VCR Question?

[s3r19lk1ll3r]

If my VCR has Composite inputs and S-Video output can it really turn Composite to S-Video?

[edDV]

If my VCR has Composite inputs and S-Video output can it really turn Composite to S-Video?

In most cases yes but it won't necessarily increase quality.

All VCRs will separate composite into Y and C. This is what is recorded to tape. But the way they go about it differs.

A cheap VCR (most all VHS models) will low pass filter composite at 3MHz and notch filter 3.58 MHz* subcarrier for C. The higher luminance frequencies are discarded. A more sophisticated S-VHS model (not all) will use a comb filter to separate Y and C. This keeps higher luminance frequencies (picture detail) out to 4.5 MHz.

What is the model number if this VCR?


* 4.43 MHz for PAL.

[usually_quiet]

Well, it will be output as S-Video, in most cases, but the quality of the outgoing video still won't be as good as it would be with an S-Video source. However, if you are lucky, the incoming video will go through a comb filter that reduces the noise associated with a composite source and it will look a little better than it would otherwise.

[jagabo]

And in any case, it will not increase the resolution, remove the time base jitter, or reduce the static noise. It will only reduce dot crawl artifacts.

[s3r19lk1ll3r]

If my VCR has Composite inputs and S-Video output can it really turn Composite to S-Video?

In most cases yes but it won't necessarily increase quality.

All VCRs will separate composite into Y and C. This is what is recorded to tape. But the way they go about it differs.

A cheap VCR (most all VHS models) will low pass filter composite at 3MHz and notch filter 3.58 MHz* subcarrier for C. The higher luminance frequencies are discarded. A more sophisticated S-VHS model (not all) will use a comb filter to separate Y and C. This keeps higher luminance frequencies (picture detail) out to 4.5 MHz.

What is the model number if this VCR?


* 4.43 MHz for PAL.

Thanks. It's LG V-881M. It's actually really old but still usable.

[edDV]

That appears to be a VHS VCR plus DVD player combo. It probably has no comb filter on the VCR input. In many cases, these combo players only output S-Video from the DVD player. You can test this yourself. Play a tape or connect a composite source and see if video is present on the S-Video output.