What YouTubers Do You Watch? (VCR talk, Transfers, or just old tech)
 

Good morning, afternoon, or evening! YouTube has no lack of content regarding VCR transfer methods, but the moment one of them hook up a yellow cable to a capture card, I feel like I'm probably wasting my time.

My personal goal is to transfer some home video to digital for archival purposes, then make a copy to play around with enhancement software like Topaz.

Ultimately I'd like to do this as a side hustle or maybe business, if the workflow is efficient enough.

On this journey I'm coming across a lot of creators and some good (and not so good) content. One British guy has a transfer service that seems to be using composite and El Gato products in a seemingly very successful business. (Makes me wonder if I'm going about this all wrong!)

But generally, I'd like to see more content on the business side of things, restoration of old hardware, and software recommendations.

Somewhat unrelated, but the 8-Bit guy's arcade (Time Rift) has some awesome guys on their channel with lots of arcade restoration. I'd love something in that style in repairing VCRs!

Welcome. :)

I will reply later, but wanted to respond this real quick:
That guys is an idiot. I forget his name off-hand, but he's in Arizona. He knowingly provides bad work for clients, and is a smug SOB. Many others, and on many sites, crap all over that guy, and deservedly so. If you watch his channel, you get dumber and misinformed.

Consider this: His place always looks empty, and he has lots of time to make Youtube videos. :hmm:

I will reply again...

Well there is Phil Thomas from GotMemories located in Phoenix, Arizona, he is the one that uses Elgatos (with the built in software, even worse the Mac version) hooked up to rows upon rows of consumer dvd combo units and/or other consumer VCRs using nothing but composite. No TBC (or even TBC like device) in sight.

Same deal with Sean from Emerald Coast Digitizing. Perhaps Sean got inspired by the success of Phil..

But what British user are you talking about OP? The only one I'm aware of is Collin from video.99.co.uk but he is respected and is leagues better than those other two.

Yep, that's who I was referring to. :congrats:

I actually forgot his name (because, to me, he's a nobody). I just remembered that he's an "English-speaking foreigner".

Now that you reminded of his name, I listened to him for a few seconds. He's either Australian, New Zealander, or South African. But some people will mistake that as a British accent. I didn't listen for very long, I don't want to hear his BS.

Regardless, he's a bottom-feeder of the video world. His own on-screen video samples look awful. Anybody that listens to him gets dumber, anybody that follows his advice makes garbage quality conversions. He's not much better than the other "cattle shoot" companies like LegacyBox. Nobody is monitoring anything, zero care is given to the conversion work.

When it comes to Youtube, any asshole can upload a video -- and many of them do! :laugh:

I noticed he is now hiding the Elcrapo under the counter, and maximizing the preview window so you can't see the software interface.

Anyway, Probnot's Tech does a lot of videos about VCRs, and other assorted vintage electronics:
https://www.youtube.com/@probnotstech

TheMaritimeGirl works for a TV station in Canada, and makes videos about a lot of vintage broadcast/professional AV gear:
https://www.youtube.com/@themaritimegirl

Huh, decided to look him up and it turns out Phil does indeed hail from England, so OP thinking he is British makes sense. As he is, I just didn't think he was because he's no longer living in the UK.

Anyway in terms of YouTubers who review/talk about old tech, I do tend to watch some videos from VWestlife as well as MichaelMJD

Granted Michael specializes more so in vintage computers and the like, not so much vintage analog equipment.

Yep, that's the guy I was talking about! I checked out the guys you recommended as well and subbed them.

I have watched a decent amount of Probnot's stuff as well and had already subbed to him - great channel!

Ever seen Restofix's stuff? Absolutely insane!