S-Video Horizontal Distortion

[jeby1980]

Hi there, I finally ran across a JVC S-Vhs player (HR-S3910U) that I thought I would try out since I hear the results are so much better than composite video.

After running through the same capturing setup (except for the player and connection) and post capture processing script in avisynth+ (deinterlaced, recolored, and degrained), I'd say the s-video player results are worse. Any vertical linework is wavy. I attached two screenshots, one from the s-video version and the other from composite video. As you can see from the dancer's leg, the s-video version is much more distorted.

Would you suspect that this is maybe a player with bad heads if I can get nice output from the composite video setup? note, my composite player does not have a built in tbc

[lollo]

Post a video sample of the untouched captures, not processed images (btw no tbc in jvc vcr as well)

[lordsmurf]

note, my composite player does not have a built in tbc

That JVC S-VHS unit doesn't either. It's the low-end S-VHS model, mostly good for recording.

[dannyboy48888]

Check your cable quality. Used a cheap thin svideo cable and got checkerboard patterns and odd sparadic distortion. Got a thick properly shielded cable and it all went away minus what the actual source damage introduced.

[lordsmurf]

Check your cable quality. Used a cheap thin svideo cable and got checkerboard patterns and odd sparadic distortion. Got a thick properly shielded cable and it all went away minus what the actual source damage introduced.

But also avoid fat-header cables, as those too often damage the VCR I/O ports.

[johnmeyer]

1. Did you disconnect the composite cable when doing the S-video capture?

2. Are your two images in post #1 from the same VCR, one using composite and the other S-video, or, are they from two different VCRs? If the first one is from your new JVC and the second from your old VCR, then we are not really comparing S-video to composite. We are instead comparing the quality of two different VCRs. That is a totally different set of questions and answers to what is posted here.

3. The first image definitely exhibits time base errors.

[jeby1980]

The two images in post 1 were sourced from two different vcr's (obviously the same tape). The captures had the exact same deinterlacing and degraining applied. The left capture source was a SVHS using a svideo cable. The right capture source was a regular vhs using a composite cable.

I've done some testing with the pseudo tbc I have videonics mx-1 I have and ultimately the plain VHS produces better results. Maybe there is an issue on the head of this SVHS unit. I dont think I've seen anyone on here say that SVHS units are more prone to time based errors. IF that is the case, then if one cant find a TBC, it might make sense to go with a regular VHS and composite connection?

[lollo]

I dont think I've seen anyone on here say that SVHS units are more prone to time based errors.

Correct

IF that is the case, then if one cant find a TBC, it might make sense to go with a regular VHS and composite connection?

Never in principle, maybe according to specific conditions of the hardware.

You did not post a sample of the captures, so nobody can go further in analysis.

[jeby1980]

When i work with non copyright footage ill try to post.

Am using some high quality svid cables that i had from back in the day, so im thinking the head on this unit is in worse shape than my composite player

[The_Doman]

I've done some testing with the pseudo tbc I have videonics mx-1 I have and ultimately the plain VHS produces better results. Maybe there is an issue on the head of this SVHS unit. I dont think I've seen anyone on here say that SVHS units are more prone to time based errors. IF that is the case, then if one cant find a TBC, it might make sense to go with a regular VHS and composite connection?

Of course we are mostly dealing with many years old equipment without servicing, so there is no guarantee what condition the players are.
Logically, a regular VHS player in good condition will be preferable against a bad working S-VHS machine.
One of the advantages of S-VHS players is the output of S-Video which make things easier for capture cards which often have not so good Y/C separation.
You could try feeding the composite output through S-VHS player and use the S-Video output with your capture card?
You just have to see what gives the best overall result.

I've found that the quality of a recording done with my VCR connected to a DVD recorder which outputs S Video is higher quality than if you use composite

Well yes exactly that is what i am also always doing when recording from composite.
You would expect the DVD recorder doing a better job separating/filtering the Y/C signals instead of most (simpler/cheaper?) capture devices.
Also of course combined with the stabilization and optional noise reduction of the recorder it can improve composite recording significantly.
I have several S-VHS/TBC decks too but often prefer capturing with a regular VHS through the Panasonic DVD recorder.