How to Capture VHS-C Tapes for Editing/Authoring with Pinnacle Studio

[saroman]

I am migrating to a new HP Pavilion Win 7 system and would like to know which external USB devices are most suitable for capturing a series of old VHS-C video tapes for further editing and authoring using Pinnacle Studio software. Thanks very much.

[edDV]

I am migrating to a new HP Pavilion Win 7 system and would like to know which external USB devices are most suitable for capturing a series of old VHS-C video tapes for further editing and authoring using Pinnacle Studio software. Thanks very much.

First you need a VHS-C camcorder or a VHS player with a VHS-C adapter to play the tapes. If you only have a few tapes, you will probably save money and time having a dub house capture these tapes to DVDR, hard disk or USB flash drives. They will also have better equipment than you are probably able to afford. A good dub business needs to invest ~$3000-5000 for top quality capture.

Next you optionally need a time base corrector (TBC) with proc amp controls to process the video prior to capture.

Next you need a capture device for A/D. There are several types. Some capture uncompressed, others capture to DV format or MPeg2. There are also combo TBC/capture devices.

We can help you sort the best solution for you if you answer these questions.

1. Are these tapes VHS-C or SVHS-C? It should have a label on the cartridge.

2. How many (S)VHS-C tapes do you need to capture? Total minutes estimate?

3. Do you have a (S)VHS-C player? If so, it probably needs servicing.

4. How much can you spend for TBC/capture devices?

5. What is your video quality expectation? Viewable to best possible.

6. What is the end media goal? Archive file? DVD for playback?

[saroman]

Thanks for the quick reply.

1. Are these tapes VHS-C or SVHS-C? It should have a label on the cartridge.
They are TDK Extra High Grade VHS-C tapes recorded on an old Sony Handycam Vision Video Hi8 camcorder.

2. How many (S)VHS-C tapes do you need to capture? Total minutes estimate?
About 10 tapes running a total of about 5 hours.

3. Do you have a (S)VHS-C player? If so, it probably needs servicing.
I have a VHS player and an adapter that allows me to play the VHS-C tapes in it.

4. How much can you spend for TBC/capture devices?
$100 more or less.

5. What is your video quality expectation? Viewable to best possible.
As good as possible within the limits of the video capture device and the Pinnacle Studio editing software.

6. What is the end media goal? Archive file? DVD for playback?
Mainly DVD playback. They are tapes of our 10th anniversary trip to Italy.

Previously, I have successfully converted a few other tapes from the same camcorder using an internal video capture card on my current Win XP system. With the new Win 7 system I prefer an external capture device.

[edDV]

Thanks for the quick reply.

1. Are these tapes VHS-C or SVHS-C? It should have a label on the cartridge.
They are TDK Extra High Grade VHS-C tapes recorded on an old Sony Handycam Vision Video Hi8 camcorder.

Hi8 is an entirely different tape standard.

Hi8 tape


VHS-C tape

[edDV]

2. How many (S)VHS-C tapes do you need to capture? Total minutes estimate?
About 10 tapes running a total of about 5 hours.

50 hours would add up to a large tab at a dub house.

For $100, you can't afford a TBC

There are several options for capture. Quality best to less.

1. Highest Quality - Uncompressed or Huffyuv capture in Virtualdub with a typical tuner card ($29-50) then import and edit in Pinnacle studio.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815122010

2. DV format capture (Canopus ADVC-55 ~$154 or ADS Pyro ~$135)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HGVZG0/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=4030308851&ref=pd_sl_75x1fvctlf_e
http://www.amazon.com/ADS-API-558-EFS-Pyro-Video-Converter/dp/B000I7YP06/ref=sr_1_1?ie...6695267&sr=1-1

3. Capture MPeg2 (hardware encoding) with Hauppauge PVR-150 (~$80) or PVR-USB2 (~$100)
http://cgi.ebay.com/WinTV-PVR-USB2-Personal-Video-Recorder-New-In-Box_W0QQitemZ1504150...item23056f57b2

4. Pinnacle A/V or Moviebox capture cards - bad reputation for stability and drivers.

[Nelson37]

Anything at all, including tin cans, duct tape, and twine, would be better than Pinnacle Studio. A truly foul piece of crap.