How much does it cost to convert Betamax to digital?

Betamax to digital conversion starts at $12.90 per tape for SD quality, $19.90 for Full HD with AI upscaling, and $39.90 for 4K Ultra HD. Shipping labels are available from $12.99.

How do I know if my tapes are Betamax?

Betamax tapes are slightly smaller than VHS cassettes and have a distinctive front-loading design. Look for the Sony Betamax logo on the cassette or the text 'Beta' or 'Betamax' printed on the shell. The tape window is usually on the top edge. If in doubt, compare it to a VHS tape — Betamax is noticeably narrower and shorter.

Can you still play Betamax tapes?

Working Betamax players are extremely rare and increasingly unreliable. Our facility maintains professionally serviced Sony Betamax decks — including models that support all three recording speeds (Beta I, II, and III). This is exactly why professional digitization is recommended.

What is the best way to convert Betamax tapes to digital?

The best way to convert Betamax tapes to digital is to use a professional service with working Sony Betamax decks. Consumer transfer kits are unreliable and often produce poor results. Our facility maintains professionally serviced Betamax decks supporting all three speeds (Beta I, II, and III), extracting the signal via broadcast-grade paths for the highest-quality Betamax to digital conversion possible.

How long does Betamax to digital conversion take?

Processing typically takes 2–3 weeks from the day we receive your box. Because Betamax requires specialized equipment, some orders may take slightly longer.

Will I get my original Betamax tapes back?

Yes, always. Your original tapes are returned via UPS in the same box you shipped them in. We never keep or dispose of your originals.

Can you digitize damaged Betamax tapes?

Yes. We accept Betamax tapes in all conditions — including moldy, warped, water-damaged, or tapes with broken housings. Tape repair and case replacement are included at no extra charge, as part of our betamax to digital service.

What file format will I receive?

Your Betamax tapes are delivered as MP4 files (H.264) in SD, HD, or 4K depending on your quality tier, which play on any device — phone, TV, computer, or tablet. You'll also get 90 days of free MemoryCloud access to view, download, and share online.

Can I convert Betamax to HD or 4K quality?

Yes. Choose the FHD (1080p) tier to convert Betamax to HD, or the UHD (2160p) tier to upscale Betamax to 4K. Our AI processes every frame individually, de-interlacing and color-correcting while keeping the original frame rate intact.

Can I get my Betamax tapes on DVD?

Yes. In addition to your digital download in MemoryCloud, DVD is available as an add-on — a great option for traditional gifts or for family members with a DVD player.

Betamax to Digital

Convert Betamax Tapes to Digital

Your Rare Betamax Tapes Need Specialized Care. Save Them in HD or 4K.

Betamax was technically superior to VHS, which makes surviving playback decks even harder to find today. We maintain professional Betamax equipment to digitize — and upscale to HD or 4K — before these recordings disappear for good.

Trusted by Costco and 12+ Million Customers

Format Guide

Not Sure If You Have Betamax?

Betamax (also called Beta) was introduced by Sony in 1975 — two years before VHS. The cassette is slightly smaller than VHS, measuring approximately 6.2" × 3.75" × 1". Betamax delivered 250 lines of resolution in Beta I mode with superior color accuracy, less luminance noise, and more stable tracking compared to VHS's 240 lines — making it genuinely the higher-quality format.

Despite its technical advantages, Betamax lost the format war due to shorter recording times and restrictive licensing. Sony officially discontinued Betamax cassettes in 2016. Recording modes include Beta I (1 hour, best quality), Beta II (2 hours), and Beta III (3 hours, lower quality). Because working Betamax equipment is increasingly rare, professional Betamax to digital conversion is the safest way to preserve these recordings before the hardware disappears entirely.

Betamax Format Guide

Technical specs, history, and everything you need to know about your tapes before you send them.

Learn About the Betamax Format

How It Works — Done in 3 Simple Steps.

Ready to convert Betamax to digital? Here's what to expect, whether you mail in your tapes or drop them off.

Gather Your Betamax Tapes

Collect the betamax tapes you want digitized. Don't worry about condition — we handle items in any state.

Mail Them to Us

Pack your items in your own box. Purchase Roundtrip Shipping for a prepaid inbound label, or arrange your own shipping.

Receive Your Digital Memories

We digitize everything and notify you by email when your files are ready. Your originals are shipped back to you.

Processing typically takes 2–3 weeks from when we receive your order.

Our Technology

Master-Grade Extraction + Frame-by-Frame AI

As a full Betamax to digital service, Capture pairs broadcast-grade hardware with an AI pipeline built to upscale video to 4K without losing the character of the original tape.

Most services simply "record" your tapes. We treat your memories like a film restoration project. For analog formats, we utilize broadcast-grade S-Video paths to extract the purest signal. For digital tapes, we perform a bit-for-bit data extraction, ensuring a perfect clone with zero generational loss.

Every capture is instantly encoded into a ProRes Intermediate Master file — a lossless archive regardless of the quality tier you choose. If you select FHD or UHD, our neural networks then process your footage frame-by-frame, intelligently de-interlacing to remove CRT artifacts as they convert Betamax to HD quality or upscale Betamax to 4K, producing a brilliant 1080p or 4K result while strictly maintaining the original frame rate for natural motion.

Max Resolution

ProRes

Intermediate Mastering

Precision Extraction

We use broadcast-grade S-Video paths for analog and raw data bit-streams for digital, capturing every pixel the tape has to offer.

See the Difference.

Drag the slider to reveal the original — see the power of our AI enhancement in real time.

Original

AI Upscaled

Choose Your Quality.

Every Betamax tape gets the same professional care. Pick the resolution that fits your vision.

480p

Standard definition — faithful to the original Betamax quality

$19.99

per Betamax tape

Choose Your Output.

Every order includes free cloud access. Add physical copies if you'd like.

Cloud Access

90 days of free cloud access to stream or download your digitized files on any device, anytime.

Included

USB Drive

All your files on a custom USB drive. Works with computers, laptops, and smart TVs.

$14.99

DVD is also available as an add-on at checkout — ideal for gifts or for family members who'd rather play a disc on a TV or DVD player.

What's Included With Every Order.

Digital Video Files

Downloadable digital video files in SD, FHD, or 4K depending on your selected quality tier.

90 Days Free Cloud Access

View, download, and share from any device via MemoryCloud. Continue for $4.99/month, cancel anytime.

Google Photos Auto-Save

Optionally auto-save your digitized memories directly to your Google Photos library.

Tape Repair Included

Videotape repair and case replacement if needed at no additional charge.

Quality Guarantee

Not satisfied? We'll redo it at no cost. Your memories deserve perfection.

Shipping Label

Add a prepaid label from $12.99 (one-way) or $24.99 (two-way).

No Charge for Blank Tapes

Found an empty tape in your box? No worries — you won't be charged for blank or empty tapes.

No Charge for Failed Transfers

If a tape fails to transfer successfully, you will not be charged for it.

4.4

1,189 verified reviews

72%

18%

George H. Verified

Feb 2026

My father was a Betamax loyalist in the 80s. We had 40+ tapes nobody could play anymore. Capture digitized every single one — some footage from 1978! Absolutely priceless.

Nancy L. Verified

Jan 2026

I didn't know anyone still had Betamax equipment. Capture does! The quality of our old family recordings was better than I expected — the Betamax really did record well.

William B. Verified

Dec 2025

Excellent service for a rare format. A few tapes had some tracking issues but they managed to get most of the footage. Very responsive customer service.

Dorothy M. Verified

Jan 2026

Found a box of Betamax tapes in my late mother's attic. Capture treated them with such care — we got to see footage of my mom's 30th birthday. Worth every penny.

Why Families Trust Us.

Barcoded Tracking

Every tape is barcoded and tracked from the moment it arrives at our secure facility until it's back in your hands.

Secure Facility

Our state-of-the-art facility features 24/7 surveillance, climate control, and restricted access to protect your originals.

25+ Years Experience

Over 12 million families have trusted us with their irreplaceable memories. We've been doing this longer than anyone.

Satisfaction Guarantee

Not happy with the results? We'll redo it — no questions asked. Your memories deserve nothing less than perfect.

Processed Locally in Atlanta, Georgia.

Your Betamax tapes are digitized at our facility in Norcross, GA — just outside Atlanta. We are not a middleman. Every tape is handled by our own trained technicians using professional-grade equipment in our climate-controlled lab.

Find a drop-off location near you

The Capture 100% Guarantee.

To ensure your Betamax to digital conversion produces digital copies of the best quality, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the outcome of your order, we will happily reprocess it for you at no cost, within 60 days. Every order also includes 90 days of free MemoryCloud access — well beyond the 30-day trials typical elsewhere in this industry.