found on many pre-recorded tapes which causes videos to go really dark and really light when attempting to make backup copies! If Macrovision is properly enforced, this device would only be good for home-recorded TV and movies.

    racingmustang
    racingmustang
    Reply Vote

  • RE: VCR converts old tapes to digital video (yes, you read correctly)

    what is the quality like - dvd quality or just video tapes that have been digitalized and look still look like video tapes?
    nyo1960
    Reply Vote

    • quality

      Just because it's digital doesn't mean it's going to make it
      better. At best, it will only be as good as the original material
      (i.e., the video tape). However, it would be good to know how
      well the digital compression is handled.
      russguill
      Reply Vote

  • RE: VCR converts old tapes to digital video (yes, you read correctly)

    Too bad it doesn't support Macintosh. I have a friend that is a homeopathic doctor who is set up with a 100% Macintosh office that is looking for something like this so he can digitize is video collection of patients for other doctors to study.

    He is considering a FreeBSD server to store these files as well, but I don't know how easy it is to set thing device up for that. ]:)

    Time to write the manufacture I guess... again. ]:)
    Linux User 147560
    Reply Vote

    • USB Video Capture

      There are literally hundreds of USB video capture devices on the market that let you plug your AV out into them. I've converted several home movies using one of these for less money than this using my old VCR.

      Here is an example that your friend should be able to use with his mac:

      Pinnacle Video Capture For Mac

      http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/26/pinnacle-unveils-usb-2-0-video-capture-for-mac/

      The functionality to do this has been on the market for years... just not necessarily in an all-in-one unit.
      sheridans@...
      Reply Vote

      • ....

        Thank you for the input! That might meet his needs. ]:)
        Linux User 147560
        Reply Vote

  • Frame by frame

    Digital video is the frame images and a header.The header tells the digital device things like frame rate,display ratio and audio pertinents.I think that the display size might have some lens file stuff in it.Instead of a thin long picture,it's always full screen no matter what the file is played on.It could be that it just worked every time.
    BALTHOR
    Reply Vote

  • How about those digital frequencies

    Do you think that anything is right with digital playback frequencies?Browse the Internet and look at some of this video file playback stuff.Fuzzy and sticky is what I see.SMPTE would cringe.
    BALTHOR
    Reply Vote

  • you don't need a new VCR

    use the old one with a plain A/V capture video card, USB or internal. I don't know about Macrovision protection, but the VCR would have the same issue if sold here in the states.
    Linux Geek
    Reply Vote

  • SanDisk V-Mate = Same result @ half the price.

    I bought a SanDisk V-mate about a year ago and have converted my entire VHS & DVD collection into mp4 format and stored them all on an external hard drive. Its about the same size as a 13-1 card reader and is easy to use.
    DHillsAbbott
    Reply Vote

    • question on Sandisk V-Mate

      DHillsAbbott:

      Do you convert to a memory card each time, or you can use a USB hard disk connected to the V Mate ? Have a V Mate.

      Thanks,
      mas_stgo
      Reply Vote

  • RE: VCR converts old tapes to digital video (yes, you read correctly)

    Take a look at the Neuros OSD - it is built to convert VHS tapes to MPEG4, but also lets you play back the MPEG4 video on your TV as well. It costs less too.
    pbc_bs
    Reply Vote

  • This is old technology

    I have had a Go Video DVD/VCR where you could transfer your VCR tapes directly to a DVD. It is a one button operation.
    DaPearls
    Reply Vote

  • Old Tech

    I have had a GoVideo DVD/VCR for several years. It can copy a VCR tape to a DVD. Of course, copyright protected material cannot be transferred, but otherwise it works well for those old TV shows and Wedding Videos.
    DaPearls
    Reply Vote

  • RE: VCR converts old tapes to digital video (yes, you read correctly)

    I have a K-World TV Tuner with component input jacks (and a VCR) that defeats the anti-copy on factory VCRs. I can record in either AVI for storage or MPG2 to put on DVD disc. Works great for those movies not available on DVD, but the quality is still VHS quality.
    paullkellysr
    Reply Vote

  • what about S-VHS support?

    My video tapes are in S-VHS-C format. My video player no longer works, so it would be great to be able to view them again.

    However, whilst I have an adapter so that the smaller camcorder tapes can be used in ordinary video players, the machine must still be something that can work with tapes recorded using the S-VHS system. Normal VHS players will not display a viewable image!

    Simon
    simple simon
    Reply Vote

  • Hundreds on the market

    There are literally hundreds of VCR/DVD combos on the market.. They record VHS directly to DVD... Walmart sells them for under $150.00...

    You can then take the DVD and do any conversion you want on the PC or Mac.

    This sounds like a product aimed at people who lack common sense... Hmmm... Who knows... Could be a huge success.
    i8thecat
    Reply Vote

  • RE: VCR converts old tapes to digital video (yes, you read correctly)

    But what is your time worth?
    I gave my VHS collection away a while ago.
    Not because the tapes were bad, but the truth is,
    I did not watch them.

    Yes, it's cheaper than buying new, but only for
    newer releases. Wait enough months and you can
    get it for under $10 at the wal-mart, or $5 used at Block Buster (4 for $20).

    For personal videos and stuff not on DVD for
    some reason, if you have enough of it, then
    maybe it can be worth it. But for regular
    stuff, just how many tapes would you need to
    feed in and is it would worth your time?
    I know I don't want to sit around waiting to
    feed in the next one, especially if I don't
    really, really need it.
    richard233
    Reply Vote

  • Toshiba makes a good combo unit

    I use my Toshiba dvr650 for this purpose, and it's all automated -- put in the tape, put in the blank dvd, make a few choices, and walk away. Come back to finalize. That's it. No problems with copyguards on commercial videos that I have encountered. The unit does a lot of other things well, too, and can be found as a refurb for as little as $127. Why buy this one?
    boxplayer
    Reply Vote

  • RE: VCR converts old tapes to digital video (yes, you read correctly)

    Doesn't the Sony VRDMC5 serve the same purpose for around $200?
    dickherz
    Reply Vote
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