Capturing from VHS vs SVHS?

[tbsi]

Will the videos off a SVHS tape be better quality when captured as an avi? I have a SVHS recorder but no tape, should I get one?

Ty

[CMP1223]

I would think so. It is like 8mm vs. Hi8. The S-Video connection seperates the brightness and color of the Video signal (or something like that ??) producing clearer picture. S-Video IS superior to composite video, but I have never noticed a big difference. It will probably be more visable with a high-quality source.

-Chris

[LanceSteel]

I think tbsi is asking whether SVHS has better recording quality than VHS or not. Yes, SVHS has less signal loss than VHS but it still looks bad to me. I think 65-70% of quality is retained versus 50-55% for VHS. I guess I can kind of tell the difference between the two. The tapes aren't too expensive either.

[CMP1223]

Where are you getting those numbers from? I amost never see a large difference between my source DV and final VHS tape.

-Chris

[vhelp]

tbsi,

hmmmm, ...
first of all, start w/ a clean signal source, ie would be
Satalite, otherwise Cable.
2nd, record to VHS in SP mode (never EP when you're planning
on capturing from this kind of source at a later date)
3rd, when you want to record using your SVHS unit, put in an
SVHS tape, and set your SVHS to SP and SVHS recording mode. Again,
never set to EP mode. Only SP for all recording projects, from this
moment on.

Anyways, after that, it all depends on the "quality" of the program being
shown. hmmm, what's a good ie of this? Well, how about a old tv series
vs. a newer one from todays times. Ok, anyways. . .

To see comparison between VHS vs. SVHS, perform the following:
* Using your regular VCR, tape a good quality tv show to a VHS tape in SP
mode, and then to an SVHS tape, also in SP mode.
* now, play them both and compare.

What should you see in both. Well, for the VHS tape, you should see some
noise (lots of it) But in the SVHS, you should see less, AND, the quality
will be sharper due to the 400 lines vs. VHS's ~240 lines.

When you capture from an SVHS, you're captures should be very good, and
very close to the sources, ie, if you recorded from Satalite. It should
be very close to Satalite or look just like it. VHS wont be able to
produce this same quality. Less resolution, and more noise.
Remember, you're comparing recorded VHS tapes vs. recorded SVHS tapes.

You'll see the difference! I have the JVC model HR-S391OU.

Ok, in answer to your question, YES, you'll get better results if you
capture from your SVHS unit. Oh, NOT from your VHS unit - those ones
that CAN play SVHS recorded tapes in a standard or regular VCR. You
wont get the benefit of the SVHS from these VCRs. All they do is
allow you to put an SVHS tape in your regular VCR, and bumping down
the lines from 400 down to 240. So, don't go out and get a VCR that
will play SVHS tapes (less expansive) to capture from it. You'll be
very disapointed. Heed my warning!
So, yes, by default, SVHS will give you better quality in your AVI
captures. But, they too, fall pray to bear and tear as VHS tapes do.

And, before you ask. NO, commercals movies are not produced on SVHS
tapes. They are only produced on standard VHS tapes, and recorded
in SP mode to give the best visual quality possible. That's why, when
you buy a long playing movie, ie, Pearl Harbor, they come in TWO
tapes, and not one. They don't put them in EP mode, cause the quality
will not be so good and or for other reasons beyond my understanding.

cmp1223, I'm not sure I understand your question.

-vhelp
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[CMP1223]

my question is in response to this quote,

I think 65-70% of quality is retained versus 50-55% for VHS

I know VHS has a loss of quality, but from my personal experience I have never seen what I would consider a 50% loss of quality when recording to VHS from a Hi8 or DV source. I was wondering if this is a fact about VHS tape, or her opinion of VHS quality.

[LanceSteel]

I swear to God that this site used to have a table that showed the quality of video streams versus the original source captured using different compression methods (which was the whole reason I bought my SVHS player.) I can't seem to find it now. I may be a little off on the numbers but I remember being surprised at the number that was given for VHS (it wasn't very good.)

[thxkid]

Been using SVHS for over 15 years it is much better than Carp VHS here is the break down is resolution

VHS - 240 lines
SVHS - 400 lines

Do the math, SVHS has a 40% resolution advantage over VHS, but the last few SVHS machines I have purchased has not had the Quality over the models I have bought 5 years ago, SHVS machines have dropped in price so has their quality also, My Panasonic DMR E-20 DVD Recorder just blows away any SVHS source.