VHS to DVD - do I need an S-Video VCR?

sullen · Gold Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2000 Location: Lansing, MI

I saw that one too, but really couldn't find enough information on it to know what it did. I am looking for a good combination of equipment that I can use all around. I would love a VCR with TBC and then a good proc amp. There is a dual Studio One on Ebay now, currently $113 with a couple days to go. If I got say a HR-7600 or 9000 that could do some TBC and then the proc amp along with my Detailer IV, I think I would have a good set up. I could use the proc amp for LD stuff too.

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

Speaking of laserdiscs, I just got a used Pioneer DVL-919. This is the last LD player Pioneer made. In fact, there are still some new ones in stock at some of the online retailers. It is a combi DVD/LD/CD player.

I have to say that after a very brief time checking it out, the laserdisc section of this unit is definitely superior to my CLD-D704 (which is considered to be one of the best LD players available). First of all, the blacks are much, much better. The 704 (and other earlier LD players I've used) has a light picture with washed out looking blacks. That's one of the reasons I searched far and wide for a really good proc amp... to correct the blacks from my LD player. This DVL-919 has much more accurate black level, and the quality of the blacks is great - deep and rich with no chroma noise to speak of.

But it gets better... the DVL-919 has a modern 3-line digital comb filter for Y/C separation, and so the s-video output on this machine looks fantastic. The video image is sharper and more detailed than it is with my CLD-D704. The overall picture is more vibrant and has greater depth, too. Anyway, if you are considering getting a laserdisc player or replacing an older one, so far this DVL-919 seems like a really excellent choice.

Dr_Layne · Member Joined: 20 Nov 2002 Location: United States

Thanks for that info Gshelly. I too have a DVL 919 and a CLD D704. I've always assumed the 704's picture was better. I've never really compared the two since they are each connected to different set ups. I'll have to take a closer look at the DLV 919.

Steve

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

The LD section of the DVL-919 has Standard and Cinema output modes (the Cinema mode is darker). The laserdisc video noise reduction can also be defeated if you like. The DVD section has Standard, Animation, and Cinema output modes (the Cinema mode looks the best) and there is a DVD video noise reduction feature, as well. This is a really nice machine! the more I watch it, the better I like it. I think it may be time to do some test caps...

sullen · Gold Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2000 Location: Lansing, MI

I had been watching a couple of the dual machines for a while, the 919 and the 909 because I had a LD player upstairs, but no DVD player. Just like everything else, it came down to an issue of money. A friend gave me a busted XBox that plays DVDs so I had that a while and now have the DR-M10S to watch the occasional DVD so my search sort of stopped there. I am a big fan of Pioneer since getting my DV-C302D player. Thing plays just about anything with the exception of PAL DVD. One other drawback is that it will not play any computer generated AC3, just commercially pressed or AC3 from the DR-M10s. I have tried just about every encoder with no luck. The picture just freezes.

sullen · Gold Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2000 Location: Lansing, MI

P.S.
Let us know where you put the test caps, I would be very interested in seeing them especially if the were of say...a Star Wars LD.

vhelp · ..Semi Neutral.. Joined: 31 Mar 2001 Location: New York

@ gshelley61

Are there any "luma / chroma noise" that you can point me to ??
I'm curious about this issue. I have the CLD-D701 model, and I
have no complaints about this model (nor my other one too)

Thanks,
-vhelp

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

Chroma noise in LD players is apparently dependent on the specific disc being played... some are much better than others. For example, early Star Wars LD's from the mid '80's are not as good as the Definitive Collection CAV LD's. Anyway, chroma noise is most evident in the black areas of some LD's, appearing as faint blue blotches against the black. Also, older LD players exhibit a smearing effect from left to right... if there is a bright object to the left of a dark area, sometimes you will see a translucent streak coming from the right edge of the bright object that is visible against the dark background. Again, some discs have this problem more than others. The DVL-919 does a great job of suppressing this artifact, too.

nzo · Member Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Location: New Zealand

FWIW: I've just purchased a 6 head Sharp VC -H730NZ VCR with so-called Simple S-VHS playback, so I can process a bunch of S-VHS tapes to DV.

It will play back both tape formats and the quality is really nice and very crisp. S-VHS capable machines in the consumer price range appear to be getting as scarce as hen's teeth. This is the only model I found out of dozens of models across all brands.

John

vhelp · ..Semi Neutral.. Joined: 31 Mar 2001 Location: New York

@ gshelley61

Thanks. Then, I don't need to worry, as I'm not suffering from such

I was mearly just curious.

As to the s-vhs machines being available. You're right. They are truely
becoming scares these days. About 2 years ago, I could find them almost
anywheres.
Well, almost. CC had a few models, and I choose the one that was the
lowest at the time ($169) and to me, that was a hefy price, considering
that you could get a decent (non s-vhs) for $39 bucks. Anyways.
.
You can't find them anywheres in stores, unless you go online.

-vhelp

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

Just received the used JVC HR-S9500U with 4MB DigiPure TBC/DNR... I can see why everyone praises the 9600 and 9800. The VHS playback image quality is really impressive on this 9500. The Hi Fi audio is also excellent. This would make a great VHS capture machine, for sure.

BrainStorm69 · Tobor Joined: 05 Aug 2002 Location: Texas, USA

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

Not sure... I'll have to do a side by side to check that out. I can say the Digital R3 feature (enhancement, sharpening) is a bit strong and a little grainy. With the TBC/DNR switched on, this is improved quite a bit and you get a nice overall picture... the kind JVC is known for.

The BR-S378U has a variable sharpening control and switchable DNR, but no TBC. My memory is that the 378 is better (closer to the SR-W5U in output quality), but I'll need to have a look at them both to be sure.

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

Just did a quick comparison... at least on a decent tape I'm familiar with. The 9500 looks a little better than the 378. The TBC/DNR is more effective at removing chroma noise than the filtering in my 378, and I think the picture may be a bit smoother, too. I might suggest shutting off the Digital R3 and using an external enhancer like the SignVideo DR-1000 to sharpen the picture, though.

BrainStorm69 · Tobor Joined: 05 Aug 2002 Location: Texas, USA

Interesting. Thanks. Maybe I should just give up on finding anything better than my HR-S9900U.

hsugawar · Member Joined: 11 Aug 2004

Well, to go back to the thread starter's original question--what's the best way transfer his 300 VHS tapes to DVDs, my best recommendation is to get a good DVD recorder+VHS VCR combo. I am quite happy with my GoVideo VR4940 that even defeats macovision protected commercial tapes.

Here are pros and cons of such a unit:

Pros: Extreme ease of use. Just push a button and VHS is copied to DVD automatically. If a tape has a 2-hour content, it's done in 2 hours. If this were done by a PC with a capturing device, you'd have to manipulate your application before actually burning a DVD and it could take twice as long in total--you have 300 tapes to transter, don't you? How much time can you save?

Cons: Too simple and rigid DVD structure. Dumb simple menu, simple time-based chapter markers, etc. Check VR5940 at http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/Graphics_and_Sound/USB_Video_Capture.htm that offers a lot better "authoring" features.

hiro

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

Update on the Pioneer CLD-D704 vs. the DVL-919 laserdisc player... it appears I was a little too hasty in judging the newer DVL-919 better than the venerable 704. Although the DVL-919 has a very good picture, especially the s-video out into a TV, the CLD-D704 composite out is still sharper and better defined, without as much of a digitally processed look.

My MPEG2 test recordings revealed the 704 did a better job for capturing LD's overall, and worked well with my Vidicraft Detailer III and SignVideo Proc Amp. So, even though the DVL-919 is a really nice machine, I think the 704 is still one of the best LD players ever made. Still, the 919 does a better job of noise reduction and suppressing streaking, so there is a bit of a trade off in that the 704 has a sharper picture, but it is noisier.

BrainStorm69 · Tobor Joined: 05 Aug 2002 Location: Texas, USA

Well, got my HR-S9500U today. Looks to be in excellent shape.

As soon as I get the chance, I'll try hooking it up and comparing it to my HR-S9900U.

portyporty · Member Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Location: New Zealand

Sorry if this post is a bit out of time\sync but I've just joined the forum and began by reading this excellent thread about SVHS, and was impressed with the depth of knowledge that members have about this format.

My problem is that I have two elderly Mitsubishi E-82 SVHS decks (Some countries seem to put an 'HS' in that model number). These were top line prosumer models back when they were new and have performed very well for me.

Both machines (now around 18 - 20 years old) seem to have deteriorated fairly contemporaneously and both units have suddenly developed problems with playing and recording in SVHS mode. SVHS material is unrecordable and unwatchable, although VHS isn't so bad.

My question - does anyone know where I might source new video heads for these machines? I sent one unit to a professional repair depot, and the prognosis of bad heads was theirs. They also said that heads were no longer available for them.

To enable me to carry on with playing my many SVHS tapes (and proceed with converting them to DVD, once I get to grips with this complex issue), I bought the best consumer SVHS machine I could currently find in New Zealand, a JVC HR-S6970. It will probably do at a pinch, but I'd rather get my E82s up and running if I can.

Advice would be welcome, thank you.

Marvingj · Posted: Mar 02, 2006 17:42

Gshelley61, I would love to see caps on the DVL-919 & CLD-D704. I have the Elite CLD-79 and the Picture is in my opinion looks better than some DVD player I've seen. It has Clarity & the black level is superb.