VideoHelp Forum - Capturing and VCR https://forum.videohelp.com/ Everything about capturing analog TV, S/VHS or Cam using Video cards, TV-Cards, or MJPEG or MPEG1/2/4 hardware realtime capture cards. Also VCR, VHS hardware recording problems. en Sun, 06 Sep 2026 18:21:06 GMT vBulletin 60 https://forum.videohelp.com/images/misc/rss.png VideoHelp Forum - Capturing and VCR https://forum.videohelp.com/ Panasonic DVD recorder strange color issue https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421089-Panasonic-DVD-recorder-strange-color-issue?goto=newpost Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:13:23 GMT Hi, I just got into VHS capture and I got myself a simple setup to start doing my first captures. I have a Panasonic NV-HS820 (S-VHS, no TBC), going to a Panasonic DMR-EH55 as a passthrough device to make the picture more stable (I mainly capture SECAM tapes transcoded by the Panasonic into... Hi,

I just got into VHS capture and I got myself a simple setup to start doing my first captures. I have a Panasonic NV-HS820 (S-VHS, no TBC), going to a Panasonic DMR-EH55 as a passthrough device to make the picture more stable (I mainly capture SECAM tapes transcoded by the Panasonic into PAL), then to a GV-USB2.

I have a strange issue where there are pink blinking lines on the top and bottom of the picture. It only happens with the Panasonic DMR in the capture chain, and usually after around 20–30 min when the Panasonic starts warming up, these artifacts slowly start to appear. I first thought about maybe a capacitor problem with my DMR-EH55, but none are bulged. Would someone have any clue? Here is a short clip showing the problem.
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]]> Capturing and VCR Lololobolosse https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421089-Panasonic-DVD-recorder-strange-color-issue VirtualDub2 Colourspace https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421075-VirtualDub2-Colourspace?goto=newpost Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:13:19 GMT I had an AVI capture via Amarectv (https://www.videohelp.com/software/AmaRecTV) from VHS, which I ran through avisynth (https://www.videohelp.com/software/Avisynth)+ via avspmod (https://www.videohelp.com/software/AvsP). The pixelformat section i left as default, and it came out as Matrix... I had an AVI capture via Amarectv from VHS, which I ran through avisynth+ via avspmod.

The pixelformat section i left as default, and it came out as Matrix coefficients: BT.470 System B/G, which I believe is correct

My second tape came out as 709.

So i put the original tape's capture in and it also now shows as 709 in the UI.

Question is, from YUV422 source, to YUV420 output, does the pixel format's source/actual output, colour space="no change" actually do anything?
and does it actually convert if you pick something different to source, or does it just apply the tag?

And why does it think my source is now 709 and not 601?

If you need more information, happy to provide!

Thanks, Dave ]]> Capturing and VCR wcndave2 https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421075-VirtualDub2-Colourspace panasonic DMR EH-595 - remove/replace HDD https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421074-panasonic-DMR-EH-595-remove-replace-HDD?goto=newpost Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:19:55 GMT I have Panasonic DMR EH-595 for VHS to DVD recording.
Drive inside is 3.5'' 250GB Hitachi HCS5C3225SLA380

First: I'm not sure how to remove HDD from recorder
It's look like standard SATA but smaller cable is labeled molex, and bigger cable is labeled SATA.
I'm not sure how to unscrew HDD.

Later I'd like to:
1. Connect HDD to PC to check state with Crystal Disk Info
2. Put bigger HDD inside recorder. I have empty HGST' 1tb HTS541010B7E610?
Will that 2.5'' drive work inside recorder? OR does it have specific Requirements
3. I'm wondering can I transfer recordings to PC without burning to DVDs on recorder?

Regards

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[Attachment 93623 - Click to enlarge] ]]> Capturing and VCR SmurfRecorder https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421074-panasonic-DMR-EH-595-remove-replace-HDD Anyone in Europe with the recommended devices to capture VHS? https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421073-Anyone-in-Europe-with-the-recommended-devices-to-capture-VHS?goto=newpost Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:50:48 GMT I have browsed the threads here about the recommended devices and methods to capture VHS. I have a factory music VHS that would be worth capturing, the quality seems to be quite good. But I only have an old low grade player here at home and and EasyCAP card. Is there anyone here from Europe who has... I have browsed the threads here about the recommended devices and methods to capture VHS. I have a factory music VHS that would be worth capturing, the quality seems to be quite good. But I only have an old low grade player here at home and and EasyCAP card. Is there anyone here from Europe who has a TBC/DNR player and a good capture card? If anyone has those and could capture the VHS for me, I would send it over in case I am not satisfied with the capture service locally. ]]> Capturing and VCR Bencuri https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421073-Anyone-in-Europe-with-the-recommended-devices-to-capture-VHS Aspect Ratios 101 https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421072-Aspect-Ratios-101?goto=newpost Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:54:07 GMT I have read a lot of posts about this and came to a conclusion as to how it worked, however after using that to transfer a VHS I did some measurements on an item on the screen which I "believe" to be a circle, however it's not proven... which made me question my conclusions.

So I read various articles again, and came up with another possibility...

Here are my workings, can anyone confirm if they are correct or not?

Conclusion 1
  • Captured VHS is 720x576
  • PAR is 16:15 so it's stretched to 768x576 = 4:3
  • The left and right 8px are not meant to be part of the picture - only the middle 704 should contain the image
  • Even inside that "margin", there's black borders and head noise
  • CRTs used to overscan by more than the 8 each side, resulting in a clean picture

Conclusion 2
  • Captured VHS is 720x576
  • First we need to discard left/right 8px to get to 704x576
  • PAR is 12:11 so it's stretched to 768x576 = 4:3
  • Even inside that "margin", there's black borders and head noise
  • CRTs used to overscan resulting in a clean picture

I guess the only difference between the two, is do we discard the 16px of width and then stretch to 4:3, or stretch the 720 as it is?

After that we can crop (in the same 4:3 ratio of course), and/or letterbox to remove/hide noise as we like - the AR will be correct.

I thought it was option 2 based on reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixel_aspect_ratio

However here's why I started to doubt myself:

I took a capture and played in VLC, took a screengrab of a frame with a round logo on it with the VLC aspect ration set to default. Then set the AR to 4:3 and took another. Then I cropped to 704, and stretched to 768 and took another.

The first screenshot was clearly taller than wide as expected.
The second one looks spot on
The third is wider than it is tall...

Any confirmation of which approach is correct would be much appreciated!

Thanks, Dave ]]> Capturing and VCR wcndave2 https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421072-Aspect-Ratios-101 USB Capture Devices (online info sparse on these models) https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421066-USB-Capture-Devices-%28online-info-sparse-on-these-models%29?goto=newpost Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:50:38 GMT Hello... Trying to create a lossless digitizing chain for VHS cassettes. The original discussion is here: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420889-Problems-Digitizing-VHS-Cassettes In this thread, the following devices were recommended as part of that chain: • GV-USB2 Hello...

Trying to create a lossless digitizing chain for VHS cassettes. The original discussion is here:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420889-Problems-Digitizing-VHS-Cassettes

In this thread, the following devices were recommended as part of that chain:

• GV-USB2

• USB-Live2

• 710-USB

The 710-USB I could find nothing useful on at all. I can only find the GV-USB2 eBay, I think it was the USB-Live2 that I found on Amazon. I can find precious little else in terms of information or purchasing.

Can anyone point me to where I could get a little more info so I could at least compare the devices and then make a purchasing decision?

Thank you. ]]> Capturing and VCR Kong https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421066-USB-Capture-Devices-%28online-info-sparse-on-these-models%29 1996 Hi8 cassettes black white with green and purple stripes https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421058-1996-Hi8-cassettes-black-white-with-green-and-purple-stripes?goto=newpost Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:03:54 GMT Hi,

I'm digitizing 8 mm tapes from 1996 with an E300 camcorder and USB grabber. The picture is black and white with green and purple stripes, but pressing stop and play temporarily restores the color before it reverts to black and white with stripes again. Some parts are colorful though. Sometimes there is just a single block green stripe on the top.

What settings or troubleshooting do you recommend? A more expensive grabber? Tried to clean inside with alcohol, no residues at all what makes me wonder actually. I have tried two different laptops too.

Thank you!
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]]> Capturing and VCR Hera https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421058-1996-Hi8-cassettes-black-white-with-green-and-purple-stripes <![CDATA[Capture from old 1" master tape to ProRes - more patterning throughout]]> https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421050-Capture-from-old-1-master-tape-to-ProRes-more-patterning-throughout?goto=newpost Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:59:00 GMT Oops, obviously meant moiré pattern.

I've seen a similar thing before when a VHS tape was captured from an S-VHS deck with incorrect settings.

Any suggestions? Here's a close-up sample.

]]> Capturing and VCR TenementLady https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421050-Capture-from-old-1-master-tape-to-ProRes-more-patterning-throughout Transferring Hi8 tapes to DVD HDD recorder https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421044-Transferring-Hi8-tapes-to-DVD-HDD-recorder?goto=newpost Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:17:04 GMT I am attempting to transfer some 1990s Hi8 video cassetes. They were recorded on a Sony CCD TR707E Hi8 camcorder. The original camcorder packed up a long time ago but I recently obtained a second hand replacement - exact same model. I am attempting to transfer them to a Panasonic DMR EX773 DVD... I am attempting to transfer some 1990s Hi8 video cassetes.
They were recorded on a Sony CCD TR707E Hi8 camcorder. The original camcorder packed up a long time ago but I recently obtained a second hand replacement - exact same model.
I am attempting to transfer them to a Panasonic DMR EX773 DVD HDD Recorder that is connected to TV.

Good news is that when playing my old cassettes in camcorder they seem to be playing perfect when viewed in the viewfinder (the camcorder has no screen - just the viewfinder - par for the course at the time of manufacture). Picture is clear, no noticeable deterioration of recordings, good stability etc.

However, when I connect to the DVD Recorder (3xRCA out of camcorder into Scart on back of DVD Recorder), and view on TV, the picture appears somewhat scrambled - pic shaky in places, horizontal lines on picture and some black square blocks to right side of picture. (tried using S video cable and was even worse)

I do not believe this is a tape issue, as looked fine on camcorder viewfinder. I also did all obvious things like cleaned heads, FF and REWIND cassettes several times, etc, prior to starting work. Additionally, in all other respects the camcorder I am using seems to be working fine. However, I did check what happened if I put it onto camera mode (rather than playback) and used DVD Recorder and TV as a monitor. Again, the viewfinder image looked clear but the image on screen had lines etc.

Another trick I tried was routing the camcorder through an old VHS machine, and from that into the DVD Recorder. This gave an improvement but still by no means acceptable (less horizontal lines and no black blocks, but still some fuzzy black to right of picture).

Any advice appreciated. Do I have a fatal issue with the video output from the camcorder here (should add that audio is fine) and need to look for another one, or is there anything else I can try?

Should I try using a A/V converter and then going into HDMI input on DVD Recorder rather than scart? Or perhpas transfering to a PC rather than a DVD Recorder?

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give ]]> Capturing and VCR gary71 https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421044-Transferring-Hi8-tapes-to-DVD-HDD-recorder Hi8 capture without camcorder? https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421039-Hi8-capture-without-camcorder?goto=newpost Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:24:19 GMT I’ve got a couple of Hi8 tapes that I want to capture but unfortunately no camcorder, only a miniDV one. I thought that I could remember some sort of tape adapter thing that you could insert the Hi8 tape into and then play on a vcr but that apparently isn’t a thing. Is there any way to capture... I’ve got a couple of Hi8 tapes that I want to capture but unfortunately no camcorder, only a miniDV one. I thought that I could remember some sort of tape adapter thing that you could insert the Hi8 tape into and then play on a vcr but that apparently isn’t a thing.

Is there any way to capture these things at home without a camcorder? ]]> Capturing and VCR Leanoric https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421039-Hi8-capture-without-camcorder MiniDV in 2026: How Are You Keeping Your Setup Alive? https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421034-MiniDV-in-2026-How-Are-You-Keeping-Your-Setup-Alive?goto=newpost Tue, 25 Aug 2026 03:51:18 GMT Hi everyone, :D

I wanted to share a frustrating situation I've been dealing with recently and also ask about your experiences maintaining MiniDV and HDV digitization setups over the years.

At the moment, I own nine MiniDV/HDV camcorders. Out of all of them, only two are currently being recognized properly through FireWire by my computer and ScenalyzerLive:

* Samsung SC-D903 (NTSC)
* Samsung SC-D371 (NTSC)

Both cameras connect and work correctly over FireWire, but unfortunately neither one can play PAL tapes.

I also have a Sony DCR-HC20 NTSC that plays both PAL and NTSC tapes without any problem, but for some reason I haven't been able to get it recognized through FireWire.

Some of the other cameras may simply have faults. These are old machines with mechanical parts, and eventually things fail. However, the situation that surprised me the most involves two Sony HDR-HC9 HDV camcorders.

I have two identical HDR-HC9 units, and I used both of them extensively while always taking proper care of them. They were incredibly useful: they could play PAL and NTSC material, handle both DV and HDV, and they were also the only cameras that ScenalyzerLive didn't identify as just a generic DV device. The software actually recognized the exact camera model.

They were also my main solution for capturing HDV.

Now, both HDR-HC9 cameras have exactly the same problem: they play tapes perfectly, including both PAL and NTSC, but I can't get any FireWire connection from either of them.

One alternative I'm considering is using the component output and capturing it with my Blackmagic Intensity Pro cards using a lossless codec. As an alternative to FireWire, is this a viable option, or would the quality loss from the D/A and A/D conversion be significant enough to avoid it?

That's what made me want to start this discussion.

For those of you who have been digitizing MiniDV and HDV for many years: how are you keeping your setups alive?

I understand that these devices have a limited lifespan. There are tape transports, motors, heads, connectors, capacitors, and other components that can eventually fail. But for anyone doing this professionally or semi-professionally, it seems almost inevitable that we have to keep buying used cameras and decks whenever we find a good deal, knowing that at some point we'll probably need them.

That's basically what I've been doing. Whenever I see a suitable second-hand camera at a reasonable price, I consider buying it as a backup or future replacement.

The frustrating part is that right now, out of nine cameras, I effectively have only two that are working for FireWire capture—and neither one can handle PAL.

Since I live in Argentina, that is a real limitation. A lot of MiniDV material here was recorded using NTSC camcorders, especially imported consumer models, but PAL tapes still appear regularly enough that I need to be able to handle both standards.

I've been digitizing DV material for several years. At one point, I completed a fairly large archival project involving roughly 300 MiniDV tapes from a library collection. For that project, I used consumer camcorders, including a Sony DCR-HC52 that turned out to be surprisingly reliable and performed very well.

So I'm not new to DV capture, but this recent experience has made me realize how fragile my equipment situation actually is. I don't really have a guaranteed playback chain anymore.

I'm also curious about what everyone thinks about FireWire itself in 2026, heading into 2027.

Years ago, I used regular PCI FireWire cards. As I upgraded my computers, I moved to PCI Express FireWire cards, and overall I haven't had major problems with the cards themselves.

But FireWire can definitely be temperamental. Those of you using ScenalyzerLive probably know the routine: sometimes you have to turn the camera off, reconnect the cable, restart the software, power the camera back on, disconnect everything, and try again until the device finally appears.

Once it works, it's fantastic. A direct digital transfer from DV or HDV is exactly what we want.

So I'd really like to hear about your current experiences digitizing MiniDV and HDV. What equipment are you using these days? How are you dealing with aging cameras, failing FireWire ports, and the increasing difficulty of finding reliable playback hardware?

I'd especially be interested in hearing how people who still work with these formats are keeping their setups running and what long-term strategies you've developed.

Thanks! ]]> Capturing and VCR Ferggue https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421034-MiniDV-in-2026-How-Are-You-Keeping-Your-Setup-Alive Philips VR999 playing the tapes in slow motion https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421031-Philips-VR999-playing-the-tapes-in-slow-motion?goto=newpost Mon, 24 Aug 2026 07:34:22 GMT Image
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Hello there!
After playing a tape and fast-forwarding it, this model stopped playing the tape normally; now the video seems to be dragging. I guess something happened to the gears or belts underneath.

This had happened before, but as I tested the tapes, it went back to normal. I was cautious and hadn't fast-forwarded or rewound on this model since then—until yesterday!

Damn. The problem is back again, and now, no matter how much I try testing the tapes, it just won't go back to normal again!


Well, I'm thinking about removing the tape tray myself to check the gears underneath. I've already been told I need to replace the belts.

I saw a Brazilian guy do this on YouTube; it doesn't seem too difficult. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dUZ8XlyZkM)

But I’d appreciate it if anyone could give me some tips or advice on what to watch out for as I try to fix this problem myself. ]]> Capturing and VCR Litaiff https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421031-Philips-VR999-playing-the-tapes-in-slow-motion LG V281 DVD/VCR Combo USB Capture Card strange problem https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421026-LG-V281-DVD-VCR-Combo-USB-Capture-Card-strange-problem?goto=newpost Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:56:38 GMT Hi folks, As in the title, I have a LG V281 dvd/vcr combo, and I use a Roxio VHS-Dvd Capture device. I use Virtualdub (https://www.videohelp.com/software/Virtualdub) 1.10.4, and when I go video-preview (in capture mode) I get the dvd video logo, and I get nothing from the vcr. I recorded about... Hi folks,
As in the title, I have a LG V281 dvd/vcr combo, and I use a Roxio VHS-Dvd Capture device.

I use Virtualdub 1.10.4, and when I go video-preview (in capture mode) I get the dvd video logo, and I get nothing from the vcr. I recorded about 3 minutes of a tape and only got audio, so it does read the vcr, but display from the vcr is missing.

I tried all sorts on the remote, switching between dvd and vcr and nothing. It plays a tape fine on a tv.

Very strange.

Would appreciate any assistance.
Thanks in advance. ]]> Capturing and VCR VHS-Digital-Buddy https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/421026-LG-V281-DVD-VCR-Combo-USB-Capture-Card-strange-problem Overall recommendations ? https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420995-Overall-recommendations?goto=newpost Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:59:53 GMT Hi folks,
First post here.

I've entered the world of VHS to Digital capture, and it's daunting, but also exciting.

However, I'm trying to find a thread for overall recommendations for the best capture quality of a VHS to Digital, which includes hardware and software, but cannot find it. Or maybe I'm missing something.

Is there such a thread ?

Thanks for any help
Buddy ]]> Capturing and VCR VHS-Digital-Buddy https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420995-Overall-recommendations VHS freezes during DV passthrough capture https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420973-VHS-freezes-during-DV-passthrough-capture?goto=newpost Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:04:58 GMT Hi everyone,

I'm trying to troubleshoot an intermittent freezing problem while digitizing VHS tapes, and I'd appreciate some advice on whether this is likely a sync/TBC issue or something else in my analog-to-DV workflow.

Current setup:

- VHS playback from a VCR/DVD combo
- Composite RCA video/audio out from the VCR
- The RCA cables connect to the camcorder through the camcorder's 3.5mm A/V input jack (headphone-style mini jack) using the appropriate RCA-to-3.5mm A/V cable
- Camcorder performs analog-to-DV passthrough
- DV/i.LINK output from camcorder via FireWire
- FireWire into an older iMac
- Capture using iMovie '11 (version 9.0.4)

I have tried this with two different camcorders as the analog-to-DV converter:

- Sony DCR-TRV460 Digital8
- Canon ZR60 MiniDV

The symptom is the same with both.

While the VHS is playing, the video displayed through/on the camcorder continues to play normally, but the video in the iMovie import window will occasionally freeze on one frame for a period of time. iMovie records the freeze exactly as it appears. The VHS tape and VCR continue running normally while this happens.

Importantly, the freezes are not repeatable at particular locations on the VHS tape. I can play the exact same section twice and it might freeze at different places, or the second capture may not freeze at all.

I have also tried another VCR with the same result.

One particularly useful test: if I play an actual Digital8 recording in the Sony DCR-TRV460 and import it through the same FireWire connection into the same iMac/iMovie setup, it does NOT freeze. Native Digital8 → FireWire capture works normally.

So at this point:

- Digital8 tape → Sony TRV460 → FireWire → iMovie = OK
- VHS → Sony TRV460 analog input → DV passthrough → FireWire → iMovie = random freezes
- VHS → Canon ZR60 analog input → DV passthrough → FireWire → iMovie = random freezes
- Different VCR → same problem

This makes me wonder whether small VHS timing/sync errors are occasionally causing the camcorders' analog-to-DV converters to lose lock, even though the analog picture itself appears to be playing normally.

I'm also considering a different experiment: instead of doing live DV passthrough to the computer, record the VHS analog input onto a Digital8 tape in the TRV460 first, then rewind that D8 tape and transfer it to the Mac over FireWire. Since direct Digital8 → FireWire capture is already stable, I'm curious whether recording to D8 first might avoid whatever is happening during live passthrough.

My eventual goal is archival capture followed by restoration/upscaling in Topaz Video AI, so maintaining as much of the original VHS information as reasonably possible is important.

A few things I'd particularly appreciate opinions on:

- Does this behavior sound like VHS time-base/sync instability, even though the freezes occur at different places on successive plays?
- Could the Sony/Canon analog-to-DV converters be losing sync and repeating/freeze-framing until they regain a valid signal?
- Is VHS → record to Digital8 → FireWire transfer worth trying instead of live analog-to-DV passthrough?
- Would recording to Digital8 first introduce any meaningful additional generation loss compared with the Sony doing the same DV encoding during live passthrough?
- If the goal is later restoration in Topaz, would you recommend abandoning DV altogether and capturing VHS through a different lossless/4:2:2 workflow?

Finally, I've seen the existing VideoHelp discussions about using Panasonic DVD recorders as passthrough devices, particularly the DMR-ES10, DMR-ES15 and DMR-ES25, along with discussions of the appropriate passthrough settings.

Given the problem I'm seeing, would it be simpler just to go with that established setup:
- VCR → Panasonic DMR-ES10/ES15/ES25 → Sony TRV460 → FireWire → iMovie

Would one of those Panasonic units likely stabilize the signal enough to prevent these freezes? If so, which of the ES10, ES15 or ES25 would you choose for this particular setup, and which passthrough settings should I use? Or, given what I've already tested, is there a better capture approach you would recommend before I buy additional hardware?

Thanks! P.S. I’m especially interested in figuring out where the frozen frames are actually being generated before replacing the capture setup or investing in additional equipment. ]]> Capturing and VCR northridgemedia https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/420973-VHS-freezes-during-DV-passthrough-capture