Beta SP transfer at DVinfo.net

Aaron Hoffman · July 17th, 2007, 12:06 PM

I have a client who wants me to edit some footage that they have archived in Beta SP. I don't have a beta deck, and am wondering what the best way to digitize this footage for use in Final Cut Pro.

Can anyone recommend a service or equipment for this?

Thanks,

Aaron

Gregory Dillard · July 17th, 2007, 08:03 PM

from what i know my friend, you need a Beta SP deck. No other way around it unless i am incorrect, someone will let you know if i am incorrect.

Seth Bloombaum · July 17th, 2007, 11:49 PM

Many pro post houses will have a beta SP deck. Many duplication houses will as well. They can dub it to dvcam or mini-dv or whatever you need, this is probably the least expensive way to get the footage into your workflow.

Here in Portland I can get footage dubbed for $45/hr plus tape stock, or, rent a Beta SP deck for $225/day and do it myself.

J. Stephen McDonald · July 18th, 2007, 04:57 AM

Am I mistaken, but aren't there some digital Beta VCRs that have the legacy feature of playing back analog BetaCam SP?

Brian Drysdale · July 18th, 2007, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Stephen McDonald

Am I mistaken, but aren't there some digital Beta VCRs that have the legacy feature of playing back analog BetaCam SP?

DigiBeta VTRs are backwards compatible. It's been one of the best features of Betacam over the years and a good duplication house should be able to make a copy for you.

Copying to a digital format that you can use with your NLE would be the easiest method.

Aaron Hoffman · July 18th, 2007, 11:48 AM

Thanks for the information, everyone.

I am in Fairbanks, Alaska and am having a hard time finding anyone with a Beta deck that can do the transfer for me. Can anyone recommend a good duplication house in the lower 48 that I could send them to? Seth, who do you use in Portland?

-Aaron

Dean Sensui · July 18th, 2007, 03:10 PM

Aaron...

How much do you have to transfer?

I have a Betacam SP deck here (I'm in Hawaii) and do that quite a bit. It's possible to transfer to a hard drive with files that would be FCP-ready.

Also, since you're in Alaksa, I'd be willing to trade for fresh-frozen salmon roe! :-)

Aaron Hoffman · July 19th, 2007, 05:34 PM

Hi Dean,

Thanks for your offer. IF the client can locate the Beta masters (and right now that's a big if), it would only be 2 tapes with roughly 10 minutes on each.

I don't have any salmon roe but I do have some freshly frozen Copper River sockeye fillets that I caught a few weeks ago. Perhaps we could work something out if the client pulls through!

Aaron

Alessandro Machi · November 1st, 2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

DigiBeta VTRs are backwards compatible. It's been one of the best features of Betacam over the years and a good duplication house should be able to make a copy for you.

Copying to a digital format that you can use with your NLE would be the easiest method.

The real expensive 40 thousand digital betacam decks need a special betacam card installed otherwise they cannot play back betacam sp.

However, some lower cost multi beta format decks have been made in the last few years and they may indeed play back all of the betacam formats, including betacam, betacam sp, betacam sx, and digital betacam.

Alessandro Machi · November 1st, 2007, 06:17 PM

One more thing.

When encoding from betacam sp, you probably surpass mini-dv quality if you use a kona or black magic card, output via component, and when transcoding to final cut pro, use the DVC-pro 50 codec instead of the mini-dv codec.

The DVC-Pro 50 codec appears to be the perfect compromise between uncompressed 8 or 10 bit, and DV 25.

Chris Soucy · November 1st, 2007, 06:34 PM

Unless your local TV station is just a relay point (ie It does actually produce content) it's bound to have a Beta deck lurking around - give them a try.

CS

John Benton · April 29th, 2008, 07:53 AM

If I can get my hands on a beta deck:
Is there a way to go from the deck to a Mac Pro WITHOUT a Kona Card
and simply use firewire?

Thanks

Alessandro Machi · April 29th, 2008, 09:44 AM

Mac sells a convertor for 99 dollars (I think). It gives you an S-video connection along with two rca connectors for the audio. I bought one but have not tried it yet, when I do I'll give an update.

Alessandro Machi · April 29th, 2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Benton

If I can get my hands on a beta deck:
Is there a way to go from the deck to a Mac Pro WITHOUT a Kona Card
and simply use firewire?

Thanks

The newer betacam sp decks have a firewire output. I think it is the betacam sx decks that have the firewire feature. The betacam sx decks playback betacam sp, they may even play back digital betacam. However, they may be playback only for the additional non-sx formats, but I am not sure about that.

John Benton · April 29th, 2008, 09:47 AM

Allesandro,
Thanks !
Any idea what the #Mac box might be?

July 17th, 2007, 12:06 PM	#1
Aaron Hoffman New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairbanks, AK Posts: 8	Beta SP transfer I have a client who wants me to edit some footage that they have archived in Beta SP. I don't have a beta deck, and am wondering what the best way to digitize this footage for use in Final Cut Pro. Can anyone recommend a service or equipment for this? Thanks, Aaron

July 17th, 2007, 08:03 PM	#2
Gregory Dillard Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 55	from what i know my friend, you need a Beta SP deck. No other way around it unless i am incorrect, someone will let you know if i am incorrect. __________________ Canon 7D and 5D Mark II,Canon XL H1, XL2, Cinevate Atlas 30, Advanta Jib, AJA i/O, KONA LHe, AJA I/O HD, ZEISS PRIMES, G5 Quad Core, MacPro 2.66GHz, XSERVE RAID 10TB

July 18th, 2007, 04:57 AM	#4
J. Stephen McDonald Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 909	Am I mistaken, but aren't there some digital Beta VCRs that have the legacy feature of playing back analog BetaCam SP? __________________ Steve McDonald https://onedrive.com/?cid=229807ce52dd4fe0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos

July 18th, 2007, 03:10 PM	#7
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Aaron... How much do you have to transfer? I have a Betacam SP deck here (I'm in Hawaii) and do that quite a bit. It's possible to transfer to a hard drive with files that would be FCP-ready. Also, since you're in Alaksa, I'd be willing to trade for fresh-frozen salmon roe! :-) __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

November 1st, 2007, 06:17 PM	#10
Alessandro Machi Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles, Ca USA Posts: 553	One more thing. When encoding from betacam sp, you probably surpass mini-dv quality if you use a kona or black magic card, output via component, and when transcoding to final cut pro, use the DVC-pro 50 codec instead of the mini-dv codec. The DVC-Pro 50 codec appears to be the perfect compromise between uncompressed 8 or 10 bit, and DV 25. __________________ https://alexlogic.blogspot.com/ Los Angeles Emmy Winner (yes, used a video edit controller and loved doing so.)

July 17th, 2007, 11:49 PM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Many pro post houses will have a beta SP deck. Many duplication houses will as well. They can dub it to dvcam or mini-dv or whatever you need, this is probably the least expensive way to get the footage into your workflow. Here in Portland I can get footage dubbed for $45/hr plus tape stock, or, rent a Beta SP deck for $225/day and do it myself.

July 18th, 2007, 11:48 AM	#6
Aaron Hoffman New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairbanks, AK Posts: 8	Thanks for the information, everyone. I am in Fairbanks, Alaska and am having a hard time finding anyone with a Beta deck that can do the transfer for me. Can anyone recommend a good duplication house in the lower 48 that I could send them to? Seth, who do you use in Portland? -Aaron

July 19th, 2007, 05:34 PM	#8
Aaron Hoffman New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairbanks, AK Posts: 8	Hi Dean, Thanks for your offer. IF the client can locate the Beta masters (and right now that's a big if), it would only be 2 tapes with roughly 10 minutes on each. I don't have any salmon roe but I do have some freshly frozen Copper River sockeye fillets that I caught a few weeks ago. Perhaps we could work something out if the client pulls through! Aaron

November 1st, 2007, 06:34 PM	#11
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,689 Images: 18	Hi Aaron........... Unless your local TV station is just a relay point (ie It does actually produce content) it's bound to have a Beta deck lurking around - give them a try. CS

April 29th, 2008, 07:53 AM	#12
John Benton Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 658	Beta to FCP If I can get my hands on a beta deck: Is there a way to go from the deck to a Mac Pro WITHOUT a Kona Card and simply use firewire? Thanks

April 29th, 2008, 09:44 AM	#13
Alessandro Machi Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles, Ca USA Posts: 553	Mac sells a convertor for 99 dollars (I think). It gives you an S-video connection along with two rca connectors for the audio. I bought one but have not tried it yet, when I do I'll give an update. __________________ https://alexlogic.blogspot.com/ Los Angeles Emmy Winner (yes, used a video edit controller and loved doing so.)

April 29th, 2008, 09:47 AM	#15
John Benton Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 658	Allesandro, Thanks ! Any idea what the #Mac box might be?