Which miniDV or Digital 8 cam has the best TBC for transfering videos?

[theaveng]

I've read the answer is JVC GR DVL915U. Are there any others I should consider as superior to that model?

Also:

I'm not clear how the connections should be. Is it Super VHS---> miniDV---> PC? Does the miniDV automagically digitize the video & turn it into DCT codec data?

Would using a HDV cam produce better results? (i.e. more megabits == less macroblocking)

[zoobie]

huh?

[JohnnyMalaria]

Can't help re TBC but for your other questions:

Yes - the S-VHS will be encoded as DV (a DCT-based compression scheme).

No - using an HDV cam won't help. HDV uses *exactly* the same bit rate as DV. DV is pure intraframe compression, HDV is interframe.

[2Bdecided]

...and HDV is HD only - HDV camcorders won't convert an SD input into HDV.

(You could upconvert SD to HD, and then encode to HDV in a PC, but that would be utterly pointless, except to incorporate archive SD into an otherwise HD project)

Cheers,
David.

[edDV]

...and HDV is HD only - HDV camcorders won't convert an SD input into HDV.

(You could upconvert SD to HD, and then encode to HDV in a PC, but that would be utterly pointless, except to incorporate archive SD into an otherwise HD project)

Cheers,
David.

But many HDV camcorders (e.g. Canon HV20/30) can be switched into DV Mode (4:3 or 16:9) out and can be used for SD analog input to DV (IEEE-1394) output. Limitations for the HV20/30 specifically for analog capture include lack of S-Video input (composite only) and as far as I can tell 4:3 support* only. The Sony HVR-Z1U does have S-Video in for SD analog capture as I recall. I've never tested it for 16:9 support*. I don't have capture experience with other HDV models.

The best camcorder I've used for analog to DV capture is the Sony PD-150/170. The VX-2000/2100 is similar.


* This can be fixed in post by changing the DV-AVI file aspect ratio property.

[2Bdecided]

...even the composite input on the HV20 isn't as good as, say, a Canopus ADVC110. The HV20 is more tolerant of bad sources, but it can't get as good quality from good ones.

I know HDV cams capture SD to DV - I was pointing out that they won't upconvert it to HDV. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Cheers,
David.

[theaveng]

Limitations for the HV20/30 specifically for analog capture include lack of S-Video input (composite only) .....

Whatever DVcam I use, it HAS to have S-video input. Composite is crap.

I agree that there's no benefit switching to HDV if it's the same bitrate as DV. For standard definition video, DV codec is probably the best way to go.

[lgh529]

I have an Sony HC7 (HDV format) camera that will record in SD mode, but it has no pass through to convert analog to digital, even in SD mode. It was one of the features that I gave up when going to that camera from my old miniDV cam.

I agree with 2BDecided. About 4 months ago I bought a new Canopus ADVC110 for analog captures and I've been quite impressed with it. And I always use the S-Video input, not composite. I used to have an old ADVC50, but it quit working and Canopus won't support it anymore since it's so old.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Whatever DVcam I use, it HAS to have S-video input. Composite is crap.

Not necessarily. Perhaps if it is because the video equipment is cheap then the composite output can be poor. I've used many very high quality video microscopes where the camera has only composite output (via a single BNC connector). Connected to a professional video monitor via composite input, the image quality is excellent.

Composite = crap usually occurs in consumer equipment because the video electronics have a lower bandwidth, poor separation of luma and modulated chroma etc - i.e., cheap circuit design. The low resolution of VHS recordings isn't because the signal is composite per se. Even a live feed via the composite output from my 1993 Sony FX-525 Video8 cam rivals that from my first DV cam.

If your tapes are VHS, you won't necessarily get better results from the S-Video output of the VCR - depending on the quality of the circuits used.

[theaveng]

Not necessarily. Perhaps if it is because the video equipment is cheap then the composite output can be poor. I've used many very high quality video microscopes where the camera has only composite output (via a single BNC connector). Connected to a professional video monitor via composite input, the image quality is excellent.

It's true that pro equipment can do wonders, but even that can not perfectly separate the black-and-white & color signals. There will always be some overlap of the signals.

IMHO it's better to just use S-video and never mix the two signals.

If your tapes are VHS....

They are not. The format I am using is superior to VHS.

[2Bdecided]

The format I am using is superior to VHS.

So what is it? S-VHS? Then yes, use S-video.

For BetaSP or other component video formats, you need component capture - S-video isn't good enough. Still, if it was BetaSP, you wouldn't be asking about a TBC.

If it's S-video, try a deck with TBC built in and an ADV110. There are, of course, other solutions - whether they're better or worse depends on the situation.

Cheers,
David.

[mw01908]

Simply DV did review of the Canopus 55 where they compared the result with a dv capture using a Sony TRV50 DV camcorder and they thought the Canopus did a better job on a VHS tape as the source.

[slacker]

To answer the original question...
For me, it was the old Canon Optura 1500 DV camcorder which I wish I still owned. It had superb TBC capabilities. All of my 100 or so VHS tapes going back 20+ years converted to perfection.