Which Proc Amp to get?

[Dr_Layne]

My set up:

Source VCR: JVC HR-S9800U
TBC: TBC-1000
Capture: DAC-100

I use S-video cable thruout the whole process. The tapes I capture are normally low to high generation live Pink Floyd concerts on VHS. Most of the shows contain lots of lighting effects and lasers. On ocassion I make a few transfers from LD using a CLD-D704 and I have a U-matic deck for those rarer occasions I need it. After reading Gshelly's review of proc amps, I'm uncertain whch to get. I'm considering the Elite Video BVP4+ and the SignVideo Proc Amp.

Steve

[lordsmurf]

I'm considering the Elite Video BVP4+ and the SignVideo Proc Amp.

Steve

These are two I'd recommend. I have the Elite. Love it.
Vidicraft proc amp good too, for budget.

[Dr_Layne]

LS: I've included an image of the type of video I'd like to restore. As you can see the tape still has color, but it's very dark. This video was filmed back in 1984 on a consumer camcorder, so I'm not sure what the limitations of enhancement would be.

[Dr_Layne]

Images don't seem to be working

[Dr_Layne]

[lordsmurf]

Use GIF or JPEG.... PNG's do not work for some reason.

[Dr_Layne]

[lordsmurf]

Cannot have spaces in image names either.

[Dr_Layne]

Ok last try.

[lordsmurf]

Image too small to help.

Looks dark. What else?

[gshelley61]

Here's how I see the choice between the Elite Video BVP-4 and the SignVideo Proc Amp:

If you have video sources with rather challenging color balance issues, the BVP-4 is a very effective tool. It has exceptionally wide adjustment ranges and a couple of cool features (like "black restore") that I have not seen on other processors. It is easily the most powerful hardware video corrector that I tested. The only downside is that in the hands of a novice it is very easy to push the processed video signal way out of standard and thus cause problems for some televisions during playback. This can be avoided by monitoring the video output level with a luminance meter (like the one in the Vidicraft Proc Amp, for instance).

On the other hand, if your sources are generally very good (like laserdiscs and first generation videotape) and really only need light to moderate correction, the SignVideo Proc Amp offers a higher degree of image pass-through quality and accuracy while providing a great adjustment tool - an LED black level/luminance meter. This is the situation I am in, so I prefer the SignVideo unit overall. I use it in combination with the DR-1000 Image Enhancer, and am very happy with the results I am getting.

LS is in the video conversion business and runs into lots of video sources that need a substantial amount of correction - so the BVP-4 makes the most sense for his needs.

The Vidicraft Proc Amp is basically a vintage version of the SignVideo Proc Amp. It also is a great choice (and economical) as far as image quality is concerned... but is composite video only, and has no black level (brightness) adjustment.

[Dr_Layne]

Here's a "worst case scenerario" of the types of video I'm trying to clean up. The green bar on the left is from converting a PAL VHS to NTSC using a comworld video convertor. That can be masked, no big deal. I know there's nothing I can do about the timecode bar. As you can see the color is still there, but it's a bit washed out and the color seems to have shifted.

[lordsmurf]

Well, that can be improved with the Elite, this I know. Maybe gshelley will come back to comment on the SignVideo potential.

The black level would be handy (maybe), would have to turn several knobs, that's for sure. Several problems I see here.

[gshelley61]

I agree with LS. The BVP-4 is better suited to deal with something in this kind of shape, definitely.

[Dr_Layne]

Several problems I see here.

Agreed. The tape is of unkwown generation. My guess it's from an NTSC source that's been converted to PAL and I'm converting it back again. I'm shcoked there's any color left in it at all. Then there's the saying "garbage in garbage out". But sometimes this is as good as it's going to get. I archive rare Pink Floyd and related video and most of the time the sources I find are less than ideal. I may start with the sign video processor only because the company has a 30 day money back garentee and see how that does. Thanks for the advice Lord Smurf and GShelly.

Steve

[gshelley61]

Here's an example of what enhancement can do for a good video source...

First, a frame from A Christmas Carol laserdisc with George C. Scott as Scrooge. This is straight from the composite out of my Pioneer CLD-D704 laserdisc player and captured to MPEG2 with a JVC DR-M10 DVD recorder set at FR100 (one hour, forty minutes):




Same frame, but this time the composite video signal was enhanced (sharpened) with a Vidicraft Detailer III and color corrected with the SignVideo Proc Amp (mainly the black and luma was adjusted):




When played back, the enhanced version looks more dynamic and film-like... and the blacks look black. The unaltered one looks pretty good, but is a bit soft and a little hazy. Keep in mind the JVC DVD recorder does some very mild automatic enhancement and noise reduction during the encoding process, which makes even the unaltered version look pretty decent.