Any recommendations on video capture hardware: PAL world, MacOS compatible

[Vostok]

I’m looking for a new video capture solution with the following attributes:

• Captures at full native PAL SD resolution (720 x 576) does not up- or down-scale

• Is interlace aware (retains interlacing, does not blend fields)

• MacOS 14+ compatible (else records directly to a removable storage device)

• Ideally has line TBC

• Does high quality captures without being absurdly expensive (the input is only SD VHS after all)

• Accepts composite video

I used to have a DV capture device with line TBC that did a very good job, but it had FireWire output (ancient now) and not supported by any recent Mac, nor will the associated software run on recent MacOS.

I have a Pinnacle Video Transfer which to my eye does a fairly decent job. Using the hidden “best.txt” trick on the storage device, it captures at full PAL resolution with encoding directly to MP4 at 2.5 Mbps. My main issue with it is I’m not a fan of direct MP4 encoding, I think it loses some of the source detail.

The PVT is 15 year old technology, surely there are there better options today?

The “modern” capture devices I’ve google searched are horribly compromised in some way, rarely seem to capture at native resolution, and the people who design them probably don’t even know what interlacing is. Either that, or full-blown pro equipment which is complete overkill.

So… over to the experts on this forum!

[Brad]

Budget? Which Mac hardware? MacOS 14 = Sonoma (2023) so I assume we're talking an Apple Silicon MacBook or Mac mini.

[Vostok]

I have a mid 2024 Mac Mini, Apple Silicon.

Budget - as little as possible given the quality of the source material (VHS tapes). Less than 200 USD.

[Tommy86]

A universal and cost effective option for you -

1. DVD recorder in passthrough from the Sony/Pioneer partnership, with onboard TBC and HDMI output to directly capture the digital feed. Unlike Panasonic recorders often suggested for this purpose, the Sony/Pioneer models offer adjustment over video levels to ensure no loss of dynamic range.
2. UltraStudio Recorder 3G to capture the HDMI output to Uncompressed or visually lossless formats eg. ProRes HQ. The simple Media Express app is used for capturing with only basic configuration required.
3. An appropriate HDMI splitter connected between the DVD recorder and the UltraStudio Recorder to bypass HDCP (which is always active regardless of content). Suggestions for models are always changing so this will require some research and experimentation on your part.

Suitable DVD recorders from Sony are as follows:
RDR-HX(D)_50 or higher number; the underscore can be 7/8/9/10. A more comprehensive list including Pioneer models can be found in this post. All recommended models share the same NEC EMMA2 system chip featuring TBC.

I understand your budget is $200 USD - this may still fall outside of it, but you’ll be hard pressed getting better for the money. Even a TBC-equipped VCR still requires external frame sync to allow for stable capture of the signal - here the DVD recorder applies both in a single A/D pass with no conversion back to analog (which would be mandatory if using USB grabber alternatives).

It’s a broad topic but hopefully that’s enough info to get started. If you need more advice, feel free to ask.

[lollo]

Even a TBC-equipped VCR still requires external frame sync to allow for stable capture of the signal - here the DVD recorder applies both in a single A/D pass with no conversion back to analog (which would be mandatory if using USB grabber alternatives).

All the rest is fine, but this is false. No DVD recorders can implement the same functionality of an external frame TBC. When is required, you have no choice.

[Tommy86]

Even a TBC-equipped VCR still requires external frame sync to allow for stable capture of the signal - here the DVD recorder applies both in a single A/D pass with no conversion back to analog (which would be mandatory if using USB grabber alternatives).

All the rest is fine, but this is false. No DVD recorders can implement the same functionality of an external frame TBC. When is required, you have no choice.

Unfortunately it appears you have listening to too much of Lordsmurf on this topic. Nothing what I’ve said is false - I suggest gaining a better technical understanding of the topic and seeking out the data sheets if need be. There is nothing eg. Datavideo TBC1000 is doing differently in regards to retiming the signal for a stable capture / frame sync which is a functional requirement of these DVD recorders. I say this owning a TBC1000 and other dedicated frame syncs. Anyway I’m not here to argue, do with that info what you will.

[lollo]

Unfortunately it appears you have listening to too much of Lordsmurf on this topic.

I do not listen to anybody, only to my experience and my results. And while I disagree with Lordsmurf on many topics, he is rigth on this one.

Nothing what I’ve said is false - I suggest gaining a better technical understanding of the topic and seeking out the data sheets if need be.

I suggest you learn about the subject, instead.

There is nothing eg. Datavideo TBC1000 is doing differently in regards to retiming the signal for a stable capture / frame sync which is a functional requirement of these DVD recorders.

Complete bullshit.

I say this owning a TBC1000 and other dedicated frame syncs.

Redo your experiments.

[Tommy86]

Thanks for derailing the thread on what should be an otherwise simple capture recommendation. I was forwarded this thread to help out a fellow Aussie on the subject - but as is typical on VH, highly expensive and obsolete capture methods are pushed instead.
But please Lollo, enlighten us all and post your own evidence relevant to the topic. I doubt you’ll be able to offer anything of significance.

[lollo]

You do not deserve anything because you are just ignorant on the subject.

But post an evidence of a DVD recorder acting as a frame TBC fixing bad tapes, and I will post a sample showing how the capture of a problematic tape is not improved by a DVD recorder but it is by an external TBC.

Waiting for you samples validating your bullshit…

[Tommy86]

You do not deserve anything because you are just ignorant on the subject.

But post an evidence of a DVD recorder acting as a frame TBC fixing bad tapes, and I will post a sample showing how the capture of a problematic tape is not improved by a DVD recorder but it is by an external TBC.

Waiting for you samples validating your bullshit…

Why should I need to be deserving of seeing your evidence? You have come in here calling “bullshit” so the burden of proof is on you. Rather than continuing to argue, I will simply attach some light reading so you can understand how these DVD recorders operate - the terminology therein should be familiar to you.

Units like the TBC1000 are simply using off-the-shelf Philips SAA7111H, these were widely used in many devices even including - you guessed it - DVD recorders. They offer no horizontal stabilisation of the signal and therefore only useful as a frame sync. They are essentially just a glorified VP-299 distribution amp, there are far better options which offer digital output via SDI. And if it is MV issues you are concerned about - your VCR’s line TBC can happily bake those in before the signal reaches any other device; it’s an internal A/D-D/A conversion just the same.

Hopefully this has been educational for you at least.

[lollo]

Why should I need to be deserving of seeing your evidence? You have come in here calling “bullshit” so the burden of proof is on you.

No. You started writing that a DVD-Recorder has frame TBC capabilities, so you have to prove it. Once you will (not) do it, I will show you samples of the opposite.

About the rest, you are still bullshitting posting some useless data sheet; a basic electronic engineer understand the difference between that and a real device using the components. So first, go back to school and second respect yourself and post evidences of what you claim. Or shut-up forever and go back to your loved forums not being VideoHelp where you can spread your non sense.

[lollo]

To OP: I apologize for this off topic. I will now do not post any more, while waiting for samples from my counterpart!

[Tommy86]

Why should I need to be deserving of seeing your evidence? You have come in here calling “bullshit” so the burden of proof is on you.

No. You started writing that a DVD-Recorder has frame TBC capabilities, so you have to prove it. Once you will (not) do it, I will show you samples of the opposite.

About the rest, you are still bullshitting posting some useless data sheet; a basic electronic engineer understand the difference between that and a real device using the components. So first, go back to school and second respect yourself and post evidences of what you claim. Or shut-up forever and go back to your loved forums not being VideoHelp where you can spread your non sense.

I expected more or less this response from you given your demeanour so far. FYI those “useless data sheets” are for the family of chips used in the Panasonic and Sony/Pioneer (NEC) recorders respectively. You should be able to derive all you need to know from that documentation, especially if you are already familiar with the process. If you were reasonable then a discussion could be had on it - unfortunately you are not. At least you have apologised to the OP for barging in here with nothing useful to add.

[lollo]

FYI those “useless data sheets” are for the family of chips used in the Panasonic and Sony/Pioneer (NEC) recorders respectively.

Which proves nothing. Again, go back to school.

At least you have apologised to the OP for barging in here with nothing useful to add.

I usefully added that a DVD Recorder does not replace an external frame TBC when this is needed.

I am still waiting your sample to validate what you claim.
Some hints:
- capture a problematic tape with just VCR and a capture card, which will then show the defects
- recapture adding a DVD recorder
- recapture adding an external TBC, showing that this capture is exactely the same in term of frames content and audio/video synch than the previous one.

I have just this exact sample to show once you are done.

[Tommy86]

To be honest I’m not keen on discussing it further with you as your attitude has been pretty awful. But if you insist, I wonder what it is you think your external “TBC”, be that Datavideo or other, is actually doing. What you’ve written seems to imply you are placing it even after your DVD recorder? When the signal has already been fully digitised - and at this point is akin to popping in a DVD in the recorder and expecting it to be somehow more stable when passing it to an external TBC / frame sync?

If this is the case it shows you have not even a fundamental understanding of ADC and DAC stages in the process. If I am wrong and you are simply comparing the signal direct from your VCR to your external frame sync vs DVD recorder, I can guarantee that unless you are using a high-end analog to SDI converter with TBC/FS enabled ADV chips eg. BrightEye 75 or similar, then the signal will not have horizontal stabilisation / line TBC applied like in the case of Datavideo, AVT-8710 and other consumer-type devices which lack this functionality.

In the case of frame sync performance, no device is going to be exactly the same in terms of frame content; whether it’s an external “TBC” (often conflated with frame sync) or a DVD recorder, both are retiming the signal to a stable clock which uses drops/inserts in order to maintain it - and this will be the case for any such device. Some will perform better than others with fewer drops/inserts, but they will all do it to some degree depending on the source.

Video sample - while it is not mine (credit to Oln) it is sufficient for showing the performance of a Datavideo in comparison to Panasonic and Pioneer DVD recorders and additionally JVC Digipure TBC. What should be immediately obvious is the lack of any horizontal stabilisation performed by the Datavideo.

Hopefully that is going to be enough for you on the topic. I was forwarded here to recommend a high performance, low cost and widely available solution - I’m really not interested in discussion beyond that. Especially since it hasn’t been civil.

[lollo]

Stabilization? This is not the only picture in presence of time base error (dropping frames is just a hint, there are others).

You really do not understand the topic, and are using videos of videohelp's very knowleagable user oln out of contest (instead of yours). That's enough for me to close here as well. The questions you asked about the workflow are a bit silly, so do not deserve a technical answer (the workflow and the devices used in the capture chain are clear to everybody here, and you probably ignore that a VCR with TBC is already doing a A/D and D/A conversion internally, but that's another story).

Take care (and go back to school).

[Tommy86]

Stabilization? This is not the only picture in presence of time base error (dropping frames is just a hint, there are others).

You really do not understand the topic, and are using videos of videohelp's very knowleagable user oln out of contest (instead of yours). That's enough for me to close here as well. The questions you asked about the workflow are a bit silly, so do not deserve a technical answer (the workflow and the devices used in the capture chain are clear to everybody here, and you probably ignore that a VCR with TBC is already doing a A/D and D/A conversion internally, but that's another story).

Take care (and go back to school).

And yet you have offered absolutely nothing specific on the types of tape defects you are encountering for me to directly answer - merely dropping “hints” and seeing if I am worthy of explanation. That’s behaviour I really don’t care for and is clear to me you are obfuscating your lack of knowledge on the topic by acting this way. Also I literally mentioned VCR TBC internal A-D/D-A in one my posts above, that shows you are likely not even reading much of what I’ve written.

Feel free to reply again and have the last word - it changes nothing in the discussion as you have still added nothing useful after all this. If OP wishes for more info on the method I’ve outlined, I will reply to them.

[lollo]

Feel free to reply again and have the last word - it changes nothing in the discussion as you have still added nothing useful after all this.

The readers have all elements to determine that.

The only (idiocy) you are trying to prove is that a a DVD recorder has the same functionality of a dedicated TBC.

You just put smoke in the eyes randomnly mentioning hardware that you do not even own or used, like TBCs or BE75, which has TBC capabilities that people who used it like us know, and so on.

A final hint: I have been working with Analog Device guys in Munich and know their ADVs PEBs and kits, so you cannot bullshit not even on this subject.

Good bye!

[Vostok]

A universal and cost effective option for you -

1. DVD recorder in passthrough from the Sony/Pioneer partnership, with onboard TBC and HDMI output to directly capture the digital feed. Unlike Panasonic recorders often suggested for this purpose, the Sony/Pioneer models offer adjustment over video levels to ensure no loss of dynamic range.

I understand your budget is $200 USD - this may still fall outside of it, but you’ll be hard pressed getting better for the money. Even a TBC-equipped VCR still requires external frame sync to allow for stable capture of the signal - here the DVD recorder applies both in a single A/D pass with no conversion back to analog (which would be mandatory if using USB grabber alternatives).

Thank you that is very helpful.

I already have a VCR/DVD combo but not the one you mention. It also predates HDMI. I’ll have a scour and see what is available second hand.

I was not aware of the Blackmagic HDMI recorder. A quick search and I can get a new one for AUD 185. About 15 years ago BMD made a “Video Recorder” that accepted composite or component analog video that outputted H.264 on USB-A. It must have had a short shelf life, because I never heard of it again and they don’t seem to exist second hand. But BMD make good stuff and (ironically?) I switched last year from Final Cut to Resolve.

To avoid the HDCP issue, are you aware of any good VCRs that have line TBC and are not also DVD players/recorders and so might have non-HDCP HDMI output? Or are the “appropriate” HDMI splitters not that expensive?

My understanding is that frame TBC prevents dropped frames in the capture. In my experience (and I don’t want to start a flame war with any correspondent here) is that line TBC is more critical for getting good VHS captures. I have never suffered dropped frames in any VHS capture in my 20+ years of doing it with my former Sony SLVE 1000 So from my experience it seems a non-existent problem. But maybe my Sony VCR was simply many cuts above…

[Vostok]

I also won’t engage with other posters who are aggressive, rude and swear a lot

[aramkolt]

Back to the OP's question - DV is quite well supported currently in MacOS. You just need a firewire to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, then thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter and you're good to go with what you already are happy with using. When capturing in iMovie, to get the actual DV file, you just go to the project file and right click to "show package contents" and the individual files in the .dv format will be in there as individual clips. There are other programs that can do it as well, but iMovie is free and easy enough to do.

If you want something with a higher bitrate and don't mind much larger file sizes, then go with an analog conversion box that can output SDI that also has a TBC. The ones that come to mind are the BE1, BE3, BE25, BE75, Leitch/DPS 475/575/X50/X75. Alternatively, you can use a TBC that has component output like the FA300 or FA310 and feed the component output to something like the AJA KiPro or into a component to SDI converter. Plain SDI converters only will work if the signal has been pre-stabilized by a reliable TBC. All AJA products are pretty Mac-friendly and probably a little more reliable than Blackmagic in my experience, though those are options as well once you have the signal stabilized.

[Tommy86]

Thank you that is very helpful.

No problem, happy to help. I’ll try to address each part of the post to make things clear.

I already have a VCR/DVD combo but not the one you mention. It also predates HDMI. I’ll have a scour and see what is available second hand.

If you’re interested in using a combo with HDMI output then I can only recommend Panasonic DMR-EZ4x models which utilise the same excellent ADC as their standalone DVD recorders. Note - the VCR is internally connected to the DVD recorder side via composite and passed through a comb filter, so do not expect S-video quality. As a sturdy and low cost option for a standalone VCR, I can suggest a mid-90s Panasonic ie. NV-HD600, NV-HD650 as they utilise the same excellent K Mech as their high-end models of the time and impressive PQ for composite.

The top recommendation is of course an S-VHS model, in particular an NV-FS or early NV-HS Panasonic, but this would likely be out of your budget.

I was not aware of the Blackmagic HDMI recorder. A quick search and I can get a new one for AUD 185. About 15 years ago BMD made a “Video Recorder” that accepted composite or component analog video that outputted H.264 on USB-A. It must have had a short shelf life, because I never heard of it again and they don’t seem to exist second hand.

Yes, the UltraStudio Recorder 3G cannot be beat for value - I recommend it first and foremost for this workflow. As a rule, only stick to pro video brands for HDMI capture in this capacity, and strictly avoid any gamer-focused solutions as they will likely not capture according to standards.
As another rule - never capture directly to any compressed delivery format such as H.264, this will wreak havoc on a noisy analog source which strictly requires post-processing for optimal results. In this case only Uncompressed or visually lossless formats eg. ProRes are suitable for capturing.

To avoid the HDCP issue, are you aware of any good VCRs that have line TBC and are not also DVD players/recorders and so might have non-HDCP HDMI output? Or are the “appropriate” HDMI splitters not that expensive?

No, the closest thing I’m aware of are JVC SR-VS or HR-DVS models which offer digital output over FireWire, which you already have experience with and know the difficulties and high costs associated with this method in 2025. These are also highly expensive VCRs and as the signal is converted to the ancient DV25 codec, it will result in DCT compression artefacts.



The particular HDMI splitters needed are in fact very cost effective, there should be no issue in terms of affordability. I can alternatively recommend a professional option that is guaranteed to work, but it is not cheap (but ask away if you’re interested).

My understanding is that frame TBC prevents dropped frames in the capture. In my experience (and I don’t want to start a flame war with any correspondent here) is that line TBC is more critical for getting good VHS captures. I have never suffered dropped frames in any VHS capture in my 20+ years of doing it with my former Sony SLVE 1000 So from my experience it seems a non-existent problem. But maybe my Sony VCR was simply many cuts above…

Both are required to completely stabilise the signal, to solve both visual tape distortion and dropouts (and associated A/V sync issues). The reason you did not seemingly experience dropouts is because your old method was utilising a DV25 converter over FireWire which is nothing if not robust - but not an ideal solution, especially today.

Lastly - aside from the outlined DVD recorder method via HDMI, I’m also compelled to mention that if you were after the most modern, affordable and highest quality capture method available today, then I would point you to VHS Decode / FM RF capture. There is a link on the wiki to the Domesday86 Discord, you can find me there among highly knowledge members on analog capture in general.

[Tommy86]

If you want something with a higher bitrate and don't mind much larger file sizes, then go with an analog conversion box that can output SDI that also has a TBC. The ones that come to mind are the BE1, BE3, BE25, BE75, Leitch/DPS 475/575/X50/X75. Alternatively, you can use a TBC that has component output like the FA300 or FA310 and feed the component output to something like the AJA KiPro or into a component to SDI converter. Plain SDI converters only will work if the signal has been pre-stabilized by a reliable TBC. All AJA products are pretty Mac-friendly and probably a little more reliable than Blackmagic in my experience, though those are options as well once you have the signal stabilized.

Well out of price range in this case (the limit was $200 USD and even my advice is pushing it). A BrightEye can be difficult to find for a good price even on the used market, and unless it’s the BE25 or BE75 then it’s worth mentioning an additional SDI Audio embedder is needed. I’d also suggest an entry model HyperDeck as a budget-friendly alternative instead of the Ki Pro, I use the Studio HD Mini myself for this purpose.

A final hint: I have been working with Analog Device guys in Munich and know their ADVs PEBs and kits, so you cannot bullshit not even on this subject.

Against my better judgement, I was compelled to reply to this - how have you been “working” with them exactly? In a professional capacity? Or did you simply just get your hands on an EVAL ADV7842 board and passing along notes to the developers? Two very different things…

While we're assuming things about each other, you would be strictly incorrect as I own all of the devices I mentioned in my posts. While the DVD recorders lack granular control over the signal and professional I/O, they are perfectly suitable in terms of pure TBC performance - and often outclass high-end alternatives as they were specifically designed with consumer analog formats in mind. Just because there is an expensive box with “TBC” written on it does not automatically make it a better option, or for that matter do much different to its low-cost counterpart.

[Vostok]

Back to the OP's question - DV is quite well supported currently in MacOS. You just need a firewire to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, then thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter and you're good to go with what you already are happy with using.

I did consider that approach, but it died on the shores of FireWire to Thunderbolt adaptors not existing any more. Oh, there are purportedly some on AliExpress, but they are just wired though dumb connectors that don’t actually work. Converting FireWire to Thunderbolt requires actual electronics.

Second hand Apple branded FireWire to Thunderbolt adaptors (which of course Apple no longer have) sell second hand on eBay for hundreds of dollars.

My conclusion: rather than trying to stay in the first decade of this century, time to move into the third decade.

[Vostok]

If you’re interested in using a combo with HDMI output then I can only recommend Panasonic DMR-EZ4x models which utilise the same excellent ADC as their standalone DVD recorders. As a sturdy and low cost option for a standalone VCR, I can suggest a mid-90s Panasonic ie. NV-HD600, NV-HD650 as they utilise the same excellent K Mech as their high-end models of the time and impressive PQ for composite.

Very soon after my Sony SLVE-1000 died, I was bequeathed a Panasonic NV-VP31 from a relative’s estate. Do you know anything about this one? I’ve used it couple of times and it seems to provide a pretty stable composite video output. The main issue is it has no remote, and the “picture mode” is permanently stuck in “Cartoon” not “Standard”. I have a Logitech universal remote, and I’ve tried loading in lots of different Panasonic models into it, but none of them have a Picture Mode button. I’ve at least been able to reset all the other VHS playback options.

Online I found a second hand Panasonic DMR-EZ240 for a vaguely reasonable price. Not -EZ4x, but thumbs up or down?

Also with the HDMI output on the Panasonic DMR-EZ4xs, does it respect the native resolution, interlacing mode, and frame rate of the source? Or is any funny business going on? I saw a reference to HDMI “upscaling to 1080” on this unit .

I also have some NTSC tapes, I assume it will cope with those as well? I think multiformat support had become standard by the mid-90s?

Never capture directly to any compressed delivery format such as H.264, this will wreak havoc on a noisy analog source which strictly requires post-processing for optimal results.

Yeah that’s what I don’t like about the Pinnacle Video Transfer, even though visually the capture looks fairly good.

Thanks for your help.

[Alwyn]

...

[Vostok]

Also with the HDMI output on the Panasonic DMR-EZ4xs, does it respect the native resolution, interlacing mode, and frame rate of the source?

Yes, yes, yes (AmarecTV manually set to 25fps); EZ-48V here into Startech USB3HDCAP, with HDMI splitter "doing it's thing"

Amarec TV is no longer under development, and is Windows only.

Note in the subject line of this thread: “MacOS compatible”.

[Tommy86]

Also with the HDMI output on the Panasonic DMR-EZ4xs, does it respect the native resolution, interlacing mode, and frame rate of the source? Or is any funny business going on? I saw a reference to HDMI “upscaling to 1080” on this unit .

I’ll come back later to address other questions but yes - there is no issue with outputting interlaced SD resolution on the EZ4x models over HDMI (no issue for any of the PAL HDMI models in fact). The signal is able to be captured 1:1 via the BMD Media Express app, which is dead simple to setup.

[Brad]

Just a quick note for any other readers: all discussion of Panasonic DVDR models in this thread is in the context of their PAL lineup. Their North American, Japanese domestic market, and Brazilian (PAL-M 525) models use some of the same model numbers with different internals.

(Technically they do have region-specific identifiers at the end model # but this is only shown on the back of the units, and most often left out when anyone types the name.)