VHS to DVD Picture Quality

[jet757f]

I have tried to read the enormous amount of information on this subject within these forums. I have been trying to get familiar with the different types of hardware devices to improve picture quality such as TBC, video enhancers and video processor amplifiers. I am still confused and had some additional questions that I hope someone will be able to advise me on.

I have just started the project of transferring all VHS tapes (home and store bought) to DVD. I am using a JVC 9911 and a Liteon 5005 at this time. I did a test burn and was not pleased with the picture quality. The color seemed fine, but seemed to lack sharpness. I would like to find a way to fix this problem before burning my whole collection.

Would a processor amp such as the SignVideo PA100 (or something less expensive)work to fix this problem or would I just need something like Vidicraft Detailer II or SignVideo DR1000 enhancer. I have also been looking into something like the Sima SCC-2..........would that be sufficient?

If possible I would like to find a hardware unit that has the processor amp and image enhancer built in together. Is there anything like this on the market?

My last question. The picture coming off the JVC 9911 looks fine to me. It is only after I burn onto DVD and see the playback on the DVD where it loses its sharpness. If I get a hardware device to try and fix this problem it would be placed between the JVC 9911 and the Liteon 5005 DVD recorder. After I burn the DVD will the picture improvement be seen on the DVD during playback without using any type of hardware enhancement? I'm asking because the picture quality off the JVC 9911 is fine right now without any type of hardware enhancement.

I would appreciate any suggestions on this. Thanks in advance

Ken

[lordsmurf]

VHS isn't sharp to begin with. Buy a detailer, crank it up a bit, and then record 720x480.

I bet you're viewing this DVD on the computer, not on the tv. The tv is soft focus compared to a computer monitor, so it will look soft or noisy on a computer while it looks clean and crisp on a tv set.

[jet757f]

Thanks for the reply Lord Smurf.........have read much of your information here.

Actually this is being viewed on a Sony 32" XBR100 TV.

What type of detailer would you recommend?

Thanks
Ken

[quickpick]

My last question. The picture coming off the JVC 9911 looks fine to me. It is only after I burn onto DVD and see the playback on the DVD where it loses its sharpness.

I am running into something similar and would love some feedback. I'm recording from a JVC 9911 onto a JVC MH30 DVD recorder, and the picture often looks great during transfer and when played from the hard drive of the recorder.

Using XP (one hour speed), I burn to DVD, and then when I try playing the finalized disc in other DVD players, the picture is not nearly as crisp as it is on the hard drive of the recorder.

This is probably a naive question, but is that to be expected? I am using Taiyo Yuden media, and the DVD players I'm using for testing are both decent quality.

Thanks for any opinions...

[qlizard]

Try using "edit" on the vcr vs. "auto". When I used to capture to my computer (using digital camcorder pass-through), I exclusively used "auto". However now I use a dvd recorder and have found that the softening from the vcr in "auto" mode combined with the noise reduction in the dvd recorder sacrifices too much detail. Each tape is different, but I find myself almost exclusively using "edit" mode now.

[trhouse]

What capture mode ( XP, SP, etc. ) or resolution ( 720 by 480, 352 by 480, etc. ) was used for the test of the Lite-On? Resolution tests of Lite-On's I have seen are usually very good.

Regarding hard drive playback being better than dvd, was the dvd created from the hard drive via a real time transfer? Most hdd models re-encode when transferring in real time vs high speed mode resulting in softening of the image.

[Bob W]

I was getting poor copies myself until I gave up on my JVC VCR with tbc and bought a Mitsubishi VCR.

[gshelley61]

Lite-On and JVC DVD recorders apply DNR (video noise reduction) during the encoding process. This does soften the picture a little bit. Set the JVC playback VCR output to Edit (or Sharp, depending on the model). Also, try turning on the Digital R3... that is an additional edge enhancement circuit built into most high end JVC VCR's. It is usually a bit too aggressive, but for the Lite-On and JVC DVD recorders it may work well on some VHS to DVD transfers.

[quickpick]

Regarding hard drive playback being better than dvd, was the dvd created from the hard drive via a real time transfer? Most hdd models re-encode when transferring in real time vs high speed mode resulting in softening of the image.

I revived an old thread so I might have caused some confusion. Regardless, some very good advice. I believe trhouse might have pinpointed what is causing my problem. If I could just get the hard drive quality onto disc, it would be almost perfect.

If re-encoding is taking place during my transfer, that explains the loss of quality.

Unfortunately with the JVC MH30, as soon as you make any sort of edit, you are stuck with real time transfer. The way my tapes are, it would be a big hassle (and a lot of DVD-RWs) to pull everything off directly to disc if I wanted to use XP mode.

If there is a workaround, any suggestion would be appreciated.