Stupid post deleted by user.

If both tape versions are in playable shape, and it is really Betacam (not Betamax) the answer is absolutely yes.
Be sure to have them transferred to file professionally, by someone like Bob, who has never actually made a stupid post. (Edited)

Yes, the BetaCam tape will look much, much better than the VHS. BetaCam is/was a professional, broadcast format, VHS was, welll... VHS.

What format was the original footage?
JJK

Hmmm. I don't know on what tape the original footage was shot.

But my dad seems pretty confident that the quality was visibly superior, so I take the above responses to confirm that.

That was to lead to my second question: Does anyone know where he could have it done professionally? Looks like Bob might be someone to try. So I'll send him a pm.

Thanks,

Jon

If you don't get a response for someone to transfer this, let me know.

Dave T2

He had it converted to DVD and replicated but is not happy with the quality because the disc doesn't play properly on all players, and is currently looking into having it done by someone else.
You can try duplicating the disc on a computer onto a different kind of DVD media. Even some high quality media won't play on all pDVD layers.

I suspect that the original product was duplicated, not replicated. Replicated DVD's will play on any DVD player unless here is a mastering error.

look up tape duplication and/or production companies in the yellow pages, make a few calls .the beta to dvd won't even look like the same project compared to the vhs to dvd if done properly

I looked at it, and it was replicated.

I figure it must be a mastering error. That's why he (my dad) is looking for someone else.

We could make some phone calls, but since my dad had a bad experience going with someone he found I wanted to benefit from the personal experience of members of this forum. My dad's not very tech savvy, that's why I'm looking into it for him.

Dave, I didn't see a way to contact you (maybe I'm not very tech savvy either :)). If you have the means to transfer Sony BetaCam tape (NTSC) to digital and would be interested in a job, let me know. My email is in my profile.

Sincerely,

Jon

If you need it copied from either Beta Cam or Betamax to another form, I can handle it. I have all flavors of decks including two working Betamax decks and a UVW1800. I am hoping for my new Intensity card so I can bring in some of my old tapes to Vegas to rework.

Gary

Jon,

You have mail.

Dave T2

Just to clarify to avoid potential confusion; Gary said he had two BetaMax decks as well as a UVW1800. BetaCam and BetaMax are two completely different formats that use the same shaped videocassettes.

Betamax is a consumer tape format which is capable of noticeably better images than VHS.

BetaCam (and the second generation Betacam SP) is a professional video format which is leaps and bounds better than either BetaMax and VHS. The UVW1800 is an industrial model BetaCam deck. (If it were from their higher end broadcast line, it would have a "BVW" model designation.)

As this is almost certainly NTSC I'm 99% certain I cannot help out here.
One question that realy needs to be answered though is exactly what the tape is. The problem with the word "Betacam" is it only refers to the tape itself, not how the video is written to the tape. Sony developed various ways of writing video to the one sized tape, some analog and some digital and more than once we've been caught out by people not knowing the difference between Betacam SP and Betacam SX for example.
It most likely is SP but it'd be good to know for certain.
As John says above the BVW series of VCRs are superior. The UVW series as far as I know lacked dropout compensation. I would NOT recommend Sony's "J" series VCRs for digitising SP, they're fine with SX or IMX as those tapes are digital. The "J" series are very tempting as they have firewire and SDI outputs. They do not have dropout compensation. If the tape is pristine you might be OK using a J series but that's unlikely if the tape is old and has been played a few times too many.
The next question is how the signal gets from the VCR to an A>D converter. If you want the best outcome then component or SDI is the way to go. Assuming the tape is BetaSP then a BVW 75 with an SDI card into a Decklink card is a good way to go. The 75's SDI card doesn't embed audio though. The tape really should be captured to at least 8bit 4:2:2. It could be preferable if it was captured to 10bit 4:2:2. Using firewire is not a good way to go.

I mention all this because I know some post houses don't take much care at all. A properly mastered and replicated DVD should play in anything. A "master" made in a STB DVD recorder and replicated might very well NOT play in anything.

Bob.