what should I get for VCR (VHS) to PC (DVD)?

[yic17]

Hi.

I have been using Dazzle 100 for a while now.
It is fine capturing from VHS to mpeg-2 files.
I am able to fit 4 hours of video into a DVD after all the editing and rendering.

the problem is, the quality of the video is pretti BAD comparing to the quality on the VHS.
it's not because of the editing or rendering.
the quality of the original file after the capture is the same after the edited file.

I just wanna know if there are other product I can buy to get a better quality.

thanks.

[yoda313]

Hi,

I always recommend the hauppauge wintv pvr250 for mpeg hardware capturing. The end results are very good and look just like the original source.

[rumplestiltskin]

Part of the problem may be the "4 hours". If the mpeg-2 files you've captured look fine, then it probably -is- the post-capture processing that is the issue. If whatever you are using to edit isn't hurting the quality, then the re-encoding to make it fit into one DVD probably is. Try to limit a DVD to 2 hours and see if the problem disappears.

[thecoalman]

Part of the problem may be the "4 hours".

I would think that would be the whole problem..... :P

He says his capture file is as bad as the authored file soooooooo.....Having a quick look at the specs of the capture device it says it will capture at 720x480, doesn't mention a bitrate though. Anyhow I would make sure your capture settings are a minimal 720x480 6000kbps.

Maintain that or whatever else you pick throughout your editing, authoring process, use software that wll only renecode the parts that you have edited.

[rumplestiltskin]

Coming from VHS I'd probably be happy with 3500kb or thereabouts. There's a distinct lack of sharpness and "quality" from VHS that increasing the bitrate will not restore. However, please try a few minutes at various bitrates and burn to an RW for testing.

[presto]

I use a Dazzle 150 and capture with Pinnacle Studio 9 at 352x480 and 4000kbs. The results are great.

[yic17]

thanks for all the replies.

I use moviestar 5 that come with the Dazzle 100.
and I set the quality to DVD default which is 720x480 with 6000kbps bitrate.

the original file's filesize can only fit 2 hours into a DVD.
I edit with VideoStudio 9 and use Tmpgenc to shrink the filesize down.
but I don't see that much different in quality though.

actually, maybe I shouldn't say the quality is BAD.
but compare to VHS, it loses a lot of the quality.

it's like VHS is high quality avi movie while the captured file is low quality mpeg movie..

[yic17]

is it actually possible for the mpeg-2 file to get as good quality as the VHS?
like a high quality movie.

by the way, I checked out the WinTV PVR-350.
but I don't see where you can connect the VCR to the card.

[rumplestiltskin]

If you're capturing at 640x480 (the native of VHS), that will keep quality. Remember that mpeg2 is, by definition, lossy compression so keep your initial capture bitrate high. You might find that authoring for a DVD-9 and then running the resulting VIDEO_TS folder through DVdShrink may be the easiest and best quality (If you absolutely must have 4 hours on the disc). Otherwise, 640x480 and keep the capture to the "DVD 2 hour" setting.

[yic17]

the thing is, the captured original file using Dazzle 100 at 720x480 6000 bitrate already has a lesser quality than the original VHS quality.

I am wondering if it is possible for any device to get the quality as good as the VHS quality.

since my Dazzle 100 doesn't give me that.

[yoda313]

Yes the wintv pvr series has a rf antenna input and a svideo input as well as a headphone sized audio input jack. As I said the wintv pvr 250 gives me excellent vhs mpeg captures.

[trhouse]

Here is an original THX test image from a dvd movie, "ICE AGE".



This is that image after it was recorded from a Panasonic dvd player into a Sony VCR using a Sony tape in SP mode. The VHS tape was then played back from the Sony VCR into a Panasonic DMR-ES10 dvd recorder.


This is the result when the same image is copied directly from the Panasonic dvd player into the Panasonic recorder in SP mode ( 2 hour mode ).


The same except recorded to the ES10 in LP mode ( 4 hour mode ).


Some of the images were resized to 640 by 480, the VHS capture image was not. There are many recorders and capture devices capable of mpegs of this quality. A number of them were tested on this thread,

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279460&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlig...20test&start=0

[yic17]

what are the major differences between WinTV 250 and 350??

[thecoalman]

the thing is, the captured original file using Dazzle 100 at 720x480 6000 bitrate already has a lesser quality than the original VHS quality.

If that's the case I'd suggest getting a new device. Before you do though..... Capture a short clip at that, import it into VS9, don't edit, don't do anything to it.... Author it to disc making sure to check to the "do not convert compliant file" box. Make sure when the dialog box comes up telling yopu what it's doing when it gets to the converting files part that it goes right past it....

Keep in mind that video you view on your monitor will look a lot better on TV.

AS for devices the ones Yoda suggested get a lot of praise around here, For AVI capture I'd suggest a Canopus ADVC. that will get you a file that is nearly indistiguishable from what is on VHS.

[rumplestiltskin]

The 250/350 cards have separate chips for audio and video capture (the 150 uses 1). The 350 has composite video out (and, IIRRC, audio also) whereas the 250 does not. This makes the 350 ideal for "media center" (not necessarily MS MCE) use.

If you don't want to mess around with installing anything, thecoalman's advice about the analog media converter (Canopus, etc.) is sound. You'll end up with DV-Stream (as long as you don't use MS Movie Maker which wraps it inside a proprietary AVI wrapper) and then may export from your editing app as m2v and mp2 for your authoring tool.

[yic17]

if there's anymore questions, I'll come back for more.

thanks for all the help.