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Originally Posted by Crandell85
I want to capture an NTSC analogue VHS tape from a JVC Super VHS ET HR-S3910U using s-video cable to a Sony DCR-TRV530 s-video port.
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Although s-video, this setup lacks TBCs, and the quality will be double-reduced from the quality that actually exists on the tape. The line TBC in the camera does not work on passthrough. So the VHS will have some % of wiggle and distortion, and likely drop frames (thus cause audio sync issues). But the damaged isn't done yet! The DV will squash the color to 4:1:1, and add blocks; DV is 1990s video tech.
At minimum, you need a JVC VCR with line TBC, or an ES10/15 between the VCR and DV camera. This method will still not yield quality, but it's better than nothing. Adding a frame TBC, and a better capture card, is suggested.
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Should I try a different capture technique and start again? Like Cloner Alliance Box
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That box is a piece of overpriced crap, not to different from the half-baked method using HDMI converters that were made for DVD players and video games (and vastly losing quality in the process). Even the best VCR and TBC can't undo the damage done by these sorts of junk converters.
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Perhaps my capture settings should be adjusted? Should I look into using VirtualDub, Hybrid. Both of which I am inexperienced.
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Yes,
VirtualDub still best for capture.
Hybrid is excellent, but it not for capture. It's for encoding the final product, and including some restoration and prep tasks (like deinterlacing).
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Of course my main goal is to sharpen the image but I know that might be impossible. The colours and sound are fine, screen format is fine.
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FYI, it's all related. If you heavily compress color, it creates blur and mush. If you wrongly deinterlace, it creates distortions including softness. So "sharpening" an image is about retaining the original sharpness more than anything else.
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Originally Posted by dpalomaki
However, both options can provide a quick and easy path to convert VHS to a digital file if ultimate quality is not a priority.
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I know you often write something like this, but I think the language is too soft on it. It gives a person an out, an excuse for lower quality. It's not direct and blunt enough.
It reminds me of magazine reviews, where the publication is afraid to speak truth, too scared to not offend the manufacturer. It could be an item (example: a DVD player) that catches fire, and the magazine would softly state "It didn't work as expected, but it did keep us warm in the office during recent cold winter nights!"
Sometimes newbies fully misunderstand the degree to which quality is lost, until it's too late. Often costly mistake are made. My goal is to help them avoid problems, not ease into them. So I prefer to be very direct in language.
At worst, soft language is a misdirect, lulls into false sense of security/choice.
We must be careful when talking to newbies.