<p>I worked on a documentary project two years ago. The solution that worked best for me was a VHS Recorder, that had 6 heads and was able to play NTSC and PAL. I could not find a VHS Recorder with HDD or DVD recording unit, that played both formats.</p>

<p>VHS (and VHS-C) tape quality is limited. No matter how big your budget is, you will not get a full color-range HD video-material.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-03T12:39:50.847Z
2012-01-03T12:39:50.847Z
blindfold
<p>I'm making a documentary and some of our historical footage is on VHS.  I'll be capturing the footage into our Non-Linear editor (We already have the analog to digital converter worked out).  </p>

<p>What should I look for when choosing a high-quality VCR that can preserve as much quality as possible when playing these tapes. (They're not SVHS, in fact they're VHS-C which we'll use a tape adapter with.)</p>

<p>Also, do they make $5000 VCR's that the FBI might use to analyze tapes?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-09-10T21:11:52.200Z
I have modified the question slightly to make it less of a request for a specific purchase suggestion, which is off topic.
Flimzy
<final-cut-pro>
How to choose a VCR for pulling stock footage from VHS for theatrical release
Andrew
# How to choose a VCR for pulling stock footage from VHS for theatrical release

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-09-10)

I'm making a documentary and some of our historical footage is on VHS. I'll be capturing the footage into our Non-Linear editor (We already have the analog to digital converter worked out).

What should I look for when choosing a high-quality VCR that can preserve as much quality as possible when playing these tapes. (They're not SVHS, in fact they're VHS-C which we'll use a tape adapter with.)

Also, do they make $5000 VCR's that the FBI might use to analyze tapes?

**Tags:** final-cut-pro

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I have modified the question slightly to make it less of a request for a specific purchase suggestion, which is off topic.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-01-03. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

I worked on a documentary project two years ago. The solution that worked best for me was a VHS Recorder, that had 6 heads and was able to play NTSC and PAL. I could not find a VHS Recorder with HDD or DVD recording unit, that played both formats.

VHS (and VHS-C) tape quality is limited. No matter how big your budget is, you will not get a full color-range HD video-material.


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