Capturing analog source using AD converter

[jelir]

I was thinking to spend some money for an AD converter such as GrabBee to convert my analog camcorder video into digital signal before transfer it to PC via USB port. I'm on my way of getting the best svcd

Do you guys think this is a good idea or it will do more harm to my end result.

[snowmoon]

If your end result is SVCD... USB will more than likley butcher the signal.

SVCD needs much TLC and a good source for encoding. If analog is your source, your are better off getting a good TBC to stabilize the image.

Are you having any specific problems capturing now that we can help with?

[Tommyknocker]

If you intend to convert to digital, why use USB? Canopus has us going from VHS to DV with their encoders.

[jelir]

Are you having any specific problems capturing now that we can help with?

for the time being I do not have difficulties in dealing with my current capture card. I just want to try something new if it worth trying.

[indolikaa]

The DV/Firewire option is great! You can use the Canopus system (highly regarded by fellow members) or some DV camcorders with passthru capability (highly regarded by this member) and get excellent results.

[snowmoon]

I would personlly shy away from a DV solution if your current analog system is working since you will end up introducing 4:1:1 red/orange bleed into your video. This is because DV's color resolution is 1/2 of what most analog capture cards can do 4:2:2.

[jelir]

I would personlly shy away from a DV solution if your current analog system is working

well... thank for your suggestion. I'll stick to the analog card until all my 8mm tapes completed.

The DV/Firewire option is great! You can use the Canopus system (highly regarded by fellow members) or some DV camcorders with passthru capability (highly regarded by this member) and get excellent results.

Which Canopus would you suggest since i'm currently looking to upgrade my trv25 camcorder to sony dcrpc101e

[indolikaa]

I would personlly shy away from a DV solution if your current analog system is working since you will end up introducing 4:1:1 red/orange bleed into your video. This is because DV's color resolution is 1/2 of what most analog capture cards can do 4:2:2.

Snowmoon, can you elaborate? I never have noticed anything but spectacular results with this technique.

[pbhalerao]

I would personlly shy away from a DV solution if your current analog system is working

well... thank for your suggestion. I'll stick to the analog card until all my 8mm tapes completed.

The DV/Firewire option is great! You can use the Canopus system (highly regarded by fellow members) or some DV camcorders with passthru capability (highly regarded by this member) and get excellent results.

Which Canopus would you suggest since i'm currently looking to upgrade my trv25 camcorder to sony dcrpc101e

I recommend Canopus AVDC-100 or Canopus AVDC-1394. With the first option you will need to buy a FireWire Card separately.

If you are looking at buying a Sony Camcorder with backward compatibility with your 8mm tapes, then go for the Digital8 megapixel range (DCR-TRV740E or DCR-TRV840E - the last 'E' stands for European or PAL models). Spending the extra money on the megapixel model is worth it as this will enable to capture at higher DV resolution.

If going in for miniDV, then also choose the megapixel cam, if you can afford it.

Regards,

[snowmoon]

I'll try to find a good sample, but you can check the spec yourself. DV has 1/4 the color information that YUV and 1/2 that of YUY2. On sharp, intense color borders you can get "color bleed" it is most noticible in the reds.

DV output resolution should be fixed at 720x480 ( for ntsc ). I do know that better CCD's play a big part in fully utilizing that resolution, but they all output the same resolution.

found one...

http://www.adamwilt.com/pix-sampling.html

The site is also a trove of other DV info.

[indolikaa]

OK, snowmoon. THAT was an informative link! Thank you!

However, your link has now spawned a question. If I am reading this right the 4:1:1 technique is the basis of DV NTSC. So this 'problem' is not only inherent in DV Camcorders but Canopus devices as well? Or is this a 'signal-on-tape' versus 'signal-on-passthru' issue?

[snowmoon]

All DV based devices will have this problems to a degree. Some devices are better at mitigating the problem, and some DV codecs have build in "de-blocking" routines that help to approximate the original image. I have not personally tested the Canopus device, but I assume it will fall victim to the spec to some degree.

Capturing with huffyuv off a good YUY2 analog capture card will still give you more bang for the buck than a DV passthough on good analog sources. If you are capturing with MJPEG then there is less difference since you then have to deal with JPEG artifacts ( very similar to DV artifacts ).