Although video recorders have not been produced for years, they are still in demand. Many people are looking for a working model, especially to play or digitise old VHS tapes. But anyone wanting to buy a video recorder today will quickly realise that this is not easy. Second-hand models come with certain risks.
In this article, we explain everything you need to know about video recorders: what they are, why people are still looking for them, and what to look out for if you want to buy one.
What is a video recorder?
A video recorder is an analogue device used to record and play back video footage on video tape. Unlike modern digital storage, where data is saved as files, a video recorder uses physical tape on which image and sound are recorded, such as VHS, Video8 and MiniDV. Using an integrated video head, the device reads the information on the tape and converts it into image and sound.
This analogue system is sensitive to wear and loss of quality. Every time a tape is played, the quality decreases slightly.
This makes it fundamentally different from digital media, where copies remain identical. With the arrival of DVD and streaming services, the video recorder slowly disappeared from living rooms.
But the video tapes themselves often still around, and packed with precious memories.
The history of the video recorder
The video recorder began in the 1950s as a large, expensive, professional machine used exclusively by television broadcasters. It was not until the 1970s that a version for home use became available, with Sony’s Betamax and JVC’s VHS as the main competitors. VHS won that battle thanks to its longer recording time and wider selection of films.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the video recorder reached its peak: almost every household had one, video rental shops flourished, and manufacturers such as Philips, Sony and JVC released increasingly advanced models. With the rise of the DVD at the end of the 1990s, its decline began. DVDs are less sensitive to wear and loss of quality and therefore became more popular. In 2016, the very last video recorder rolled off the production line.
Why are people still looking for video recorders?
Most people looking for a video recorder today do so for one reason: to watch old memories. Think of family videos, weddings or holidays that were once recorded on VHS.
Many people discover that these tapes are still lying somewhere in the loft, but that they no longer have a working device to play them. This has created renewed demand for video recorders, even though the technology has been outdated for years.
A video recorder can be used not only to play video tapes, but also to digitise them yourself. However, if you do not already own a video recorder, buying one especially for digitisation can be expensive. It is also a time-consuming process. We explain everything you need to know in our article about digitising video tapes yourself with a video grabber.
Buying a video recorder
Video recorders are still available, but almost exclusively second-hand. As mentioned earlier, new video recorders have not been produced for years, although you can still find many used VHS video recorders on platforms like eBay.
However, buying a video recorder does come with risks. They are often old, faulty and have already clocked up thousands of hours of use. Their maintenance history is usually unknown, and they often come without any guarantee.
What should you look out for when buying a video recorder?
- Usage history. Ask how intensively the device has been used. A video recorder that ran daily for years will be significantly more worn than one that has spent years sitting in a cupboard.
- The video head. This is the heart of the device and wears down with use. A worn video head produces a blurred or streaky image, and replacement is becoming increasingly difficult due to the lack of spare parts.
- Connections. Check carefully which connections the video recorder has. Most models have SCART, cinch (RCA) or S-Video outputs. Modern computers usually do not support these connections directly. Want to digitise video tapes? Then you will need a video grabber to connect the video recorder to your computer. For digitisation, RCA and S-Video connections are useful, as they work best with video grabbers.
- Image quality. Want to preserve the best possible picture quality? Ideally, choose a well-maintained video recorder with support for S-VHS or S-Video outputs. Also pay attention to the sound quality.
- Reliable seller. It is best to buy from someone who has tested the device and can be contacted if something turns out to be wrong afterwards.
Choosing the right video recorder
The type of video recorder you need depends on the tapes you have at home. The most common format is VHS: the large, rectangular cassettes found in almost every household in the 1980s and 1990s. If you have tapes at home, there is a good chance they are VHS.
S-VHS is the newer generation of VHS. These tapes cannot be played on a standard VHS video recorder, as it cannot process the higher resolution of S-VHS. Conversely, a VHS tape can be played on an S-VHS video recorder.
There are also other formats such as Betamax, Video8, Hi8 and MiniDV, each requiring its own compatible type of recorder. Not sure which format you have? Check the cassette itself: the format is usually stated on it.
What is the alternative to a video recorder?
For many people, buying a video recorder is ultimately only a temporary solution to play or digitise old video tapes one last time. Working video recorders are becoming increasingly scarce, spare parts are difficult to obtain, and video tapes themselves also deteriorate in quality. In addition, connecting a video recorder to modern televisions or computers is often complicated.
As an alternative, more and more people are choosing to have their VHS tapes professionally digitised. This safely transfers the recordings to a digital format on the storage medium of your choice. By outsourcing the digitisation, you also save time, money and effort.
Old memories can easily be viewed, stored and shared with friends and family. This prevents further wear and makes your memories future-proof.
Digitise video tapes with the market leader
At MEDIAFIX, you can easily convert your videotapes to digital. We have been digitising all types of video tapes for more than 13 years. This experience has taught us how to digitise video tapes in the best possible quality, with a best price guarantee. We have now digitised more than 260 million images and minutes of film and are the European market leader in this field.
Don’t wait any longer! Have your VHS tapes digitised by MEDIAFIX today.
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