Chroma Loss Video 8

[Brov]

Hi guys! I have a problem. Have recently tried to transfer the families old Video 8 tapes to my hard drives. I have been using a simple "composite video to USB" converter with my old Sony Canovision 8 camera.
The problem is that the color seems to have degraded. The picture is clear but for the most part of the tape there is no color in major parts of the frame. From time to time some color flickers in.


What is the source of this loss of chroma? Is it in the tapes or in the camera? Would it help if I try to clean the heads with a cleaning tape? I'm quite new to these kind of stuff and would love some advice?

[jagabo]

What do you see in the camcorder's viewfinder? What about when connecting the camcorder to a TV? The same lack of color?

[Brov]

The viewfinder is only capable of showing black and white so I have no information there. If I connect it to the TV the result is radically better!

Video on TV:
http://youtu.be/O_VB_gx5DKQ

Video on computer:
http://youtu.be/Ptmp4wJlznY

So the problem is to get the same quality that I have on the TV onto a computer. Perhaps my capture device (plexgear moviesaver 220) is the one failing.

Any input?

[jagabo]

Sometimes when the signal level is too low or out of spec capture cards can't lock onto the chroma burst signal and capture as black and white. Another capture card might work better. Or an analog video proc amp inline between the camcorder and the capture device.

[Brov]

That sounds like a very probable explanation, thank you!

Hmm.. any recommendations on how to find a cheap processing video amplifier?


Or are there any devices which i already own which could serve as an signal amplifier? I'm thinking about something like feeding the signal through a VCR, a TV or something similar. Have no idea if it could work..


Otherwise anyone with experience on good capture devices which could replace my plexgear moviesaver 220?

[jagabo]

Yes, if you have a VCR or TV with composite pass through it may fix the signal. Worth a try.