SECAM tapes black and white?

[mohamed]

@rgr that's not a problem really. I never said USE SOME RANDOM JVC assuming it will work. Clearly, a SECAM-capable VCR is a given here! I.e any S-VHS JVC from France will do that or as I said, even if he ends up with a lower-end device that can't transcode as I just said in my message, using an external device to transcode is very easy, if needed. Many capture cards support SECAM directly.

Again, that's a problem he doesn't even have. Cross that bridge when we get there, that is, if we get there.

The entire discussion really boils down to just get a VCR from France/SECAM-Capable multistandard VCR then we can discuss the rest. All those things mentioned in the thread about TV, capture card settings, old live2 vs new live 2, transcoding, etc all come after and can be worked around VERY easily.

[rgr]

It depends on whether the VCR will play different SECAMs. Western SECAM (France) was different from Eastern SECAM.

[mohamed]

@rgr, why do you say this? do you own SECAM tapes and/or French VCRs? If so, trying putting a so-called "Eastern SECAM tape" in it.
or should I skip to the spolier without encouraging you to do the experiment?

[dellsam34]

There is only one official SECAM tape format used in France and neighboring countries, The MESECAM is basically a bustard PAL format for camcorders and off air recordings, it was never an official tape format. The rest of SECAM variants such as L, B/G, D/K, H, K, M are TV broadcast standards and have nothing to do with VCRs and Camcorders. VCRs labeled as such in the front cassette flap indicate the type of TV tuner on board and has no significance for the cassette format other than 1st word "SECAM".

[mohamed]

Why did you share the spoiler... I wanted rgr to try it out

But yes, as dellsam34 said (and this was actually mentioned multiple times across different posts!) there is no such thing as "East SECAM tape" or "West SECAM tape".
On tape, SECAM is SECAM, plain and simple. Broadcast standards are no longer relevant when digitizing tapes.

The reason why EU devices had the ability to read SECAM broadcast was exactly to address that eastern SECAM broadcast, why else do you think mesecam existed? USSR and neighboring market, didn't have any particular JVC variants for that so-called "Soviet SECAM", but mostly "EU" imports, and some MS/AM multi-standards units + of course local models that are just like other regular models.

So to reply back to this
> It depends on whether the VCR will play different SECAMs. Western SECAM (France) was different from Eastern SECAM.
No it does not and this sentence means nothing. If a VCR can play SECAM (which is something any French VCR can do), it can play SECAM. that's it.

Sorry rgr, secam can be tricky :/

[rgr]

On tape, SECAM is SECAM, plain and simple. Broadcast standards are no longer relevant when digitizing tapes. USSR and neighboring market, didn't have any particular JVC variants for that so-called "Soviet SECAM", but mostly "EU" imports, and some MS/AM multi-standards units + of course local models that are just like other regular models.

"In practice, these JVC units correctly record and play back SECAM tapes from PAL+SECAM countries (Eastern Europe/Middle East), but fail on native French SECAM recordings."
"Practical Implications
If the SECAM tape originates from Eastern Europe the HR-S6850 will play it in color (that's MESECAM)
​For French-market cassettes do not rely on JVC HR-S6850 as a native SECAM player—for archiving such tapes, use a French SECAM VCR or genuine multisystem unit."

So to reply back to this
> It depends on whether the VCR will play different SECAMs. Western SECAM (France) was different from Eastern SECAM.
No it does not and this sentence means nothing. If a VCR can play SECAM (which is something any French VCR can do), it can play SECAM. that's it.

Sorry rgr, secam can be tricky :/

Oh, yes

[rgr]

The new Hauppauges only support PAL. I couldn't even get them to support NTSC 4.43.

Hey, thanks for the replies!
Does it mean that even if I got Secam VCR, I still would not be able to digitise those tapes (in colour) using Hauppauge capture card?

..and yes, I have tapes from all over the World, obtained by a collector through trades - which was then passed to me. I don't know what equipment was used to record each one, so I have to learn as I go.

You can use, for example, the Panasonic DMR-EH575 (or similar ones). It accepts SECAM (Western) input, but the analog output will be PAL.

[mohamed]

I don't know what you're quoting, but a "JVC HR-S6850" can be EU or MS so the french market has 6850(MS).

[Aro]

You can use, for example, the Panasonic DMR-EH575 (or similar ones). It accepts SECAM (Western) input, but the analog output will be PAL.

Thank You!

For now, I'm leaning towards just sending those tapes to my colleague in France. The amount of tapes seems to be very limited and for him, it will be very easy to handle.
I still found a discussion here very interesting and educating, so thanks for all the input.

[rgr]

Two more notes: using DMR also provides frame correction, like-TBC.
Secondly, it's better to use Vdub – unlike AmarecTV, it doesn't drop frames.