Professional Video

3/4-inch UMATIC sp video tape

Complete pricing below.

¾-inch Umatic (original ‘low band’) is a standard analog video cassette format developed by Sony, Matsushita, JVC, and 3M (tapes) in 1971 and was enhanced in 1974 (‘high band’) with improved color resolution and the addition of freeze frame operation.  Umatic tape largely replaced 16mm film for Electronic News Gathering (ENG) since it was immediately available after recording, had ease of editing including frame-by-frame control, and tapes could be reused.  The format also found use in broadcast, professional, business, education, and industrial settings.  The ¾-inch Umatic cassette transport speed is 9.525cm/s (3.75ips). Small cassettes measure 7-1/4 x 4-5/8 x 1-3/16 inches and hold up to 20 minutes (30 possible).  Large cassettes measure 8-5/8 x 5-3/8 x 1-3/16 and hold 60 minutes (75, 90 possible). 

¾-inch Umatic SP (superior performance) upgrade was introduced in 1986 with improved video and color resolution.  SP tapes can be played in non-SP machines but will have only normal video quality.  Operational Umatic equipment is available but support and parts are limited and tapes can be unplayable but can usually be recovered.  Umatic was largely replaced by Betacam SP, MII, and D2.

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Betacam, Betacam-SP NTSC PAL Video Tape Transfer to file

BETACAM, BETACAM-SP video tape transfer to file.  Complete pricing below.

Betacam is a professional video cassette format introduced by Sony in 1982.  Betacam is a non-compatible refinement of Betamax and is an analog component video format with tapes limited to 60-minutes.  In 1983 Sony released the Betacam professional camcorder that found use by Electronic News Gathering professionals for television news reporting.  

Betacam SP (superior performance) upgrade was introduced by Sony in 1986.  It increased video resolution, improved reliability, and added 90-minute tapes.  Betacam SP machines include later Sony BVW, PVW, and UVW (mid-1990s) series.  Betacam and Betacam SP equipment is available.

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Digital Betacam, DigiBeta NTSC to file

DIGITAL BETACAM video tape transfer.  Complete pricing below.

Digital Betacam, (DigiBeta) was introduced in 1994 by Sony and is a digital video tape format.  DigiBeta was used by professionals and for television broadcast.  DigiBeta has ½-inch wide tape. Small cassettes hold are 62 minutes and measure 6-1/8 x 3-3/4 x 15/16 inches and large cassettes hold up to 194 minutes and measure 9-5/16 x 5-11/16 x 1 inch.  DigiBeta tapes were made by Maxell, Sony, Fuji and others; machines include the Sony DVW series.

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DVcam, DVCPro, DVCPro-HD video tape

DVCam, DVCPro, DVCPro-HD video tape transfer to file.  Complete pricing below.

DVCAM is a professional digital video cassette format developed by Sony in collaboration with other companies and was introduced in 1996 in competition with DVCPRO.  DVCAM has ¼-inch wide video tape; small cassettes can hold 40 minutes and measure 2-9/16 x 1-7/8 x 9/16 inches.  Large cassettes hold 184 minutes and measure 4-7/8 x 3 x 9/16 inches. 

 

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1"-inch Type-C video tape reel

1-inch Type-C was introduced by Ampex and Sony in 1976 and conforms to an industry consensus video standard.  1-inch Type-C is a high-quality analog composite open reel video format.  It largely replaced 2-inch Quad video tape due to the simpler and smaller machine and easier operation.  1-inch Type-C is one of the last open reel video formats.  1-inch Type-C was used in video production and television broadcast for many years and is comparable to Betacam and MII.  It was replaced by DVCAM, D2, and DVCPro. 

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D2 Digital Video Tape

D2 professional digital video format was developed by Ampex and Sony in 1988.  The uncompressed composite format was used by professionals and for television broadcast.  The tape is 19mm (¾ inches) wide and transports at a speed of 5.19ips.  Cassettes have three sizes: 

Small cassettes hold up to 32 minutes and measure   6-3/4 x 4-1/4 x 1-5/16 inches, 

Medium cassettes can hold 94 minutes and measure 10.0 x 5-7/8 x 1-5/16 inches (25.4 x 14.9 x 3.3cm), 

Large cassettes hold up to 208 minutes and measure  16.9 x 11.2 x 1-5/16 inches.

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MII (M2) Video Tape Panasonic

MII (incorrectly called M2) is an analog video tape format introduced by Panasonic (Matsushita) in 1986 and was in competition with Sony Betacam SP.  It was used by professionals, for Electronic News Gathering, and for television broadcast.  MII is an analog component video format, tape is ½-inch wide, and transports at a speed of 2.67ips.  Cassettes can be loaded with 10 to 90 minutes of tape; a small cassette measures 13 x 8.6 x 2.5cm (5-1/8 x 3-3/8 x 1inch) and large cassettes are 18.7 x 10.6 x 2.5cm (7-3/8 x 4-3/16 x 1inch).  MII faded out of use due to equipment reliability concerns and uncommitted customer support. 
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Testimonials

Wanted to say thank you so much for the [3/4" Umatic tape] transfer you did for us.  It's like we opened up a time capsule.  You gave us great memories of [our rock band from] a long time ago that means so much to us. We are forever grateful.  :)  Nancy, CA 93611

   

Downloaded the h264.mp4 file [DVcam tape] and received the tape back.  Thank you for the great video service and excellent communication and customer service!  Kim from Homer Alaska 99603.

   

These [PAL] Umatic tapes [transferred to DV.avi files on thumb drive] were from our monastary in India, brought to USA by monks and handed to me to find some way to transfer them.  Thanks to you, they will now be very happy monks! Great service, I'm very grateful! All the best,

Karen   Maryland MD 20837

Received the h264.mp4 flash drive for the MII tape today,  Video looks remarkably good.  Thanks!  Kevin, Nashville TN  37203.

We got the package and the MII recordings were what I was hoping for.  Many thanks, John New York.
   

I was tickled and grateful to see myself so very young in a VERY old [3/4" umatic to mp4 file for Download].  I will send others to you.  It's a smart business you have and I wish you great success.  Appreciative

Trenton   Colorado, CO 81611

I'm very pleased with your service.  The 40 year old 1-inch Type-C tapes transfered perfectly.  The large Download from your Dropbox went perfectly.  Many tanks.  More to follw.  Rick You did an awesome job [transferring D2, 1"-Type-C, and Betacam SP tapes to mp4 files on hard drive].  The political figure's family will be so happy.  Thank you.  Rick  Bakersfield CA California 93309

   

Thank you Greentree [Umatic-SP to h264.mp4 flash drives] for your professionalism and prompt replies, including your great performance.  Appreciated, Armand Idaho USA 83316

   

Thank you very much.  I didn't know what was on the 3/4" umatic tape [to mp4 file on flash drive] but am so glad I sent it to you.  The presenter passed away this year and this makes it very special to me.  I have 2 more to send.  Thank you again.   David, TN  38002

   


How it works:

1. CONTACT US to start an order, ask questions, or to get an estimate.
2. Print our SHIPPING LABEL from the tab at the top of the web page.
3. Number your tapes/media, keep a list, and enclose titles and contact info.
4. Seal in plastic bags and pack well, save the Tracking number.
    Recommend Postal Priority or Advantage mail most orders.  Heavy: UPS.  
5. We confirm arrival, email findings after recorded, and bill using PayPal.  
    Paypal accepts credit cards - you do not need to be a member (we are).
    Prepay and checks accepted; make checks payable to "Anthony Schreiber".
6. Order shipped, Downloads after payment.  Normal completion is 3 weeks.
7. Most shipments: Postal Priority or Advantage mail $15.00. 

Did you know:  Most EIAJ video reels, many Umatic video tapes, and some open reel audio tapes have to be baked in an oven to remove moisture that makes them "sticky" before they can be played?