Problems Digitizing VHS Cassettes...

[Alwyn]

I also prefer not to use DV because I can't control the brightness and contrast of the "capture", which sometimes is off. Even the capture from DV tapes can be off a little.

[cholla]

@ Alwyn,
My Magnavox devices are not supposed to have any stabilization system. Much less a TBC.
If I connect from the VCR to the DVD recorder(Two separate devices) & record to a DVD disc.
Would this have the same result as a pass through?
Or do I need a second DVD recorder to do the recording to a DVD disc.
Passing through the first DVD recorder.
I hope I explained this well enough.
I have not done any VHS to DVD for a long time.
I always did it just a VHS tape played in a VCR & that to a DVD recorder.
I only used a GREX in the cables if it was a commercial VHS tape.

[Kong]

To answer Alwyn’s question, I do not know if it’s a “dropped” frame. I’m just gonna call it a stalled frame. The audio continues, and it picks up where it would have been had it played properly. I’m sure there’s a more correct term for this, but I know not what.

[Alwyn]

To answer Alwyn’s question, I do not know if it’s a “dropped” frame. I’m just gonna call it a stalled frame.

It would be interesting to play that on your TV to see if it is on the original tape. I've seen duplicate frames during captures, but not many actual drops like that; Facebook videos are full of them.

My understanding is if a frame is missed by the capture software, it will insert a duplicate to maintain the frame rate. But on a DV passthrough, I don't know if that applies to Scenalyzer or WinDV.

That waviness would almost certainly be straightened up with an ES-10/15 type DVD recorder.

[QUOTE-Cholla]My Magnavox devices are not supposed to have any stabilization system. Much less a TBC.
If I connect from the VCR to the DVD recorder(Two separate devices) & record to a DVD disc.
Would this have the same result as a pass through?
Or do I need a second DVD recorder to do the recording to a DVD disc.[/QUOTE]
Only way would be to try. The Magnvox might have internal stabilisation (since it needs to produce a DVD) which may not be in the passthrough circuit but will produce a stable DVD. I have VCR-DVD combos that will burn DVDs from a tape but which don't have and outward stabilisation; Samsung and LG combos to name a couple.

Otherwise, VCR to a known stabilising DVD recorder; no need for two (unless you specifically needed to use the Magnavox for burning). Remember, the majority of us are using these only for passthrough, not burning DVDs.

[cholla]

I would be using the Magnavox combo just for the VCR.
Then to a Magnavox DVD/DVR .
I could go to the HDD in that I believe.

Remember, the majority of us are using these only for passthrough, not burning DVDs.

When you do pass through is that to a capture card to a computer?
Is this why you would not be burning a DVD?

I thought the video might actually need to pass through the DVD recorder to activate a stabilization filter.
So the output would be stabilized.
Then that recorded by another DVD recorder.
In my case this would be another Magnavox DVD/DVR because these are what I have.

My older devices failed. They were a Insignia combo with component out to a Poloroid DVD/DVR with component in.
Component is correct not composite.
These could also do composite or s-video.
Neither had TBC.

[Sharc]

If you mean the Canon HV30, it can do a fine job of digitization, via its DV passthrough mode.

On bad tapes, it doesn't, IMO.

The HV has no stabilising properties at all; it simply passes-through all the bad details that are on the tape. It might keep the AV in sync, but it certainly doesn't improve any defects in the image. Check waves at the top of the frame.

The stabiliser used here is a Panasonic EH-57. Both of these were captured with Scenalyzer.


[Attachment 93213 - Click to enlarge]

I know you want to show the flagging (waves), but it looks like the EH57 has significantly less noise (less details?) than the HV30 variant. Has any filter been involved?

[Alwyn]

but it looks like the EH57 has significantly less noise (less details?) than the HV30 variant. Has any filter been involved?

I did notice that so I turned the EH57 NR off, but it still smoothed it out.

When you do pass through is that to a capture card to a computer?

Yes.

I thought the video might actually need to pass through the DVD recorder to activate a stabilization filter.
So the output would be stabilized.
Then that recorded by another DVD recorder.

I suspect the passthrough stabilisation is more by accident than design; if the machine has it, you'll get it on the DVD you burn with it.

[Sharc]

deleted