Question for the "Video Files" here on the museum...

[Blue Meanie]

Recently purchased a sealed Beta tape of the Dr. Strange movie...it's the second Beta tape I ever owned. I want to convert the Beta tape to DVD. My question is this: Did they ever make a VHS adapter so that you could play Beta tapes in regular VHS VCR's? I could have sworn I saw something back in the day that would let you play Beta tapes in a regular VHS VCR. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

The construction of the cassette and the way it would spool around the heads was completely different than how a VHS tape wraps. I would be surprised if there was an adapter made.

Betamax - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[huedell]

GOT THIS FROM EHOW:

Step 1 Connect the yellow Beta output cable to the yellow VHS
cable. Be alert to the labels marked "input" and "output."

Step 2 Plug the white Beta output cable into the white VHS input jack. If
either the yellow or white connections are missing, connect the Beta coaxial
RF output cable to the VHS coaxial RF input jack.

Step 3 Attach the VHS coaxial RF output cable to the TV. This allows for
monitoring the recording process by displaying it on the TV.

Step 4 Set the VHS VCR to "Auxiliary" or "Video In," if necessary. This
ensures the VHS will accept input from the audio visual connections. Test
the connections by playing a Beta tape in the Beta machine. It should
display on the TV screen.

Step 5 Insert the destination VHS tape into the VHS VCR.

Step 6 Place the source Beta tape in the Beta VCR.

Step 7 Press "Play" on the Beta VCR. Press "Record" on the VHS VCR.
The recording time will be the same as the length of the Beta tape.

Tips & Warnings
Save the Beta and VHS tapes. The magnetic tape inside has a longer lifespan
than a CD or DVD..Beta stereo sound will be lost if recording to a mono VHS
VCR..Many commercial companies transfer Beta tapes to VHS tapes, CDs or
DVDs. Prices vary depending on the length of the tapes. When hiring a firm
to transfer the tapes, get assurances that the original tapes will be returned
in good condition..Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for
operating a VCR

----just google and google some more and you'll find the answers you need

[UnderdogDJLSW]

I think he was asking if there was a housing that one could put their Beta tape into that would then allow you to run it on a VHS. Kind of like the video cam 'corder tapes had back in the 90s. I haven't heard of one.

[huedell]

I think he was asking if there was a housing that one could put their Beta tape into that would then allow you to run it on a VHS. Kind of like the video cam 'corder tapes had back in the 90s. I haven't heard of one.

Yeah---it seems pretty impossible something like that could work.

[garagesale]

Back in the 80s they had these miniature S-VHS tapes that worked in camcorders and had a casing to bulk them up for home VHS VCRs. That may be what you're thinking about.

Best bet is to buy a BetaMax machine from ebay and copy onto VHS using the instructions above.

You could also buy it on VHS through Amazon. I did a bit torrent download of a copy a couple of years ago. I never keep those electronic copies though.

JamesD

[cjefferys]

I was also going to say that it may have been the VHS-C (VHS compact) and their adapters that you may be thinking of. It would be impossible to make an adapter to play a Beta on a VHS, the measurements and dimensions of everything involved is completely different. But you should be able to find an old, fully functional Beta player for pretty cheap.

[MysteryWho]

Some conversion places might still be able to do it for you. Lots of people come in with a variety of formats to convert. However, that will cost you some bread. Your best bet is to find an old beta machine. I bet there's some lurking nearby.

[Blue Meanie]

I was also going to say that it may have been the VHS-C (VHS compact) and their adapters that you may be thinking of. It would be impossible to make an adapter to play a Beta on a VHS, the measurements and dimensions of everything involved is completely different. But you should be able to find an old, fully functional Beta player for pretty cheap.

The VHS-C was exactly what I thought was the adapter...oh well. Another question is this: Beta was considered the more advanced and better quality of the 2 formats right??

Guess I'll have to buy a Beta Player with stereo outputs.

[megoapesnut]

Beta was DEFINITELY the better quality of the two formats. And there never was an adaptor. Would not have worked. The only reason VHS won the format wars was because Sony refused to rent the patent out to JVC so they decided to come up with their own 1/2 inch format. Then they saturated the early rental shops with free and heavily discounted VHS movies. People would walk into a rental shop and see 10 to 1 VHS to Beta and go buy a VHS deck. War over.

Having said all of that, I have a fully restored Sony SLHF-900, which was one of the better models ever made (The SLHF-1000 is the holy grail of BETA decks, sorta like a Mego shark). So, I could transfer it to DVD for you. However, isn't that available on DVD? You'd be much better off renting the DVD and duping it...Ah, I mean buying it on DVD. The quality would be much better

[Brazoo]

Blue Meanie - I'm a HUGE Dr. Strangelove fan so I have to ask, what's better about the beta version compared to the Blu-ray or multiple DVD releases?

[Brazoo]

Or even the Laser Disc which I believe had deleted scenes of the famous pie fight ending.

[cjefferys]

No, I think he's talking about Dr. Strange, the TV movie based on the Marvel character, not the Kubrick film.

[Blue Meanie]

No, I think he's talking about Dr. Strange, the TV movie based on the Marvel character, not the Kubrick film.

Yep...Dr. Strange the movie. If it's officially available on DVD...someone point me in the right direction.

[Brazoo]

Doh!!!!