Capturing VHS That's Recorded In EP Mode

[J3M]

I'm trying to capture some old home movies that were unfortunately recorded in EP mode. The video goes from dark to extremely bright on a constant basis. I'm currently using a Sima GoDVD (yeah, I know it's not the best, but it works just fine if the video is recorded in SP). So my question is, would a more expensive TBC correct this? Something like the TBC-1000? I'm going to be purchasing a better TBC anyway and am only using the Sima until I make that purchase. Thanks for any input.

BTW, my current VCR is a JVC HR-3900U SVHS unit. I'm in the process of purchasing a JVC SR-S10U Pro model, which I hope will also help.

[Sam Ontario]

....
BTW, my current VCR is a JVC HR-3900U SVHS unit. I'm in the process of purchasing a JVC SR-S10U Pro model, which I hope will also help.

No! It won't help.

[FulciLives]

I'm trying to capture some old home movies that were unfortunately recorded in EP mode. The video goes from dark to extremely bright on a constant basis. I'm currently using a Sima GoDVD (yeah, I know it's not the best, but it works just fine if the video is recorded in SP). So my question is, would a more expensive TBC correct this? Something like the TBC-1000? I'm going to be purchasing a better TBC anyway and am only using the Sima until I make that purchase. Thanks for any input.

BTW, my current VCR is a JVC HR-3900U SVHS unit. I'm in the process of purchasing a JVC SR-S10U Pro model, which I hope will also help.

That sounds a lot like macrovision copy protection. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless these EP mode VHS videos were copied from a video source with Macrovision such as a prerecord VHS or a commerical DVD video.

Do these videos exhibit the problem you mentioned when played back on a VCR connected directly to a television (with either S-Video or composite video connectors) or only when you try to copy/capture them?

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[J3M]

Why won't the SR-V10U help?

I guess it does sound a lot like Macrovision, but these are home movies shot with an old VHS camcorder and then copied (albeit on cheap equipment) in EP mode. I'm leaning towards it being the Sima that is having problems correcting the video stream. These tapes look OK if played directly to a TV. They still don't look great, but the problem I'm having isn't present at least. The 3900U does a good job of stabilizing the video, however, so again I think it might be that crappy Sima GoDVD.

The irony is that I had an old commercial VHS tape that I captured just fine, no Macrovision problems whatsoever.

[FulciLives]

Why won't the SR-V10U help?

I guess it does sound a lot like Macrovision, but these are home movies shot with an old VHS camcorder and then copied (albeit on cheap equipment) in EP mode. I'm leaning towards it being the Sima that is having problems correcting the video stream. These tapes look OK if played directly to a TV. They still don't look great, but the problem I'm having isn't present at least. The 3900U does a good job of stabilizing the video, however, so again I think it might be that crappy Sima GoDVD.

The irony is that I had an old commercial VHS tape that I captured just fine, no Macrovision problems whatsoever.

Well have you tried to capture these video by hooking the output of the VCR directly to your capture card/device and eliminating the Sima unit from the loop?

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[babyboo]

FulciLives...I love your new avatar!

[J3M]

Well have you tried to capture these video by hooking the output of the VCR directly to your capture card/device and eliminating the Sima unit from the loop?

Yes I have, and it was ten times worse than without the Sima. At least with the Sima the picture isn't jumping around all over the place. It seems mandatory to have a video sync device or the picture looks horrible when hooked directly to my capture card.

[FulciLives]

Well have you tried to capture these video by hooking the output of the VCR directly to your capture card/device and eliminating the Sima unit from the loop?

Yes I have, and it was ten times worse than without the Sima. At least with the Sima the picture isn't jumping around all over the place. It seems mandatory to have a video sync device or the picture looks horrible when hooked directly to my capture card.

I expected as much (in terms of jumpyness etc.) but was the OTHER problem per your original post gone or still there?

I suggest that if it is gone when not using the Sima then a full fledged TBC should be fine (such as the DataVideo TBC-1000) but if the alternating darkness/bright is still there even without the Sima then doubtfull that the DataVideo TBC will help.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[BrainStorm69]

My experience has been that ATI AIW cards need a really good source, or they will f'up the capture. It sounds like your SIMA is helping, but just not enough. I don't have many problems with my AIW now that I have both a JVC with built-in TBC (HR-S9900U) and the SIMA color corrector. The JVC makes the bigger difference of the two as far as stability of the video signal goes.

EDIT Note that my JVC does have a problem playing back homemade VHS-C tapes for capture. Even with the TBC on, the picture is jittery and sometimes rolls. I use one of my Sony's with the Color Corrector when I capture home-shot VHS.

[J3M]

Well, to be honest, the picture is so bad without the Sima that I'm not really sure if the dark to bright problem is present or not. I'm going to spend this weekend experimenting and see what I can do. The new JVC combined with the TBC-1000 will still be a good investment I believe, so I'm going ahead with those purchases regardless.

I don't think I mentioned this in my earlier posts, but home videos that were recorded in SP mode capture fine. Actually, I have one tape that starts out in SP mode then switches to EP about halfway through. The SP portion of the capture looks fine and the EP portion is almost unwatchable.

Maybe my AIW is having a problem with the crap being fed into it. I hope it's correctable though, as I don't want to have to buy another capture device just for doing crappy VHS captures.

[kissvid]

Hello,

I understand your situation. I had the same problem and although i am not familar with sima i can tell you what I did. I have believe it or not a dazzle analog converter. I used that and imported it into adobe premeire. Cool part is that there is a program I used at the time called virtaul dub that had a deflick filter that someone had made as a plugin. I ran the avi through the deflick and it did reduce it quite a bit. (the macrovision effect) For those of you on this post. The in and out he is discussing is caused by the frames of the old 8mm movie. It has a macrovision like affect but it is not macrovision. The effect is making the "software" act like it is macrovision and therefore stops capturing. Basically the bottom line...old movies run at 24 frames per second, video is of course 29.97 frames per second. If you do not have a speed adjust on the projector when you are converting, the end result will be a dimming and brightening effect or a rolling effect caused by the frames in the 8mm film. Your best bet if possible. Just redo it all this weekend if you have the films and the projector. You'll be that much happier.

Marc

[lordsmurf]

I think the SR-V10U will fix it. Most likely.