Philips N1500 / N1700
Early Philips domestic video cassette systems, including VCR 45, VCR 60 and related cassette variants.
SPECIALIST VIDEO • RARE FORMATS • ARCHIVE COLLECTIONS
Rare Video Tape Conversions
Specialist digitisation for obsolete, unusual and professional video formats — helping make recordings accessible before playback equipment and compatible parts become harder to source.
Discuss Your Video CollectionWHEN THE FORMAT IS UNCOMMON, EXPERIENCE MATTERS
Digitising difficult-to-replace video recordings
Oxford Duplication Centre works with rare and specialist video carriers held by businesses, broadcasters, heritage organisations, researchers and private collectors. These formats can require dedicated playback equipment, careful assessment and a transfer workflow suited to the recording.
Where the source and condition permit, we can convert recordings into high-quality digital files for editing, review, access and longer-term management. We assess each project individually rather than treating every tape or disc as a standard VHS transfer.
FORMATS WE CAN ASSESS
Rare and specialist video formats
If you are unsure what format you have, send us photographs of the cassette, reel, label or machine. Please do not discard unusual media simply because it does not fit a familiar player.
JVC D-9 / Digital-S
A professional digital videotape format that may be encountered in production and broadcast collections.
HDCAM SR
High-definition professional video recordings used in production and mastering workflows.
XDCAM Disc
Optical professional video recording media. The disc type and recording structure are assessed before transfer.
D-VHS
Digital VHS recordings, including compatible PAL SD and NTSC or HD variants, subject to the specific recording.
Sony / EIAJ ½-inch reel-to-reel
Open-reel video media associated with early portable video and camera-recorder systems.
1-inch Type C
Professional helical-scan videotape used in broadcast and production environments, in PAL or NTSC variants.
Philips Video 2000
Also known as V2000 or VCC, this cassette system differs from more familiar VHS and Betamax media.
Other uncommon formats
Have a format not listed here? Contact us with any labels, model numbers or photographs so we can assess it.
PLAN AHEAD FOR ACCESS
Why early assessment is important
Magnetic tape can deteriorate through a combination of age, storage conditions, physical wear and chemical change. Playback equipment and replacement parts for uncommon formats may also become increasingly difficult to obtain.
We recommend assessing rare recordings before they are urgently needed. If a tape is mouldy, physically damaged, shedding or has been stored in unsuitable conditions, please tell us before sending it. Do not attempt repeated playback or home cleaning.
Every collection is different
Format, tape condition, duration, television standard, recording mode and required output all affect what is possible. We will discuss the media and intended use with you before confirming a transfer.
DIGITAL DELIVERY OPTIONS
Files for production, access and archive workflows
Our listed specialist video transfers use ProRes 422 HQ as the output format. Other delivery options may be possible depending on the source, project requirements and agreed specification.
Apple ProRes 422 HQ
A high-quality editing and production format suitable for many professional post-production workflows.
H.264 / MPEG-4 access files
Convenient compressed files for review, sharing and routine playback, where agreed for the project.
Project-specific delivery
Tell us about your preferred file format, storage arrangement, naming conventions and any institutional requirements when requesting a quote.
The achievable output and quality depend on the source recording, its condition, the format and the available signal. A digital transfer cannot restore information that is missing from the original recording.
SPECIALIST TRANSFER PRICES
Rare video tape conversion pricing
The following formats are priced separately because of their complexity, rarity or specialist digitisation requirements. Prices shown are per unit and exclude VAT.
| Video format | Description | Output format | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips N1500 / N1700 VCR | V-32, VCR 45 and VCR 60 square tapes | ProRes 422 HQ | £75.00 |
| JVC D-9 / Digital-S | Professional digital videotape format | ProRes 422 HQ | £45.00 |
| HDCAM SR | Professional high-definition videotape | ProRes 422 HQ | £60.00 |
| XDCAM Disc | Professional optical video recording disc | ProRes 422 HQ | £125.00 |
| D-VHS (NTSC/HD or PAL SD) | Digital VHS; compatibility depends on the recording | ProRes 422 HQ | £45.00 |
| ½-inch Sony / EIAJ reel-to-reel | Open-reel video media associated with early portable video systems | ProRes 422 HQ | £125.00 |
| 1-inch Type C (PAL or NTSC) | Professional helical-scan broadcast videotape | ProRes 422 HQ | £125.00 |
| Philips Video 2000 (V2000 / VCC) | Philips cassette video system | ProRes 422 HQ | £90.00 |
Prices are subject to assessment and confirmation. Additional charges may apply if a recording requires unusual handling, specialist preparation, repair assessment or a non-standard delivery specification. All prices exclude VAT at 20%.
HOW TO GET STARTED
From media identification to digital delivery
Tell us what you have
Share the format name, approximate quantity, recording duration and any labels or photographs.
We assess the requirements
We discuss compatibility, condition, likely workflow and the output files you need.
Agree the transfer
We confirm the scope and pricing before proceeding with the agreed digitisation work.
HAVE A RARE OR UNIDENTIFIED VIDEO FORMAT?
Let’s discuss your collection
Contact Oxford Duplication Centre with the details you have. If you do not know the format, photographs of the cassette or reel and its label are a useful starting point.