What is better quality wise?

[chrishallowell]

Any comments on what you think is better quality wise (Least noise, best picture quality)?

Option #1:
Capture analog video (Hi8) using a S-Video connection and PICVideo

OR

Option #2:
Capture analog video (Hi8) using a RCA video connection and a set top DVD recorder

Thanks,
Chris

[akrako1]

not sure what PICVideo is, but S-Video output is higher quality then RCA (composite). Most DVD Recorders do have S-Video inputs. I'd recommend using it if you have it.

[deuce8pro]

Id recommend getting a Digital8 camera to play your hi8 tapes with tbc/dnr using a firewire connection to a dvd recorder instead of svideo or composite.

[freebird73717]

Recording avi using the picvideo mjpeg codec (quality 18 or 19 - the highest you can record with out droping frames) then encoding to mpeg using 2 pass variable bitrate will offer better quality IMHO. Question is ... is the time neccessary worth it for you?

[jagabo]

Many set-top DVD recorders have built in line time base correctors. That can make a huge improvement in quality.

[Marvingj]

I typically use S-Video connection, then I use a TBC (Datavideo 3000) & Video corrector (Laird). its gives Super quality. Thats before I used software to get it just right. chrishallowell, Your first option should be good.

[chrishallowell]

Thanks everyone for your inputs...
Last night I was flipping through the inputs on my set up DVD recorder and I noticed 2 video inputs. But when I looked at the back of the recorder I could only see 1 video/audio input.
Confusion set in and I stared at the recorder for a few minutes. I then decided to look for the firewire connection to see if there was a firewire out. There wasn't, just a firewire input BUT next to it was the video/audio #2 input with an S-Video. #2 inputs were on the front of the recorder! I felt like a moron.

So I will be going from Hi8 camcorder to set top DVD recorder using SP and the S-Video connection.

Thanks,
Chris

[jagabo]

I'd love to see some samples from both methods. It would be useful to others who may see this thread in the future.

[Knightmessenger]

S-video is definitely better than composite. Here's an example.
Composite is the top, s-video at bottom.


This was captured using a DV capture box so the quality is not as good as it could be if it was an uncompressed capture. However, you should clearly see a difference, especially in the darker areas of the dugout.

[jagabo]

S-video is definitely better than composite... you should clearly see a difference, especially in the darker areas of the dugout.

That's not an s-video vs composite issue. It's more of a black level and gamma calibration problem.

The real differences between s-video and composite are:

dot crawl: http://www.doom9.org/capture/images/dotcrawl1.jpg

luma/chroma crosstalk (rainbow): http://www.doom9.org/capture/images/rainbow5.jpg

and reduced color resolution.

context: http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/capture/chroma_artefacts.html