Looking for guidance for a new VHS capture setup

[PlasticWindow]

My goal:
To set up a capture card between my computer and my VHS player. The player is a flash JVC one with TBC and S-Video out, the S-Video I plan to use. The computer it will go into will either be a little gaming intel Nuc, or my M1 Macbook pro. There are two roads I'm contemplating going down, and would love any suggestions on which might be the better option.

Option 1: S-Video from the VCR to Vidbox, to USB into my Macbook

Vidbox: https://a.co/d/5IddacB

Option 2: Upscaling with hardware before the capture. S-Video to the YITROX to upscale, HDMI out of that into Elgato HD60 X, HDMI out into my computer.

YITROX: https://amzn.to/3lc5LOr

Elgato HD60 X: https://a.co/d/goTK6Gx

Is option 2 overkill? And is pre-capture hardware upscaling a waste of time? I seem to find conflicting opinions online.

This comes on the back of some trouble I am having with my current set up

Current setup situation: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/409864-Video-stutter-when-converting-VHS-to-PC-via...e-capture-card

Would really appreciate advice. Many thanks.

[lollo]

Option 3: with your PC, given you have a JVC with (line)TBC, replace your EasyCap device with one of the recommended USB cards, such as I/OData GV-USB, Hauppauge USB-Live 2, ATI USB 600, Pinnacle USB 710 (the first 2 work flawless in Windows 10).

If tapes are in bad shape you may need to add a specific DVD-Recorder in pass-through mode or a (frame)TBC.

Capture YUV 4:2:2 lossless at 720x576 (PAL) or 720x480 (NTSC) with AmarecTV or VirtualDub.

[PlasticWindow]

Thanks for your reply lollo,

I have a suspicion the video capture problems I'm having might be specific to my weird computer, maybe a USB impedance problem. It seems to handle input through HDMI just fine, so if I was going to use my PC for capturing I'd ideally like the input to be coming in via HDMI.

But despite that, if your recommendation remains the USB card route, I'd probably have to use my Macbook. Do you have any recommendations as to alternatives to AmarecTV or VirtualDub for Mac?

[lollo]

But despite that, if your recommendation remains the USB card route, I'd probably have to use my Macbook. Do you have any recommendations as to alternatives to AmarecTV or VirtualDub for Mac?

Not expert on Mac for capture cards nor for software, sorry.

The PC route has always been recommended here compared to Mac for hardware, OS and capture/restoration software easy of usage and better results, but YMMV.

[dellsam34]

Stay away from any modern HDMI device, they are made for modern cameras and streaming devices not for capturing analog video, The USB devices recommended is all you need.