Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

It's been absolutely ages since this topic was discussed :nod:

I foolishly brought over hundreds (literally) of VHS tapes (UK PAL system).

I wisely brought over my two VCRs on which to play them.

I stupidly completely forgot that North American TVs wouldn't recognise them.

I became aware of Universal multi-system VCRs. Samsung and Sharp made some. Solution, I thought, but they had mixed reviews and they cost a lot, around $500 or so. A UK combo was a reasonable alternative but it cost a fortune to have one sent over.

The next idea was a converter for about $90 but this also meant various adapters and connectors, with no guarantee the VCRs would even still work after the passage of time. Not to mention that with this many tapes, most of which were long play with anything up to 8 hours each, and many of which had long since been missing little slips of paper saying what was on them, it would be an impossible job.

I became resigned to not being able to use them and over time I replaced a few with used DVD/VHS alternatives and in more recent times downloaded some replacements.

So I've been throwing them out gradually - including "why on earth did I keep that" responses :rofl: and noting what I would still like replaced.

I'm down to half a dozen compilations that I made of various clips of TV and movies scenes and I would like to see them again.

The multi-system VCRs are still expensive and maybe even less reliable.

I'm not sure if I'd need a voltage converter or just a travel plug to see if the VCR mechanics work, but even if they did, that's not going to tell me that the audio/video will be produced.

I suppose I could take a chance, buy one of these video converter things, use it and then see if it succeeded.

There are video transfer services available locally that don't seem too bad a price but none have the ability for PAL tapes.

Out of town rates seem far more expensive. As much as $50 per two hours and these tapes may have about 20 hours between them. :eek:

Any suggestions other than chucking them out as well?

Are there any new gadgets that will do the job?

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

I have quite a few old VHS-C tapes which I wanted to store on the PC rather than watch on TV and I also have my old UK VHS player. The player is 220v, so needs a step-down transformer rather than just an adapter, but the transformer works fine. I bought a $24.99 USB gadget from Canada Computers - MyGica USB Video Capture - which has the red,white & yellow cables that I plug into a SCART socket adapter, although you could probably plug them into the VHS directly if it has those sockets.. The USB end obviously goes into the PC.

Although the MyGica says it's Windows 8 compatible I had no problems with Windows 10. The software that comes with it worked fine, I was able to tell it that the input signal was PAL-B and all my VHS-C tapes are now safely stored on the PC.

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

Pinnacle also make a break out box, Best Buy had them years ago, I have one and use it for old 8mm and DV video. As said above u can use one to load the contents onto a PC as long as u have the right codecs for the image type. (Usually found free online)

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

This sounds very promising. Thank you both. :thumbup:

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

Here's another option

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

:thumbup:
Yes that appears to do the trick too.

I had already ordered the necessary gadget and with the transformer it's just a bit less than that.

So long as one of the VCRs still works I should be all set, although the transformer may take some time to arrive. Had to do a lot of shopping around for that. One place wanted $76 minimum to deliver. :eek:

:fingerscrossed:

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

Here is another option :cool:

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

Done that one already. Thrown out hundreds and so has my MIL following my example and hers would have played!!

But I want to see my compilations again. I put a hell of a lot of work into them. There's even a series of clips from a movie done like a mini-movie.

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

You do know there's tons of free stuff on the internet these days, apparently. ;)

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

Sadly my creations are not. :rofl:

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

Hope you didn't pay too much. First of all look at the VCR and see what it's power rating is. If it's below 100W then something like the following cheap step up unit should do https://www.amazon.ca/Power-Converte...wn+transformer. A more powerful unit like https://www.amazon.ca/gp/offer-listi...wn+transformer will certainly work.
You may or may not have to buy a PAL to NTSC converter depending on the TV you have. Have a look at the TV settings, you may be lucky and have a TV that will accept both formats although you will have to examine the TV settings to see if this is possible. I know that the TV I had in the UK would accept both.

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

@dave_j

The white one seems to be misleading in the description, ignoring the reviews that say it melts. :eek:

However, thanks...you saved me a few bucks. The black one is the one I ordered but when I looked for the name on Amazon I selected electronics. With the same search but without selecting a category, many many more options came up.

I was able to cancel the original order and replace it with the $11 one.
(as long it's not one of those too good to be true ones)

You've done your good deed for the day :thumbup:

I suppose I could check our new TVs but experience has usually been that British stuff recognises both while American stuff only recognises American. For tapes, rather than DVDs anyway.

Either way, I need to wait for the transformer to see if the VCRs work and getting them onto computer is a good option. Then I can get shot of the two VCRs

Cheers

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

I have a number like the white ones and apart from the one I dropped and smashed they work ok.. but.. you have to be aware of the limitation on power and use accordingly. Some modern electronics use less power than you might think but there's always the temptation to cut corners. Best of luck with those tapes.

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

There's a few TV's that support multi system (PAL and NTSC) some although not advertised as such have the ability (as has been mentioned upthread) - what do you have? Apparently most LG tv's support PAL as do some Insignia models.

Specific multi system tv's >

MultiSystem Televisions | 110-220 Volt, 4K Ultra HD, Curved LED PAL NTSC TV's
Multi-System LCD TVs for PAL, SECAM, NTSC | Sony, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba MultiSystem TVs | Largest Selection for Multi System LCD TVs - World Import

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

:thumbup:
I had those two websites saved in my bookmarks for years, checking periodically, and removed them when I gave up.

Every option I looked at in Canada involved the multi-system VCR for at least $500 or a multi-system TV that was small and a similar price with delivery, with the latter dependent on my VCRs working.

It was only this year we upgraded to a more modern TV so I wasn't going to (couldn't) splash out on something specialist.

But I see now there's a nice flat screen 19" that would have done the job and because it's light, delivery isn't that much. It's still over $300 by the time it's all converted to Canadian. The $135 base price looked so attractive too. :lol:

My transformer is only $11 (free delivery too) thanks to dave_j and the gadget is $39 all in, so $50 isn't much to risk.

If only I'd added my UK TV to the UK VCRs that were sent over.

I can't find anything to suggest the TVs we have now will work for PAL but I can still try if the VCRs work.

Much appreciated. :thumbsup:

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

It sounds like you're already there, but I'd emphasise the point others have made that it'd be a waste of time, effort and money looking to find a TV/VCR/converter combo that works, Bristol.

The adapter to get the VCR signal into your PC is a much better option - there are all sorts of codecs available (there may even be an appropriate one built into one of the media players you already have on your computer) that will decode PAL-format video. Once you've done that you can store your content on your PC and stream it to any connected device on your network. And throw out the VCR and tapes when you're done....

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

Maybe if the VCRs don't work I can turn by hand. :rofl:

Re: Transfer from VHS tapes (or play them)
 

Update.
The transformer for $11 was too good to be true. By the time it never arrived Amazon showed scores of people being let down. I filed my claim and the refund was settled literally within a couple of minutes.

I ordered a replacement and it arrived today.

I tried one VCR and it all works nicely. Even the batteries in the remote for the last 13 years were in good condition :lol:

I installed the video capture thing on my older laptop and connected up.

Unfortunately the output of both VCRs is by Scart. There are 2 outs for left and right audio and with that I was able hear the audio through the computer, but I will now need a Scart adapter with the necessary connections to the gadget.

I've ordered that but it's going to take another 4weeks to arrive.

The bits of audio I heard included the wonderfully funny Steven Wright and former England captain Will Carling getting understandably irritated with Mr Blobby :rofl: