Good video capture device for older VHS / SVHS tapes?

[Beta Orionis]

There are a lot of video capture devices out there. A LOT of them! Which is why I could use some suggestions.

I posted another thread about a good VHS deck for older camcorder tapes (possibly damaged). This is about suggestions for the capture device. I believe it's in the right category.

Essentially, what is a good "bang for the buck" device to capture NTFS video (or S-video) to a computer, for archival? No intent to put onto optical media or anything. I'll be using a vintage VHS player of some sort, and analog AV inputs. The computer will have USB 3 and is a midrange i7 laptop. Nothing remarkable in either direction.

Naturally, a device with HDMI capture, as well, is handy, for future use, but for this project, I just want to pick an NTFS capture which will do a solid job, without worrying about unneeded fancy features.

Thanks in advance.

[Bwaak]

I-O Data GV-USB2, but see for yourself.

P.S. NTFS is a file system.

[dellsam34]

Our British funny guy did a nice hardware comparison between few USB capture devices in 3 rounds and he concluded that the Startech.com USB capture device is the best among all according to him, With generic brand easycap and clearclick being the worst and GV-USB2 and Startech.com devices being the best:

The first round video, Second round video, Third round video (the final winner).

Warning: Videos are too funny.
Note: He uses OBS which is the wrong tool for capturing analog video, There are better alternatives.

[Bwaak]

He uses OBS which is the wrong tool for capturing analog video, There are better alternatives.

He uses OBS because his main system is not Windows. He cursed several products for having either the driver or the software or both designed for Windows only. Hence, the rise of OBS

[barry25]

Is there any devices to use to record a vhs tape without a computer what is the best devices to play a vhs tape and record to maybe a micro sd card or usb stick I have seen some items but I don’t know if they work or not has anyone used any items like this.

[Bwaak]

Is there any devices to use to record a vhs tape without a computer what is the best devices to play a vhs tape and record to maybe a micro sd card or usb stick I have seen some items but I don’t know if they work or not has anyone used any items like this.

I have this box, which I reviewed here. I bought it for $60; as recently as half a year ago it was sold for $30, and for this money it would be a decent device. A similar, but a much more expensive box is Cloner Alliance Pro HD, which 12voltvids quite likes, but it seems to have the same issues as my box, and the only difference is that it records in 1080p60 in addition to 720p60 and 1080p30 that my box does.

[Beta Orionis]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Yeah.... stupid me. I typed NTFS, I meant NTSC. It's what I get for making my post after 2 AM. Heh.

As for OBS, what are the better alternatives to it?

[rgr]

Is there any devices to use to record a vhs tape without a computer what is the best devices to play a vhs tape and record to maybe a micro sd card or usb stick I have seen some items but I don’t know if they work or not has anyone used any items like this.

I have this box, which I reviewed here. I bought it for $60; as recently as half a year ago it was sold for $30, and for this money it would be a decent device. A similar, but a much more expensive box is Cloner Alliance Pro HD, which 12voltvids quite likes, but it seems to have the same issues as my box, and the only difference is that it records in 1080p60 in addition to 720p60 and 1080p30 that my box does.

1. 30/60 fps (not 25/50 or 29,97/59,94)
2. no exFAT, no NTFS
3. no 576p or 576i
4. records 16:9
5. bad metainfo (no "color-range: full")

You can't have any more flaws

AverMedia ER-330:
1. 50fps for PAL
2. exFAT+NTFS
3. 576p
4: DAR 4:3
5. good metainfo (records 16-235)
6. HEVC 12mbit/s (for 576p)

[Bwaak]

AverMedia ER-330:
1. 50fps for PAL
2. exFAT+NTFS
3. 576p
4: DAR 4:3
5. good metainfo (records 16-235)
6. HEVC 12mbit/s (for 576p)

Have you used it? Write a review or make a video! I am not going to spend $110 for a box I don't need, and I hate returning stuff.

[Beta Orionis]

AverMedia ER-330:
1. 50fps for PAL
2. exFAT+NTFS
3. 576p
4: DAR 4:3
5. good metainfo (records 16-235)
6. HEVC 12mbit/s (for 576p)

Just pointing out.... the ER-330 has some pretty bad reviews. Are they in error?

[rgr]

AverMedia ER-330:
1. 50fps for PAL
2. exFAT+NTFS
3. 576p
4: DAR 4:3
5. good metainfo (records 16-235)
6. HEVC 12mbit/s (for 576p)

Have you used it? Write a review or make a video! I am not going to spend $110 for a box I don't need, and I hate returning stuff.

Yes. But it's hard for me to review it because I have nothing to compare it to. It records ok, there are no major flaws (apart from the lack of recording in 576i). An interesting fact is that it records in VFR, but without a deeper analysis it is difficult to say whether it is a disadvantage or an advantage.
It records from HDMI, and since it only has Composite, not Component, I didn't even check the analog recording.

General
Format                         : MPEG-4
Format profile                 : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                       : mp42 (mp42/mp41/isom/iso2)
File size                      : 6.64 GiB
Duration                       : 1 h 19 min
Overall bit rate mode          : Variable
Overall bit rate               : 12.0 Mb/s
Frame rate                     : 50.000 FPS
Encoded date                   : 2024-02-22 18:56:58 UTC
Tagged date                    : 2024-02-22 20:16:06 UTC

Video
ID                             : 1
Format                         : HEVC
Format/Info                    : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile                 : Main@L3@Main
Codec ID                       : hvc1
Codec ID/Info                  : High Efficiency Video Coding
Duration                       : 1 h 19 min
Bit rate                       : 11.9 Mb/s
Maximum bit rate               : 68.0 Mb/s
Width                          : 720 pixels
Height                         : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio           : 4:3
Frame rate mode                : Variable
Frame rate                     : 50.000 FPS
Minimum frame rate             : 42.735 FPS
Maximum frame rate             : 60.241 FPS
Color space                    : YUV
Chroma subsampling             : 4:2:0
Bit depth                      : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)             : 0.573
Stream size                    : 6.57 GiB (99%)
Encoded date                   : 2024-02-22 18:56:58 UTC
Tagged date                    : 2024-02-22 20:16:06 UTC
Color range                    : Limited
Color primaries                : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics       : BT.601
Matrix coefficients            : BT.470 System B/G
Codec configuration box        : hvcC

Audio
ID                             : 2
Format                         : AAC LC
Format/Info                    : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                       : mp4a-40-2
Duration                       : 1 h 19 min
Bit rate mode                  : Variable
Bit rate                       : 125 kb/s
Maximum bit rate               : 190 kb/s
Channel(s)                     : 2 channels
Channel layout                 : L R
Sampling rate                  : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                     : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode               : Lossy
Stream size                    : 71.0 MiB (1%)
Encoded date                   : 2024-02-22 18:56:58 UTC
Tagged date                    : 2024-02-22 20:16:06 UTC

[rgr]

Just pointing out.... the ER-330 has some pretty bad reviews. Are they in error?

I don't know, I haven't seen any. They are probably referring to HD. I just checked - it records in 50mbit.

[Bwaak]

It's hard for me to review it because I have nothing to compare it to. It records ok, there are no major flaws (apart from the lack of recording in 576i). An interesting fact is that it records in VFR, but without a deeper analysis it is difficult to say whether it is a disadvantage or an advantage.
It records from HDMI, and since it only has Composite, not Component, I didn't even check the analog recording.

General
Format                         : MPEG-4
Format profile                 : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                       : mp42 (mp42/mp41/isom/iso2)
File size                      : 6.64 GiB
Duration                       : 1 h 19 min
Overall bit rate mode          : Variable
Overall bit rate               : 12.0 Mb/s
Frame rate                     : 50.000 FPS
Encoded date                   : 2024-02-22 18:56:58 UTC
Tagged date                    : 2024-02-22 20:16:06 UTC

Video
ID                             : 1
Format                         : HEVC
Format/Info                    : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile                 : Main@L3@Main
Codec ID                       : hvc1
Codec ID/Info                  : High Efficiency Video Coding
Duration                       : 1 h 19 min
Bit rate                       : 11.9 Mb/s
Maximum bit rate               : 68.0 Mb/s
Width                          : 720 pixels
Height                         : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio           : 4:3
Frame rate mode                : Variable
Frame rate                     : 50.000 FPS
Minimum frame rate             : 42.735 FPS
Maximum frame rate             : 60.241 FPS
Color space                    : YUV
Chroma subsampling             : 4:2:0
Bit depth                      : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)             : 0.573
Stream size                    : 6.57 GiB (99%)
Encoded date                   : 2024-02-22 18:56:58 UTC
Tagged date                    : 2024-02-22 20:16:06 UTC
Color range                    : Limited
Color primaries                : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics       : BT.601
Matrix coefficients            : BT.470 System B/G
Codec configuration box        : hvcC

Audio
ID                             : 2
Format                         : AAC LC
Format/Info                    : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                       : mp4a-40-2
Duration                       : 1 h 19 min
Bit rate mode                  : Variable
Bit rate                       : 125 kb/s
Maximum bit rate               : 190 kb/s
Channel(s)                     : 2 channels
Channel layout                 : L R
Sampling rate                  : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                     : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode               : Lossy
Stream size                    : 71.0 MiB (1%)
Encoded date                   : 2024-02-22 18:56:58 UTC
Tagged date                    : 2024-02-22 20:16:06 UTC

576p50 is neither here nor there. You can watch it on a computer, or you can make an AVCHD Disc. It does not work for a DVD, and when uploaded on YouTube it will turn into 25p - doggone YouTube! I wish they had a setting for 960x720p50 or 1440x1080p50 or, conversely, to 720x576i25.

[Beta Orionis]

In my case, analog is exactly what I'd like to know about, since I'll be capturing from a VCR.

What's the best capture software to use? The reviews I see suggest the included software seems to be very bad. All I care about, then, is a functional driver. I can use another program to encode and save the stream. What do you guys suggest?

[rgr]

In my case, analog is exactly what I'd like to know about, since I'll be capturing from a VCR.

I also use this to capture from VCR. Panasonic DMR-EH does the TBC and doesn't convert back to the analog signal, only output to HDMI.

[Alwyn]

What's the best capture software to use?

AmarecTV is well-regarded on this forum for analogue capture. I have written a guide for it here.
It will give you an interlaced, compressed lossless AVI file in the video codec of your choice; HUFFYUV, LAGARITH and UT video are free.