VIDBOX Video Conversion for Mac

I purchased the VIDBOX Video Conversion for Mac (2020) (VFM1M) to convert some VHS tapes.The box contains the VIDBOX device, an RCA cable, a USB cable, some download instructions, and a manual for use. Downloading the software on my 2014 15" MacBook Pro (running 10.14.6) was straightforward with the instructions. Using the provided cables, it was easy connecting my Panasonic VCR to the VIDBOX device, then connecting the VIDBOX device to my laptop.The software is lightweight and simple to use: it walks you through the setup each time. I was able to very easily set the storage location to a folder on my NAS.Before recording, it prompts you to estimate the expected length of recording. I've been setting that to a value a good deal longer than my actual tapes are, just to make sure it doesn't stop recording before the tape ends.Note that for converting VHS tapes, recording requires you to play the whole tape at normal speed. The runtime of your tape determines how long it will take to record it. I've only done VHS, so I don't know if the same goes for other media.Once you're ready to record, you just click the record button and press play on the VCR. This step gives you a playback window with a live view of the video as well as a little audio mixer that indicates the levels of the audio is being recorded. You can regulate the audio level in realtime with a slider. Other than that and the ability to select the aspect ratio, the software does not provide any other modification tools.Recording does not stop automatically once a tape finishes playing; you'll either need to manually stop it, or allow the timer to run out (this is the max value you set before you begin recording).Once recording is complete, it offers you the option of opening the recorded file in either the storage folder, iTunes, or iMovie. It creates an mp4 file for converted VHS tapes. At this point you're done!I have converted almost 4 hours of VHS tapes so far and I'm very pleased with how easy and straightforward it has been. Keep in mind: the quality is going to be as good as your source media and the equipment on which you're playing it back.Overall, I'm very pleased with this tool and would recommend it. It's straightforward and does what it claims to do. It doesn't magically improve the quality of your media in any way, nor does it claim to. It simply converts it for you and that's all I was looking for.

The only quirk of this is during set up when it asks to have access to your computer's camera without explanation. I said "no" and that was critical. What it actually needs is not your camera, but the video connection which the camera happens to share. So it didn't work after I said "no" and I couldn't figure out why. Tech Support responded very quickly and I reinstalled and said "yes" and voîla!, it's worked fine ever since. (They are taking up my recommendation to explain and clarify this weird request in the instruction set up as there was no mention of the implications of saying "no" or why they need it.)All that now said, I've digitized about 20 VHS tapes so far. I just pop a tape in my deck, set it up on the software then hit the record button on the software, hit the play button, and it records in the background while I work. You can view the progress of the recording anytime on the software's small screen. Best to use gold tipped RCA jacks to maximize connectivity and clarity. There's a Video Composite jack, but read up on this as it is controversial whether it gives you better results than RCA jacks. You decide.A convenient feature is that you can set the time of the recording to match the length of your input tape.It digitizes into an .mp4 format. The only tricky thing is that if you want to edit, say in QuickTime, as soon as you trim a section, the .mp4 file immediately turns into an "untitled" file, so you need to save it as a different file. (I suppose it's a safety feature so you don't accidentally overwrite what you've just recorded.)FYI: a 2 hour VHS tape = about 3.25GB as an .mp4 or .mov file.This little converter and the software works very well and does what it is supposed to do: convert your old analog tapes into digital format. You of course need whatever deck for whatever kind of tape you have to plug this converter into, and after conversion, you are free to do whatever you want with the .mp4 files. This just converts it into digital format and does it well.I shouldn't have to add this, but there's always someone who will ask this or think it somehow possible, so I'll answer it here: as one cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, nor squeeze blood from a turnip, nor get water out of a stone, you cannot get Hi-Def (HD) video results from 30 year old VHS tapes that were made well before "HD" was even a concept. You can't get "Hi-Def" out of "low def", which is what VHS and BETAMax and all those analog tapes were. What you have on the tape is what you will get in the digital product of an .mp4 file. No better, no worse. This is not a "magic black box" that will turn your ugly old washed out color VHS or Betamax 480p tapes into hi-resolution full-color 1080p or 4K digital images.It just transfers your analog tapes at whatever quality you took them at to digital file format (.mp4) and does it simply and well. Good product. Highly recommend it.