VHS Professional Capturing (best VCR, Best Hardware, Software)

[TubeBar]

I've been putting this off for a few years mainly due to time and money, but recently decided it's time to start looking into what I need.

For VCRs (need to start there before I worry about other hardware) I have looked at some JVC S-VHS VCRs, pro units for editing (I don't need to edit on VHS) but those seem to be the best and this site seems to be OK for professional refurbished units: https://spencertified.com/collections/s-video-svhs-super-vhs-player-recorders/jvc?grid...list=grid-view

I'm a dummy with it but Super VHS is compatible w/ the old normal VHS? Will S-VHS support component output as that's the best to work in.

I'm in NTSC land so I need NTSC units.

For capture devices I was looking into Blackmagicdesign https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/developer/product/capture-and-playback my only problem is none of my computers are desktops (iMac i9, Macbook, PC all-in-one Envy i7) I'm limited to external device, not sure they are as good but not going to buy desktop just for this.

As for capture software, I am used to working in Premier Pro and FCP but read that they aren't the best software to use.

The last time I tried VHS capture was back in early 2000's w/ All-in-Wonder garage cards on a cheapy desktop w/ ulead capture. Things have since changed since then.

What does everyone recommend for this? Esp. the VCR as that's the most difficult to obtain.

[Eric-jan]

Ah, those prices for vcr's in that link are very expensive !(I guess VCRSHOP.NL is no option for you, but is cheaper though, and NTSC models are also available) as for component… you have to check out, if it's not only for DVD is the device is combo recorder, ManualsLib has a lot of manuals to search for, SuperVHS VCR's also have an S-video output (miniDIN connector) maybe some of the pro versions have BNC connectors, Do not look only for JVC devices, Panasonic may have more options and more widely available, I have better experiences with Panasonic due to the Diga/VHS refresh "feature".
If a dvd recorder or combo has a HDMI video output that's also a nice feature, but again, with a combo device, it should also output the VHS part not just the DVD part.

Panasonic VCR's with at the end a "V" means that these can also playback SuperVHS tapes at normal VHS resolution.(S-VHS Quasi Playback) a VCR should minimal also be HiFi sound track compatible, for good sound.

a PCI HDMI input card for a PC, would be a good choice, but is not an option i understand from you.
Instead Adobe Premiere Pro, or FCP you also can take a look at Davinci Resolve, which is free software, the others need periodical payments, only the Studio version, which you don't need, needs a one time payment.
The harware you have (MAC) is exellent for post production (editing), When you have a stable analog video signal, you should convert that to SDI or HDMI and record that to a field recorder like a BMD Video Assist, or Ninja V, (you already saved some money by not paying for an expensive refurbished VCR) you can record to ProRes422LT which is a codec for edit in post production which is easy to do and have smooth edit-playback.
Otherwise an Elgato USB HDMI capture device will also do, the China USB HDMI capture sticks will not do, Brightness and colors will be all over the place.
The more pro capture or convert devices will have no option for 525p60, these will do only 525i60 ….you have to check for that if you want to defeat macrovision over (progressive) component video out.
Like said, capturing analog video with a computer is tricky these days, details are very important in that case, not being able to place a PCI card into a computer makes things even more difficult.

[TubeBar]

Thank you for your help Eric.

Unfortunately that site is very expensive for those VCRs but I will keep looking. I will also look at Panasonic.

I am used to doing all post production and editing in FCP and Adobe, I prefer FCO since I own it (you can't own any Adobe these days it's all subscription). I've always used ProRes 422 HQ is LT just as good for VHS? I think LT is a step sown so smaller file size.

I didn't know Davinci Resolve had a free version, oddly I have never used that software but everyone seems to love it.

I don't really have any reason to defeat MacroVision per se but from memory the older VCRs I had in my younger years ignored the protection. Then later VCRs did not. The issue is for "Macrovision friendly" VCRs they handle errors poorly. Since there are these pro units (I never knew about) will they stabilize the video? For me consumer VCRs that ignored Macrovision were better quality as far as video stabilizing is concerned and error handling. That technology forced VCRs to be made poorly just so their errors would work.

I didn't know they had VCRs w/ HDMI. What I do not want is any hardware or video processing done on-the-fly. It's always best to capture native which for NTSC VHS I am not sure what that is? It's analog and there goes my expertise. I assume it's 525i60? Wouldn't I want to capture interlaced and in post deinterlace? I'll have to research field recorder as that's a new one for me.

I have seen the Elgato USB HDMI devices before, until I get a very good VCR w/ proper connectors I am not sure what I am going to do. I always assumed for native capture Component would be the best you can get? Not sure if there is an HDMI out what that means? I thought HDMI was digital so I assumed it would be digitally processing the image which not sure that's a good thing.

Thanks you've given me plenty to further research and hopefully find a better price shop. I will check out VCRSHOP.NL but even if they do ship to the US the extra shipping is going to mke it not worth while Finding a reliable shop is not easy.

[Barrythecrab]

I do not advocate these sites, but they seem legitimate…always do your homework .
Tekrevolt
Porter Electronics
Spencertified
T Grant Photo
Southern Advantage
Maybe your local TV repair shop (getting rare) has a decent leftover…

[Eric-jan]

I think if you can capture from component that would be nice, I love my Panasonic DMR-ES35V for that, i used that also with my Intensity Shuttle (thunderbolt2) but since i don't need to to defeat Macrovision, i now use my ES35V > BMD analog to SDI (mini) converter > 5" BMD Video Assist recorder, it records to any ProRes422 codec, and saves it to a SD flash card, i can putt into my MacBook Pro Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015 8 GB 1867 MHz DDR3 Intel Iris Graphics 6100 1536 MB MAC OS Sierra.
ProRes422LT does well for me if your system can handle the other codecs too, thats fine you get larger files but better quality, which doesn't matter that much for VHS, as long as you see no "banding" in color fields, it means it's okay, you can do some test, if you like.
It all depends what you can afford to spend the money and time on, the workflow should also be not that difficult…
(FCP is an Apple product, and ProRes also, so that is a good combination also..)

[Eric-jan]

Barrythecrab also gives some good advice, thriftstores can also be added to that to find VCR's or DVD recorders… i'm in a PAL region, Netherlands, so i don't have the NTSC region experience..
btw ,for HDMI on consumer devices, you need to defeat HDCP, but converting component from a consumer device to HDMI, gives no problem on the HDMI or SDI output.
Some of the cheap China HDMI devices can defeat HDCP by them selves, which is the only good thing

[lordsmurf]

I'm a dummy with it but Super VHS is compatible w/ the old normal VHS?

In fact, many S-VHS decks will output quality that making a "normal" VHS VCR look like junk (because it really sort of is).

Will S-VHS support component output as that's the best to work in.

No. You never want component (essentially RGB). To arrive at component, the video must be processed. In NTSC especially, it's always a bad thing.

What you want is s-video (separated video, which separated luma from chroma, sort of a RB+G).

The lowest end is composite (all video signals smushed/composited together), the "yellow wire". That's what the basic consumer VHS decks had. While composite itself is not bad, the implementation almost always is, especially consumer VCRs. It gets color bleeding, dot noise/crawl, and fuzzy soft video.

For capture devices I was looking into Blackmagicdesign

Do not do this. Overpriced, not good quality for SD, and known issues with capture even with TBCs in use.

PC all-in-one Envy i7) I'm limited to external device, not sure they are as good but not going to buy desktop just for this.

There are several good options available, but it depends heavily on OS.

As for capture software, I am used to working in Premier Pro and FCP but read that they aren't the best software to use.

No, not for capture. Leave the editors for editing. For capture, use VirtualDub.

The last time I tried VHS capture was back in early 2000's w/ All-in-Wonder garage cards on a cheapy desktop w/ ulead capture. Things have since changed since then.

AIW cards were, and still are, some of the best cards ever made for SD analog video capture. Ulead was never good, but you'd use ATI MMC or VirtualDub with the AIW. These days, you'll mostly use VirtualDub, no real reason to use MPEG capture now. (Special situations only, mostly for certain hobby needs. Not converting home movies.)

What does everyone recommend for this? Esp. the VCR as that's the most difficult to obtain.

VCRs are not difficult to locate, but rather VCRs in proper working condition. And you cannot trust a random nobody seller to know what "properly working" means, since most think seeing LED lights is it. Or slamming in a random ratty VHS tape (Home Alone, TMNT, Batman, whatever), and seeing any quality picture, hearing any quality audio, is "working". BS, not real tests.

TBCs are getting harder to find now. Again, not just any random POS.

Even some models of capture cards have seemingly vanished.

So the longer you wait, the worse it gets. But costs and availability, due to aging and condition.

Ah, those prices for vcr's in that link are very expensive !

Unfortunately that site is very expensive for those VCRs

Both of you are very incorrect here.
What are your numbers based on? (Hopefully not eBay, aka the dumping ground of bad video gear.)
I hate to be blunt here, but a lot of people use pulled-from-ass math based on nothing to arrive at random figures of what something "should" cost.

Eric-jan is well known here as being a cheapskate (not derision, just factual) , often to the detriment of his video quality. Maybe someday he'll come across cheap proper gear, though still as unlikely as it always has been. Attempting to be cheap is always interesting, but it's rarely good advice for others. Ask yourself: do you want to fart around with video gear forever, or do you want to actually accomplish the project without much fuss and aggravation?

Here's a better price reference for you:

Regular VHS VCRs (ie, low-end decks, mediocre to lousy image quality) were easily in the $500 range in the early 80s, and that eroded to about $125 into the late 90s. What existed in the 00s was mostly garbage decks married to DVD players/recorders.

"Prosumer" decks (those used by hobbyists, pros, well-off consumers) were about a deck later to the scene (late 70s = VHS, late 80s = prosumer), and had a 2x-5x premium based on the advanced features. These are not "bells and whistles" (a truly dumbass phrase), but filters and features to improve image and audio quality. Many of the better prosumer decks are what you want for digitizing tapes. For example, JVC S-VHS with line TBCs. Not low-end junk.

As an example, one of the decks, at one of those links, was more than twice as much when new in the 00s. Costs to refurb it are quite high, and requires donor decks. I'm actually curious how he can ask such a low price. (And that makes me wonder what "refurbished" actually means to that seller. Hint: it should involved more than wiping it with a rag, which is sadly what it means to some folks.)

"Pro" decks are not better, but merely different, for a long-gone different era. Editing decks, medical decks, surveillance decks. Specialty stuff with zero or near-zero value now. Those all generally had $2k+ costs. Most have extreme limitations, and do not work well with home/consumer tapes well, or at all. Certain pro decks were created specifically for handling consumer sources, such as Panasonic AG-1980P, an excellent exception to the rule -- though with all the downsides too, as that's a money pit model deck.

Do not compare quality decks to thrift/eBay prices. That's like comparing a new car to something that "seems fine" that you found in an abandoned barn. No.

And remember: buy it, use it, resell it, it holds value. Video gear is not a sunk cost. You don't buy it, use it, then toss it in a drawer or closet, or even trash it. (FYI, that mentality is a reason gear is now hard to find.) The better the gear, the more resale value stays intact. If you buy crap, it's yours forever.

I think if you can capture from component that would be nice,)

No, bad advice.
- In general, not good.
- I'm not aware of a single NTSC scenario where this will not screw up video output for capture.
- For PAL, it can be very hit-or-miss.

I love my Panasonic DMR-ES35V for that, i used that also with my Intensity Shuttle (thunderbolt2) but since i don't need to to defeat Macrovision, i now use my ES35V > BMD analog to SDI (mini) converter > 5" BMD Video Assist recorder, it records to any ProRes422 codec, and saves it to a SD flash card, i can putt into my MacBook Pro Retina, 13-inch,

While that is functional, quality can be an issue, and often has been the case. Even samples that you have posted, as "proof" is it being quality, have shown quality issues. I still remember when you posted samples that were a blended deinterlace mess.

as long as you see no "banding" in color fields,

That's really a PAL only issue.

[thriftstores can also be added to that to find VCR's or DVD recorders…

No. Cheapskate advice.
You can also shop there for clothes, furniture, kitchen appliances, right? Few people will do that, and for good reason.

these sites

Some of us sell gear without having "sites" (store fronts).
FYI, with a low volume, maintaining a shopping cart site can be pure busy work, a PITA, a needless cost, and detracts from the actual work. It may give some potential buyers a warm-and-fuzzy feeling (some false notion of whatever), but there are many that also see it as the cold impersonal buying experience it is. I prefer to deal with folks one-on-one, help them find the solution that best meets needs and costs.

I didn't know Davinci Resolve had a free version, oddly I have never used that software but everyone seems to love it.

It deals in high compression only.

I don't really have any reason to defeat MacroVision per se but from memory the older VCRs I had in my younger years ignored the protection. Then later VCRs did not. The issue is for "Macrovision friendly" VCRs they handle errors poorly. Since there are these pro units (I never knew about) will they stabilize the video? For me consumer VCRs that ignored Macrovision were better quality as far as video stabilizing is concerned and error handling. That technology forced VCRs to be made poorly just so their errors would work.

Newbies (both those asking questions, and those giving advice) put too much emphasis on "Macrovision". It's simply an anti-copy, and artificial video errors. Those same newbies overlook the elephant in the room: natural video errors. That's what TBCs are needed, both line and field. JVC/Panasonic S-VHS VCRs have models with line TBCs, to clean the image. The frame cleans the signal, to allow proper error-free capture.

I have seen the Elgato USB HDMI devices before, until I get a very good VCR w/ proper connectors I am not sure what I am going to do. I always assumed for native capture Component would be the best you can get? Not sure if there is an HDMI out what that means? I thought HDMI was digital so I assumed it would be digitally processing the image which not sure that's a good thing.

Elgato makes terrible

Finding a reliable shop is not easy.

Too many shops use low end junk gear, and you could have done yourself using a thrift store and Amazon. Of course, the quality will equally suck. That's why you should seek better. Either better gear as a DIY, or a better shop with quality gear (and don't let them BS you with generalities).

you've given me plenty to further research

And now you have some more.

[Eric-jan]

Here we go again…. lordsmurf, you should not invent stories, to make other people look bad, just to sell your own stock, try to give some good advise, Just to say something is bad, is not enough, without any backup to explain that…. you only mention your negative side of it sofar...

[lollo]

Eric-jan, I sometimes disgree with him on specific technical points, but lordsmurf is not inventing stories here.

The quality flow is high end player, S-VHS VCR with Y/C output and lineTBC correction, together with one of the recommended capture card, capturing through a S-Video connection in lossless 4:2:2 format. A frameTBC may be required for tapes not in optimal conditions, which often happens.
A specific DVD-R recorder may help to support a lower quality VCR for stabilization (lineTBC correction) and/or for cleaning the signal (frameTBC correction) as lower cost workaround, but with introduction of other small problems.

Best capture cards are something like BrightEye75 and similar, but also few consumer cards are providing excellent quality as well, and some of them also works properly with modern OS like Windows 10 and Windows 11. Search posts from user brad for comparisons of many capture cards.

Windows enviroment is generally best for analog video capture, because easier usage/availibility of hardware and software.

Component signal path is not generally suggested, because the signal on tape is recorded as Y/C. But according to internal video signal processing in the player, there can be rare exceptions, see some of the posts from user oln here and on digitalfaq forums.

The BlackMagic cards for capturing SD analog signals suffer from the famous "black frames" introduction, when they dropped frame from an incoming signal not properly stabilized (a sample here: https://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-capture/13448-workflow-vhs-capture.html#post90419) and anyhow their quality is not always good (a sample here: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/410062-Which-capture-of-my-old-VHS-looks-the-best?...=1#post2694196)

OP can also consider a DV approach for analog capture, easy of use, but with (small) lower quality and not recommended if further restoration is planned.

OP can also consider a HDMI approach, where the role of the capture card is performed by a specific Panasonic DVD-R device; we had a detailed review of the results here: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/410065-The-old-war-of-opinion-Capture-8mm-tapes-in...DV-or-lossless within a comparison versus the DV approach (but not versus the "classic" approach described at the beginning of this post)

edit: fixed english errors

[Eric-jan]

Lot's of things mentioned are just not widely available, only few VCR's have s-video, quality wise not much difference with composite video, capturing lossless 4:2:2 is 10bit, (which composite or s-video is not) and generates extremely big files which is overkill for VHS quality, VHS is way lower in quality, capturing/transfering with a DV device works fine for PAL not for NTSC, (NTSC devices have IRE issues... PAL is always 0, NTSC can be 0 (Japan) or 7.5 (USA)due to the make) the BrighEye75 device is very rare and mostly owned by people in this group, hence the advise…
There's nothing wrong with BlackMagic Design equipment, (there are no "famous" black frames) they do expect a stable analog video signal, which even these TBC devices can't provide, I have no problems using BMD with my Panasonic DMR-ES35V combo via component video,(the other video outputs give also a stable signal) even long play recordings are fine, due to the VHS refresh feature where a normal TBC or JVC with build in TBC fails, going into details afther that is only nitpicking, like baked in errors that are hard to correct, most of them are already in the VHS recording, or hardware.
Any Operating system is good, only supporting drivers for old capture devices means you need to degrade the computer and operating system, which leaves not enough room for system performance, USB suffers also from that in that case.
Most consumer capture devices today are made for game capture, game consoles do have a stable video signal.

[lollo]

only few VCR's have s-video

So what? Use a high end VCR or add a specific device inpass-through mode

quality wise not much difference with composite video

You must be joking

generates extremely big files which is overkill for VHS quality

capturing lossless 4:2:2 is 10bit

You must be joking

generates extremely big files which is overkill for VHS quality

You must be joking

PAL is always 0, NTSC can be 0 (Japan) or 7.5 (USA)

Which is completely out of contest.

BrighEye75 device is very rare...

There are many other excellent alternatives

going into details afther that is only nitpicking, like baked in errors that are hard to correct, most of them are already in the VHS recording, or hardware.

Bullshit. A proper workflaw correct many errors. Of course, baked error "cannot" be corrected, but that' another story.

Any Operating system is good, only supporting drivers for old capture devices means you need to degrade the computer and operating system, which leaves not enough room for system performance, USB suffers also from that in that case.

I do not know what yoy are talking about

For all the rest, sorry to say that, many of us have seen your captures in the last years, and they were crap, as reported in this forum. You can give your newby advices ad lordsmurf said, but do not belittle the advices given by others with incorrect statements.

[Eric-jan]

Like said, again comments without substance, thank you.

[lollo]

comments without substance

Really? Contrary to you, I always add facts and links to what I say. For BM cards capturing analog SD, you can just search here, digitalfaq and also the excellent german forum https://gleitz-info.translate.goog/forum/index.php?board/29-analoges-video-capturing/&...x_tr_pto=wappy

Like I said, you must be joking. Thanks for the fun time you are giving

[Eric-jan]

comments without substance

Really? Contrary to you, I always add facts and links to what I say. For BM cards capturing analog SD, you can just search here, digitalfaq and also the excellent german forum https://gleitz-info.translate.goog/forum/index.php?board/29-analoges-video-capturing/&...x_tr_pto=wappy

Like I said, you must be joking. Thanks for the fun time you are giving

Look at the dates of those posts…. they're old, (Germany is a PAL region) most of those devices aren't for sale anymore, just like the "guides" here and on DigitalFaq, again not helpfull,
Using a computer is just too much work today to capture analog video, one needs lots of luck or money. most consumer capture devices are just trash to work with analog video.

[lollo]

Using a computer is just too much work today to capture analog video, one needs lots of luck or money

Your opinion. I disagree.

most consumer capture devices are just trash.

That's why we do recommendations!

Also consider that OP asked for "Professional" capturing in the title of his thread

[Eric-jan]

Using a computer is just too much work today to capture analog video, one needs lots of luck or money

Your opinion. I disagree.

most consumer capture devices are just trash.

That's why we do recommendations!

Also consider that OP asked for "Professional" capturing in the title of his thread

Well, there is no recent good equipment, (or VCR's) that are made to professional capture VHS to date, there's only old equipment, in very small amounts, if still working at all,
professional capture cards that are not that expensive are those from Blackmagic Design, (not designed for VHS) the other brands are expensive, again aslo not made for VHS, but way overkill for VHS, none of these cards have build-in TBC's (hence not made for VHS) and still need a stable video signal.
Any old professional TBC was made for studio equipment, also often in combination with refference, and genlock connections.
So, does even "professional" capturing VHS exists ? it's just patching up a workflow/setup, which is different each time, depending the hardware used, trying to do the best with it.

[lollo]

TBCs was made for studio equipment, Professional TBCs, genlock, references,

What the hell are you talking about?

none of these cards have build-in TBC's

You must be joking.

it's just patching up a workflow/setup, which is different each time, depending the hardware used, trying to do the best with it.

Read again second paragraph in post #9 https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/410404-VHS-Professional-Capturing-%28best-VCR-Best...=1#post2697892 "The quality flow is ..." and stop your non sense and confusing blah blah blah about the sex of the angels.

[Eric-jan]

I'm not the OP bye.

[lollo]

I'm not the OP

Read anyhow 😉

bye

Bye!

[TubeBar]

Thanks for all the input and insight. It's OK to have a heated debate over these things, I get it. I'm researching and digesting everything.

@lollo I viewed some of your videos on YouTube and they look amazing! I won't ask about what you use etc. for that now, save that for another time.

[Eric-jan]

Thanks for all the input and insight. It's OK to have a heated debate over these things, I get it. I'm researching and digesting everything.

@lollo I viewed some of your videos on YouTube and they look amazing! I won't ask about what you use etc. for that now, save that for another time.

Sorry to be a party pooper, but i only see SuperVHS captures on the Lollo link, that's not realistic, the time SuperVHS was introduced, VHS was going out, so most VHS recordings are not SuperVHS,
Plus, the recordings are from digital tv, not analog over the air recordings.
At that (later) time i had a TopField FTA sat box, i removed the HDD out of it, connected to my pc, and transfered the MPEG2 files of it, with the Windows Altair tool.

[lordsmurf]

In the thread title was "VHS Professional Capturing". It wasn't "VHS Capturing with Cheapest Gear, Laziest Method".

... but also understanding that "professional" is misleading to newbies, who often wrongly proclaim "I just need good quality, not professional quality". However, it's a synonym. No specialized "pro only" methods or hardware is needed, as it's just consumer level analog sources (VHS, Hi8, DV, etc). In fact, you don't want "pro equipment" whatsoever. You want the best gear for consumers, aka "prosumer" (because it was made for consumers that demanded quality, but was also good enough for many lower level pro tasks).

So all the talk about DVD recorders, DV boxes, etc = silly talk here.

Pushback against TBCs, S-VHS VCRs, etc --- that's purely 100% due to being cheap. There is gear available at all budget levels, but the tradeoff is that every shortcut and price cut results in more failed tapes, more issues, more nuisance, more loss of sanity trying to do the project. You pay either way, frustration/sanity or money, pick one. Or rather, pick your %. Too many folks pick 99% nuisance (video hell), 1% money, and the output quality sucks.

Now, I'm all for being cheap, under the right conditions. For example, I rarely buy brand-name groceries. Store brands can be half price. The commodities (eggs, bread) are often identical, others are sourced from the same manufacturer, and many taste identical or near-identical. (I also shop sales, use coupons. I'm thrifty. That saved cash let's me splurge on the items that really matter, like good video gear, when the extra spend makes a big difference.)

Video is not a commodity. Everything in the path from recording to capture/ingest to playback viewing matters. If you cheap out on the wrong item, you can seriously wipe out 50%+ of the quality. It's often not a little 1% here, 2% there scenario, when it comes to ingest/digitizing/capture.

But what really gets me is how some people make crap up, lie, omit, etc, just to "prove" their cheap method is best.

I constantly point out imperfections, flaws, and failings of various gear and methods. It's why there is not, and can never be, "one method to rule them all". It is very case by case, and it's why I help others find the right gear for their needs (as I've done for decades now). But all cases still use quality hardware and software, just with an adjustment here or there to compensate for the exact scenario (needs, costs/budget, etc). Some low-knowledge users have latched onto this as further "proof" that their methods are viable ("nothing is perfect, duh"), when it's not whatsoever -- at least if you care about actual quality, not "potato quality".

When it comes to information online, you must vet the information, and the users it comes from. Learn to discern. It's usually obvious, but sometimes it takes a mild prod for them to reveal themselves, as happened in this thread.

[Eric-jan]

Okay, i agree to certain extend with that lordsmurf, but the way i see it in perspective is, it has no use to advise hard to get items, and yes, not all info on the internet is correct, and one needs to have some basic knowledge first, because i hate to see people spending money in the wrong place without that proper knowledge, also, some people are not afther the top notch quality, and are happy for the found memories they can make easily accesable through digitalisation, not all are that high up to level of understanding, or have much time next to their daytime job for this.
I share my experiences, it's only getting harder these days to convert VHS, due to "progress" sometimes one has to take a step back, or have lots of money.
Your "pointing out" the flaws is in a large portion of your posts, on one hand it's good, but it makes it a very "dark view" of it, i like to be positive.

[lollo]

Sorry to be a party pooper, but i only see SuperVHS captures on the Lollo link, that's not realistic, the time SuperVHS was introduced, VHS was going out, so most VHS recordings are not SuperVHS,
Plus, the recordings are from digital tv, not analog over the air recordings.
At that (later) time i had a TopField FTA sat box, i removed the HDD out of it, connected to my pc, and transfered the MPEG2 files of it, with the Windows Altair tool.

I do not know why you are not able to understand what is written in the text of the videos I publish on YouTube. They are all analog captures from S-VHS or VHS tapes, recorded by a JVC S-VHS VCR, with the source being an Analog Signal coming from a terrestrial antenna or from the Y/C output of a DVB-S set top box.

No digital dump, they are all pure analog signals recorded on tape, and digitized with the described workflow.

In addition, to show some facts, I compared the analog record/capture with a dumb of the DVB-S stream which was available some years later and that I transferred to the PC with a Hauppauge WinTV DVB-S in pva format. You can find these videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVRkQQxODf8&list=PLCvrZEXO1laEwh0t1l_VM-U_n5a8mjab- where you can also see how a proper recording/capture in the analog domain is not too different from a dump of a digital stream.

Concerning S-VHS you should know that, compared to VHS, only the luminance has a higher bandwidth, allowing a higher resolution, all the rest being the same.
What really makes the difference is the usage of a high end S-VHS player, the condition of the tapes and the capture device. Here you can find a comparison between a capture of a tape of mine with the described workflow (on the right) and a capture I did with the same devices, but where the tape has been recorded in VHS (not S-VHS) from a terrestrial analog antenna and using a Panasonic not S-VHS but VHS VCR (on the left):

compare_vhs_s-vhs.avi

I'll leave to you the conclusions...

If there is something that you do not understand just ask, instead of writing your non sense as usual!

edit: the comparison vhs/s-vhs is between raw captures without any restoration

[lollo]

@lollo I viewed some of your videos on YouTube and they look amazing! I won't ask about what you use etc. for that now, save that for another time.

The origin of that page was to highlight some of the common problems that I faced trying to restore my analog captures with AviSynth: over-processing, plastic look, enhaced halos, etc... and to find solutions for problematic field architectures, suc as PAL static and dynamic phase shift, conversions from NTSC, mix of interlaced and progressive materials, together with some really weird sequence of fields/frames.

Some of them do not show problems, that's why you may find them good.

Also keep in mind that YouTube introduces a small degradation while compressing the videos, that we try to limit upscaling the video source to 1440x1080 prior the uploading. The original restored captures are a little bit better than what you see on YT

The details of the capture and the restoration are described in the videos. If you have any question, just ask

[Eric-jan]

I do not know why you are not able to understand what is written in the text of the videos I publish on YouTube. They are all analog captures from S-VHS or VHS tapes, recorded by a JVC S-VHS VCR, with the source being an Analog Signal coming from a terrestrial antenna or from the Y/C output of a DVB-S set top box.

No digital dump, they are all pure analog signals recorded on tape, and digitized with the described workflow.

In addition, to show some facts, I compared the analog record/capture with a dumb of the DVB-S stream which was available some years later and that I transferred to the PC with a Hauppauge WinTV DVB-S in pva format. You can find these videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVRkQQxODf8&list=PLCvrZEXO1laEwh0t1l_VM-U_n5a8mjab- where you can also see how a proper recording/capture in the analog domain is not too different from a dump of a digital stream.

Concerning S-VHS you should know that, compared to VHS, only the luminance has a higher bandwidth, allowing a higher resolution, all the rest being the same.
What really makes the difference is the usage of a high end S-VHS player, the condition of the tapes and the capture device. Here you can find a comparison between a capture of a tape of mine with the described workflow (on the right) and a capture I did with the same devices, but where the tape has been recorded in VHS (not S-VHS) from a terrestrial analog antenna and using a Panasonic not S-VHS but VHS VCR (on the left):


[Attachment 72541 - Click to enlarge]

I'll leave to you the conclusions...

If there is something that you do not understand just ask, instead of writing your non sense as usual!

edit: the comparison vhs/s-vhs is between raw captures without any restoration

what i mean is, are there any recordings coming from an analog tuner ? DVB-S is Digital Video Broadcasting from Satellite, DVB-T would be also digital but Terrestrial.
Recording from DVB-S over s-video connection with a SuperVHS recorder, would be the same recording from a DVD player with a SuperVHS VCR, and capturing that again over s-video, If you say: "recorded from an analog tuner" makes things clear, because you also mention DVB-S
I do have some tecnical knowledge and because of that, i know how to address those "things" clearly, because details matter.
The analog broadcast here in the Netherlands where very different in quality, movies, tv-series, depending on origin USA, UK or Germany, (Still analog cax cable system) i noticed German broadcast where sometime even better of quality, USA mostly bad, also due to conversion, some series where not shot on video, (thanks heaven)

[lollo]

I do have some tecnical knowledge

I really doubt about it.

An analog signal is an analog signal. When coming from a DVB-S top box at the time of SD, it could be even worst than from an analog antenna in good condition of receptions, because it was generated by, at that time, poor MPEG2 encoders and very low bitrate allocated to the transponders to save bandwidth.

Compare this analog capture from this tape recording with a JVC VCR the Y/C output of a set top box https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVujKG-zmF0 and this analog capture from a tape recording the composite signal from same JVC VCR internal analog tuner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxp7PVIcRms&t=98s. Which one is better? (P.S. the second shows a ghosting problem because bad reception)

[Bwaak]

I do not know why you are not able to understand what is written in the text of the videos I publish on YouTube. They are all analog captures from S-VHS or VHS tapes, recorded by a JVC S-VHS VCR, with the source being an Analog Signal coming from a terrestrial antenna or from the Y/C output of a DVB-S set top box.

You mean, played on an SVHS VCR? But have these tapes been originally recorded on an SVHS VCR? I thought all your samples on YT have been recorded on SVHS, maybe I haven't look at all of them.

Here you can find a comparison between a capture of a tape of mine with the described workflow (on the right) and a capture I did with the same devices, but where the tape has been recorded in VHS (not S-VHS) from a terrestrial analog antenna and using a Panasonic not S-VHS but VHS VCR (on the left)

This is not clear. The original tape on the left is VHS, but the tape on the right is SVHS?

[lollo]

I thought all your samples on YT have been recorded on SVHS, maybe I haven't look at all of them.

Yes, most of them are; there are also some commercial VHS tapes and some tapes recorded on standard VHS VCR but captured playing them with the S-VHS VCR.

This is not clear. The original tape on the left is VHS, but the tape on the right is SVHS?

Sorry, I really need to improve my english

On the left, a TV program recorded on a VHS tape from a terrestrial signal using a simple VHS Panasonic VCR and its analog tuner.
On the right, the same TV program, recorded on a S-VHS tape by a S-VHS JVC VCR fed with the Y/C output of a set top box.

[Bwaak]

On the left, a TV program recorded on a VHS tape from a terrestrial signal using a simple VHS Panasonic VCR and its analog tuner.
On the right, the same TV program, recorded on a S-VHS tape by a S-VHS JVC VCR fed with the Y/C output of a set top box.

Er... so you are comparing not just workflows, but two different sources. Not fair This is exactly what Xavier was talking about.