VHS recording in 2024?

[johnEtna]

Hi!

i've read online that is possible to record a VHS using my Blackmagic Intensity Pro (not 4k).
I tried so hard doing it, but it seemed to be impossible.
Going in the "Edit to tape" menu in BM Media Express Windows app is impossible, because this option is colored in grey and unclickable.
I installed several old versions of this program, but I'm still not able to make it work.
What should I do?
Apparently it is picky about the type of video file the capture card could output.
I tried many different combination of video properties, but they were not compatible.
Even a capture by the Intensity Pro is not eligible to be outputted to the VCR.

Do you have any suggestion? Thank you so much

[Gary34]

I would ask in the Blackmagic Forum also.

[latreche34]

Did you install the driver? When you run the desktop installation software and you go to setup your device, it should show you a menu where you setup your inputs and outputs, If you haven't done so that means your device is not setup correctly.

Black magic forum and blackmagic company are useless, The people that hang out in the forum usually are pro and semi pro, they don't deal with VHS.

[aramkolt]

This is something I was looking into doing more for creating test patterns/videos from modern sources such as YouTube.

I think what you need to do is open your content in a nonlinear editor like Davinci Resolve and set your card up as a "monitor" in settings. This is usually done in professional environments because it bypasses all of the display settings/color space (perfect for color calibrations) and doesn't use your graphics card's resources at all.

In my case, I've tried it with an Ultrastudio Monitor 3G which outputs SDI - The idea then would be to use any variety of SDI to analog converters to get whatever type of desired output which can include S-Video, Composite, or Component which could then be recorded onto VHS.

I don't think you can use an output device from the BM Media Express app alone, but I could be wrong.

[mrmuy97]

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnEtna

possible to record a VHS using my [capture device].
I tried so hard doing it, but it seemed to be impossible.
Apparently it is picky about the type of video file the capture card could output.
I tried many different combination of video properties, but they were not compatible.
Even a capture by the Intensity Pro is not eligible to be outputted to the VCR.
Do you have any suggestion?

What exactly do you want to do, and what equipment are you using?

Project details, computer info, VCR info, other relevant hardware & software info, cabling available, etc.

[johnEtna]

Quote:

I don't think you can use an output device from the BM Media Express app alone, but I could be wrong.

Aramkolt I was induced to think this in a Youtube video by Reasonably British, but I had so many difficulties I had to ask here.
Your comment in particular was the most useful, I was able to record my VHS today after a lot of hours spent trying to make Media Express working.

Now I'm trying to find the perfect resolution to send to VCR, in order to avoid it to be cut at the border.
Apparently is better tro transmit a 5:4 image, but the image is cut a little.
I set a custom output resolution (720:540) but it creates a letterbox effect.
I don't know if you have any more suggestions, I'm still experimenting.

Thank you so much, your advice was great.

[latreche34]

I was inquiring about this some time ago using the shuttle as I did not have a desktop and ended up using something different at the last post of this thread.

[lordsmurf]

As lousy as DV is for ingest, I would consider use it for output. Some of the "higher end" (oxymoron?) DV boxes have output, not just input. I don't know the exact software process offhand (depends on NLE and version), but you'd essentially compress a timeline to DV, then output it to the box, and the box passes it out to a VCR. A DV camera may also work, with the added benefit of writing to tape.

I actually think that would be easiest. Not the mess that is Blackmagic gear, and noting it especially sucks at SD analog work.

The DV output should be both vastly easier and vastly cheaper.

[latreche34]

You can do that but every file has to be rendered into DV, time consuming compared to HDMI to analog conversion on the fly and a media player playing the file, No computer needed.

[vwestlife]

If you have a DV camcorder, you can use it as a passthrough. Connect it to your computer via FireWire, then connect the camcorder's A/V output to your VCR's input.

[dpalomaki]

FWIW, I use an NLE to output SD video from the Intensity Pro. The breakout cables allow both S-VIDEO and composite (as well as component). Set the NLE format to the analog NTSC or PAL standard, not the digital standard. Select the IP as the output/preview device in the NLE'

I create various test patterns in Photoshop at the appropriate resolution for analog video output.

Note that the S-VIDEO chroma signal can far exceed the resolution provided by the VHS tape format

[mrmuy97]

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnEtna

I was able to record my VHS today after a lot of hours spent trying to make Media Express working.

Now I'm trying to find the perfect resolution to send to VCR, in order to avoid it to be cut at the border.
Apparently is better to transmit a 5:4 image, but the image is cut a little.
I set a custom output resolution (720:540) but it creates a letterbox effect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpalomaki

FWIW, I use an NLE to output SD video [...] Set the NLE format to the analog NTSC or PAL standard, not the digital standard. Select the IP as the output/preview device in the NLE

Good to know the NLE output option, never thought of that before. Thanks for that info.

I've always just done direct s-video output from graphics card straight to VCR input at 800x600 or 1280x960. Opened up desired video and images and made it full screen.

The NLE path sounds better as it obviously doesn't require running a 2nd spare graphics card taking up a PCIe slot just to use the s-video output. I imagine there's no difference between the NLE or a GPU sending the data to the VCR. Or, at least, not a difference that would matter in this instance.

Going direct from the capture device analog s-video output to the VCR input sounds like a great method.

[johnEtna]

Thank you everybody for your suggestions.

I was able to record a vhs, but since the first play of my freshly recorded vhs, I noticed that something was wrong.
There's an annoying pattern, maybe herringbone noise, that affects my VCR.
I've never noticed it before. Since the time I created this new VHS, every tape I play shows this pattern.
My television makes it less obvious to see, but in virtualdub is very evident (with both TBC on and off).
I've never changed my setup and settings, this problem suddenly appeared.
So I think my BM Intenity Pro is not broken, because I noticed the image is strange even when the VCR is connected only to the TV.
I hope it's all ok and my JVC S7711 is fine.

What do you think? I attach a video for you to understand. The file is deinterlaced, but it's equally noticeable even during VCR play and before deinterlacing.

[themaster1]

https://www.avartifactatlas.com/arti...rringbone.html

[qwertz73]

I think your video cable is defective. If it helps. I had the same interference problem with an S-VIDEO cable. It turned out that the plastic protection (2) that surrounds the solder joints on the cable had moved, causing contact with the ground (1) and the metal cap (3).

S-VIDEO CABLE.JPEG

[johnEtna]

Thank you, this is really helpful.
I didn't consider this possibility, but now that I think about it I recently mistreated the cable, so it's probably time to change it or repair it.
I'll give your idea a try, thank you. I'll update you

[johnEtna]

I've received my new cable, and unfortunately, it didn't solve the problem. Thank you for your help, though.

With my JVC S7711 and another previous JVC model I own, both output a black and white image when using the S-Video port. I've never understood why, but since the SCART ports provided an excellent picture, it didn't bother me much. I assumed it was due to my European VCR version.
Now, the situation is reversed. The SCART picture quality has the infamous grid pattern, while the S-Video output delivers the high quality I was accustomed to from the SCART.

I'm confused and wondering if I might have altered some settings, leading to this issue. In any case, the problem wasn't the cable; it turns out I just needed to use the S-Video port instead of the SCART one.

[qwertz73]

Have you used this type of adapter for S-video output?

pe694_4.jpg

This type of adapter is not recommended for S-VIDEO. I've had the bitter experience

[Hushpower]

Quote:

This type of adapter is not recommended for S-VIDEO. I've had the bitter experience

I've got one plugged into my ES-15 and it works fine, providing good S-Video output.