How to improve dark VHS picture?

[rbatty11]

I'm converting an old commercial release VHS movie to DVD. The VHS source is very dark to begin with, and I'd like to "brighten" it up a bit. My setup is a JVC DVHS (40k model) to JVC DRM100S DVD recorder..

I've invested in a used Feral Effect E422 TBC and am tampering around with the black level (Setup) and color corrector adjustments.. But I really have no idea what the 'optimal' settings are supposed to be. Seems the settings I've tried yield an 'unnatural' end video image, i.e., like cranking up brightness and decreasing black level. Suggestions??

Or is it wiser to xfr the VHS directly to my pc (using Canopus ADVC100) and then attempt to clean up and brighten, using filters?? Thanks.

[etecnifibre]

I'm sure there is a way to do it that is better than what I've done, but I have had luck with putting a darker basketball game on my computer and using Ulead Media Studio with a brightness filter and it turned out very well.

[lordsmurf]

Full proc amp.

[davideck]

I've invested in a used Feral Effect E422 TBC and am tampering around with the black level (Setup) and color corrector adjustments.

Did you try adjusting the TBC Video Gain?
The Video Gain and Black Level adjustments together should help.

[rbatty11]

What is a 'full processor amp'?? Is that the same as a detailer?

I've tried adjusting the black level, but not sure what the 'TBC Video Gain' is..?? I read thru the manual but don't recall anything referring to it. Could it be referred to by another term?

[davideck]

The typical proc amp controls are;

Black Level => Brightness
Video Gain (Video Level?) => Contrast
Chroma Phase => Hue or Tint
Chroma Level => Saturation

Some TBCs also have "unity" switches for each control that disable them and substitute a factory default.

What controls does your TBCs have?
Is the manual online?

[rbatty11]

Davideck, OK.. the Feral has all of those options/settings.. I particularly concentrated on the black level and contrast (brightness) to try to get a decent end picture.. but for some reason, it tends to look..um.. 'washed out'..or a bit..'dull' and not natural. I don't know the technical term to use.

Unfortunately, no online manual, but here's a brief synopsis I copied:

Feral Effect Unit is an excellent tool for transfer of VHS and other low quality, jittery analog video sources to high quality video formats. Improves low quality and jitter with full frame synchronization, time base correction, color control and video setup levels. Makes transfer possible from sources that normally would be too unstable for re-recording to DVD, computer or other digital recording devices. Output is analog S-Video or Composite. This one has the Video Combiner inputs for adding text or video boxes to your Video. 1U high for Middle Atlantic or similar 19" racks.

Stores full frame of video; Transcodes Composite, S-Video; Hue and color control; Video and setup level of the input signal; picture effects; RS-232C port; BNC connection for Composite; 4-pin S-Video connector, external genlock. tbc

Which adjustments should I be concentrating on? I will try tonight when I get home. Thanks.

[davideck]

but for some reason, it tends to look..um.. 'washed out'..or a bit..'dull' and not natural. I don't know the technical term to use.

That sounds about normal for this situation.

Which adjustments should I be concentrating on?

The Video level and Setup level are the two controls to try adjusting together.

[rbatty11]

OK.. I think the 'video level' is the LUM button on the unit (luminance). I've black level (called Setup) and LUM.. I'll have to live with a littled 'wash out'..

But another problem now exists that was not there before.. Across the top of the video, there now exists a flickering horizontal band (about ~1" height).. meanng all the way across the very top portion of the entire picture/screen. It appears as though there is interference of some sort but unsure.. It's also there when viewing local/over the air antennae of the JVC DVHS unit (the source), as well as when I play the original VHS tape that I'm trying to transfer..

What is this and how can I get rid of it?? Help w/b much appreciated. Thanks.

[tweedledee]

You can lighten up video in Virtual dub Mod. Click on/video/filters/add/then choose brightness/contrast.

[FulciLives]

OK.. I think the 'video level' is the LUM button on the unit (luminance). I've black level (called Setup) and LUM.. I'll have to live with a littled 'wash out'..

But another problem now exists that was not there before.. Across the top of the video, there now exists a flickering horizontal band (about ~1" height).. meanng all the way across the very top portion of the entire picture/screen. It appears as though there is interference of some sort but unsure.. It's also there when viewing local/over the air antennae of the JVC DVHS unit (the source), as well as when I play the original VHS tape that I'm trying to transfer..

What is this and how can I get rid of it?? Help w/b much appreciated. Thanks.

If you increase LUMINANCE too much you can get a distorted picture. Perhaps that is what you have done.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[rbatty11]

Actually, I thought maybe I overdid it with LUM but the bad is still there when I decrease level all the way down.. Even stranger is that I didn't have this problem when I xfrd the same VHS 2 prior times.. While I didn't like the quality of the xfrs, the flickering band across the top of the screen was not there.

We had a power outage few days ago.. could that be the cause? Maybe some grounding problem? But not sure how to troubleshoot and fix. This is frustrating.. deal w/one problem, another arises.. Can someone advise? Thank you.

[gshelley61]

An increase in Luma (video level, white level, contrast) generally requires a corresponding decrease of Setup (black level, brightness). This may be why your picture looks washed out... the blacks are gray instead of black, and the boost in Luma may be too hot (causing the image distortion).

[rbatty11]

Yes, I figured that 'compensating' factor of lum and black levels after playing around with settings..

But what the heck is that damned horizontal streak/bar across the whole top of the screen?? More importantly, how do remove?

[TBuTcher]

rbatty11,
Do you still have the manual for your Feral Effect unit?
I have purchased two of them and have no manual.
How many pages is it?
If I sent you some Paypal money could you scan it in and email it through?
Hope you can help, because I have no idea how to use them
Thanks heaps
Haydn
Brisbane Australia

[edDV]

It was a rare commercial VHS release that had bad levels. It was probably the intent of the director. VHS as a medium has poor signal to noise. Any major change to black level or contrast will emphsize the noise.

If the movie is important to you, get the DVD and adjust that. As a medium, DVD has about a 20dB noise advantage. The film master may not be that clean.