Horizontal distortion on upper part, flickering;

[Zetti]

Hi all,

I have been transfering some old VHS tapes to the HDD, some are OK, while on others there's some distortion on video, at the upper part, the screen doesn't get perfect stabilized, some horizontal flickering;

Is it a limitation (problem ?) of the VCR or the capture card (AiW 8500DV) ?

As I said, some tapes are OK, others have this problem.
I admit dropping more money on this, but I don't know if I should look for a newer VCR or capture card;

BTW, I have a PHILIPS HiFi 6-head Stereo VCR - not "so" used....

Any opinions ?

Should a TBC help ?

Thanks,

Zetti

[Tommyknocker]

How large is the distortion? If it is at the very top of your screen, it sounds like overscan, a common phenomemoncaused by the rotating video heads. The are position that way to be off screen of most TV sets, so there nothing to do. If you like, there are programs that can crop it off, but id you plan on running the video on a TV, it is not necessary.

[Zetti]

How large is the distortion? If it is at the very top of your screen, it sounds like overscan, a common phenomemoncaused by the rotating video heads. The are position that way to be off screen of most TV sets, so there nothing to do. If you like, there are programs that can crop it off, but id you plan on running the video on a TV, it is not necessary.

Yes, it's at the very top, you're correct;

When I play the tape on the VCR and watch on TV, it's OK, but when I capture to the HDD, it's there, and as expected it appears on the DVD-R (obviously)

Why doesn't the TV "feel" it ?

Yes, I plan burning on DVD and watch it on TV.....

I've made a try using another VCR, and it's still there....if it's a problem on VCR heads, buying a new old should solve it ? But I must say that my VCR isn't old at all;
It only happens to older VHS tapes.....what do you call exactly as crop ? To cut the upper part ? Well, thanks, but it should make the video too strange.....

Any guess ?

Thanks so much,

Zetti

[Tommyknocker]

There is nothing wrong with your video. It is the roating heads that cause it, so the VHS engineers designed it so it will be displayed off your TV screen.

If you burn the cideo onto a DVD and watch it on your TV, it will not be visible.

To clip, or crop, is cutting of the part you do not want.

[barrybear]

The deck mechanics of older VHS decks can introduce just this sort of distortion, infact if you look at the picture on a old tv you will see the whole screen bend in a sort of old S twist. The tv has an horizontal timbase ossilator that is stabalised by the flyweel sync circuit . This circuit can be fine tunned to remove the twist hence you do not see it on your TV never the less it is there and I would sujest you use a player that can deal with the poor off tape FM signal that you have on your tapes.

Barrybear

[Zetti]

Tommy,

Thanks for your message;

There is nothing wrong with your video. It is the roating heads that cause it, so the VHS engineers designed it so it will be displayed off your TV screen.

If you burn the cideo onto a DVD and watch it on your TV, it will not be visible.

WRONG - IT IS THERE !!!

Following your though, it would appear in ALL VHS, but it happens only with older ones;

Any opinions ?

Thanks,

Zetti

[Zetti]

The deck mechanics of older VHS decks can introduce just this sort of distortion, infact if you look at the picture on a old tv you will see the whole screen bend in a sort of old S twist. The tv has an horizontal timbase ossilator that is stabalised by the flyweel sync circuit . This circuit can be fine tunned to remove the twist hence you do not see it on your TV never the less it is there and I would sujest you use a player that can deal with the poor off tape FM signal that you have on your tapes.

Barrybear

Thanks, do you mean that the VCR is responsible for that ?

Should I buy a new one ? Any specific suggestion please ?

I tried with Sony and Phillips VCR's, both are say 5 or 6 years old;

You're correct when you say about the poor signal on the tapes, it only happens with old ones, but I'd really like to try a VCR or Capture card that should compensate it properly;

Thanks,

Zetti