VIDBOX USB 2.0 Video Conversion for PC For Windows 10, Windows 8

The quality of the ViidBox unit, and its corresponding software is very good. There’s a slight learning curve if you’re not familiar with video formats and video hardware and software. There are several types of negative reviews I have seen, but as near as I can tell, these negative reviews come from when one of several variables required to convert old technology to new formats fail. Some of these variables are as follows: #1. the quality of the mechanical camcorder or VCR, that you play the media, #2. how the media was recorded in the first place and at what quality speed or resolution, #3. the system specs of the PC or Mac computer capabilities that you are using to do the conversion. The VidBox does exactly what is intended to do. The accompanying software for the vid box is pretty straightforward, but it does take a little bit to figure out how to use it. My opinion is, is that one of the biggest failures people would have would pertain to the PC or Mac that they are using to do the conversion. In order to manipulate, the large volumes of data that are required. When converting video, you cannot use a sub standard PC with low memory and perhaps without a dedicated video card. If you do not have a capable PC to handle the volume and speed of data, you’re going to get a crappy result in the software of the vid box and it will not record smoothly. Another thing, camcorders from the 90s are very old! They don’t have the technology or even the mechanical ability as when they were first manufactured. You have to take that into account that the source video could be low quality. As well, an old VCR is not going to produce quality video output like we are used to at the present age. I used my Dell Precision Workstation laptop. With windows 10 professional versions. My laptop workstation has a high end dedicated video card and a lot of video memory as well as system memory. It has a fast i7 Intel processor as well. It’s a machine that is almost designed for this kind of data volumes and speeds. Let’s be honest, if you are using a PC that’s any older than 5 to 7 years old that is fir casual use or surfing the web you are definitely at a disadvantage when it comes to converting video so please keep that in mind, if you don’t have a very powerful PC or laptop or Mac, perhaps borrow someone’s Computer that does and when finished converting transfer all of your new converted files onto a quality USB flash drive or Mobile SSD drive This has been probably one of the most satisfying purchases I have made in a while, I had to borrow a super eight camcorder to play back super 8 tape video that I haven’t seen in 30 years! I am presently converting all this video and putting it onto my computer and making a copy to put on a flash drive to put in my lockbox. This is a wonderful tool. Once you figure out all the variables that apply to you and your equipment and your situation and what you want to do with the video, you will not be disappointed. Please try to be patient while figuring all the variables out. You will not be disappointed in the end. If anyone has any questions as to how I broke the learning curve on this, I’m more than happy to answer. All in all I highly recommend this product I fully admit I am biased towards it because it has been a vehicle to save a lifetime of memories.

I had over thirty VHS tapes I wanted to save in digital format but the best price I could find for someone else to convert them was about $14 each. I saw this on Amazon and decided to give it a try. It was super easy to set up, less than a minute to connect and maybe a couple of minutes to go through set up. The instructions for “Easy” mode are simple and straightforward and that’s what I used to capture my VHS tapes. The capture was in mpeg format and so I, using this program, converted each one to another format as well, just in case I needed the videos in a different format later. I thought it would be simpler to go ahead and complete the conversions right after I captured each video because conversion does take time and that way I wouldn’t have to worry about it later. The time spent on each VHS tape was the length of the VHS for capture plus or minus 30 minutes conversion time per video, depending on the length of the video. I captured and converted all my VHS tapes in one to two weeks. My friend wants to borrow it now to capture hers! This device also has a more sophisticated capture mode that will allow you to edit your tapes, add transitions, etc. I didn’t use that mode because I didn’t need it, but that looks like something I might use in the future and am glad to have the feature. This device has worked great for me. It was easy to set up and use, I’m happy to have preserved all my VHS tapes, and pleased at the overall price I paid to get the job done!

Hooking up the hardware is easy but the software & required computer settings aren’t 100% intuitive. Fortunately the website has a very helpful FAQ / troubleshooting section and a full users manual for download. I was saving old VHS videos to my computer within 45 minutes of opening the package. Like other reviewers I wish it were possible to save directly to an mp4 video file and the “Quick Start” manual included with the package isn’t the greatest, thus the single-star deduction. The video quality is adequate for viewing on a computer and I’m very happy that all my important family videos will soon be safe as digital files.

Quick disclaimer: I bought this on Amazon but was afraid it would have delayed shipping so I bought it also at a best buy store (higher cost). If I had been patient, it Amazon's was actually delivered a day early. It was very easy to set up. It has very basic, easy directions. Cables go from VCR to vidbox then other cables go from vidbox to the computer. Play the VHS tape and it records to your computer. So much easier to convert tapes at home instead of entrusting them to a mail away service.

Vidbox does record my VHS tapes from a VCR to my laptop. However, while the audio comes in clear the video has a jerky quality to it. The VHS tapes actually look good in the software window as it is recording but upon playback the video is not as smooth. Not sure why yet. I even copied one tape without using my computer, thinking web surfing.etc. may be affecting the quality, but it is still not a smooth video. Another little annoyance is the software only can record up to 3 hours. Some of my tapes run longer so I need to restart another file after the 3 hour point. A 3 hour tape used 4.3 GB of disk space, a 2 hour tape used 2.9 GB of disk space. The product works, just not sure why the video is not as seamless as the VHS tape. I've also used the S-video cable which is supposed to have the better video transfer.

Vidbox is intuitive for new users. I was up and running converting 8MM tapes from a Sony Handicam model CCD-TRV43 literally in less than 15 minutes. The folded sheet manual contained all you need to download the software, connect the Vidbox with provided cables. In my case it was RCA connection from camera to Vidbox, and provided USB cable from output of Vidbox to Dell Laptop running windows 11. I like being able to see the transferring tape on the software screen on the laptop and being able to choose what to do with transferred tape, ie, burn to DVD, convert to MP4 and store on computer to be used with Adobe Premier Elements. Also, being able to zip the completed file. This product is well worth the price. If I were to suggest any improvement/s, it would be to have the ability to enlarge the viewing screen on my Laptop. I also like being able to use slide adjustments for resolution.

I cannot "unlike" this product enough. I can't imagine how others are satisfied with it; My PC here is virtually brand new and nothing unusual, and I know my way around attaching peripheral hardware and installing software. I have state of the art graphics card, memory, and processor, Win10, and all of my drivers are up to date. This product simply does not work. I have tried connecting it through each of my various USB ports (no extensions or hubs, but directly into the PC); I have swapped out the composite AV cables. I've tried to use it with a VCR (which is in good working order) and a Sharp Camcorder playing 8mm video cassettes. When I play from any source, I can hear the source audio coming from my PC speakers, so I know everything is connected properly. If I pull a yellow V cable, I get the warning to check connections, so I know the device knows when a video signal is coming through it. But, randomly, one of two unusable situations then occurs: 1) The preview screen stays black (no preview) whether I'm trying to record or not, while the source feed is playing, or 2) I will be able to see the source video during preview, as long as it is NOT recording. BUT as soon as I click the software's red RECORD button, a flash of green and then blank screen (and I can still hear the audio from my PC). When I click RECORD, the timer onscreen indicates that it is recording, but this false information. All it ever does is create an empty MPG file of 4 bytes size, no matter how long I let it record. In effect, hitting the RECORD button actually causes the program to IGNORE the video feed coming into it. Bottom line, there is something buggy in the hardware, software, or both. I've spent hours uninstalling, reinstalling, swapping cables, and plugging every USB port I have, to no avail. This was $75 wasted.

This product I recently purchased works very well. I had a bunch of 8mm digital tapes recorded in my Handycam Digital Camcorder from several years ago. Like vacation with family, wedding, sports events etc. I saw this product at Amazon and gave it a try. It comes with the VIDBOX converter Box and Composite cables both RCA and S-Video. Also a USB cable. One End plug it to the VIDBOX Conversion Box and the other to the PC. The RCA Cables which I did not use because my Camcorder has the correct cables. I plugged one end to my Camcorder Audio Video Out. This is a single cable that passes both Audio and Video signals. The other end (Audio left & right and video) to the VIDBOX Conversion Box.Make sure you install the Software Installation CD first.I made a mistake at first by not setting up the aspect ratio correctly. It should be 16.9 for my 8mm digital tapes camcorder and not 4.3. Which is usually for VHS tapes. The Record Volume slider I increase it a little. The Output allows you to Converted To mp4. or leave it as mpg. file. I use it first the mp4. route and it took too long. A tip for those who wanted to convert to mp4. Use instead Windows Movie Maker and or other product that Converts only all formats quickly.The product is very intuitive. Follow the screen to screen instruction and you can not go wrong. I love it. So far I have transferred 5 tapes to my PC.