Rescue Your Videotapes [Old Version]

by Magix Entertainment

Product Features

• Product #: MGXCD99005WI
• Manufacturer: Magix Entertainment
• Manufacturer Item #: 990052
• UPC: 639191990052

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001IAZVBO
• Item model number: 990052
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 15, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,743 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)

Product Description

Your precious video recordings are being menaced by dangers at every turn! Fortunately the Rescue Your Videotapes! package from MAGIX can back up your valuable memories in a flash on your PC or on DVD. Just connect your video device to the included USB video converter start MAGIX movies on DVD 7 and import your valuable recordings. The rescue package is suitable for VHS as well as all other tape formats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magix Rocks!!!, April 11, 2009

By 

Jerry J (Boise, ID USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rescue Your Videotapes [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

If you use a Windows XP Service Pack 3 computer, please know that installation of this device involves two (2) steps:

1. Go to http://www.magix.com and browse to the RESCUE YOUR VIDEOTAPES product page and download the newest USB driver for Windows XP Service Pack 3 and then unzip and install the driver WITH NO USB DEVICES attached to your computer. This will install about half of the driver.

2. Next, insert the CD that ships with your RESCUE YOUR VIDEOTAPES device into your computer's disc drive and -- then -- connect your RESCUE YOUR VIDEOTAPES USB capture device to your computer. Decline the option to connect to WINDOWS UPDATE then click CONTINUE and the next dialogue will ask if you want Windows to install the second half of the driver AUTOMATICALLY. Choose the AUTOMATIC install option. Then you should see everything install smoothly. Click Finish.

The competing Canopus Firewire ADVC-55 ($200) is another great capture device and I use that at work. But the Canopus device seems too expensive for me to buy for home use. So I bought this Magix device instead because I've had good luck with Magix multimedia products and the Magix device cost less than $50.

My computer is weak. It has a 2.4GHz AMD Athlon 64 processor and 1.5GB of memory. Yet, I'm still able to open Windows Movie Maker and capture directly to .WMV format -- without loss of audio/video synchronization -- and without frame drops. Since my purpose for this device was to convert old VHS cassette material to a digital format, I'm not that concerned about pristine quality. The quality of my captures, however, is surprisingly good... on a par with the quality of the captures from the Canopus device. I'm definitely pleased with the performance of this Magix device. It works perfectly well and I can't complain about the price. The CD that ships with this item contains some bonus Magix capture and DVD authoring software, which I chose not to install because I already own Magix Movie Edit Pro 14 Plus, which also supports this device.

Pay careful attention to the Windows XP Service Pack 3 issue because I previously ordered a Diamond VC500 USB device and tried to install that on my Windows XP Service Pack 3 computer using the driver that Diamond provided on the CD that shipped with the device and it wrecked my Windows installation and I had to reinstall Windows and all of my programs to clean up the mess. I recommend that you always use Acronis or some other type of program to "image" your computer before installing these types of devices so that you can restore your computer in the event of an installation snafu.

Another minor plus regarding the MAGIX device: It looks cool. It's red and white in color with a big MAGIX logo. It comes with one of those extension video cables with the yellow, white and red RCA plugs on each end.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars an absolute waste of money, August 16, 2009

By 

Niccolo65 (Aberdeenshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rescue Your Videotapes [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

First of all, the instruction booklet in the box doesn't match the programme once you boot it up. What use is that? Secondly, the scart/phono cable is cheap and nasty - mine broke after a couple of hours. Thirdly, the program doesn't work - the audio & video just won't sync up. All in all, a total rip off. Don't go near this appalling product.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I wanted, August 28, 2009

By 

KlausAusDerFlasche (zu Hause) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rescue Your Videotapes [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

I do not understand why some people have a problem with Rescue your Videotapes.

I ordered it (guess why) from Amazon - thanks for the fast shipping - three weeks ago and it is still working ;-)

All joking aside "Rescue your Videotapes" does exactly what it promises - rescuing your tapes but of course it cannot work wonders.
That means if your tapes are in a really bad condition it will be even harder to rescue them.

How does the whole thing start?

-install Rescue your Videotapes
-connect everything that has to be connected (hint: the included hardware is indeed not some high-end stuff but it is working perfectly if you treat it well)
-insert your videotape and let the software practically do the rest - what means that you're well guided through the rescuing process and every step is explained.

You can correct some of the damage which arises by the reason of time but if it is too blurry or to wiggly its almost impossible to fix it.

+easy to use
+some extra functions (not only digitizing some editing options too)