Selecting VCR cable for VHS conversion?

[bmv1]

Hello all,

I'm a newbie from Portugal, trying to convert my old VHS home videos into digital.

Back in 2010, I used a DVD player/recorder (Sony RDR-HX 910) connected to my old VCR (Panasonic NV-G45EO, SCART only), recorded into DVDs, and then copied the DVD files to my PC.
After completing the job, I couldn't help feel a bit disappointed: only 576p, washed-out colors, image lacking fine details I distinctly remember seeing on my old TV.

Please check this sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13sd...ew?usp=sharing
Do you feel this is a good capture? I have seen many 720p VHS captures on YouTube that look much better, allegedly using "generic USB capture card" only.

So my plan is to redo the whole recording, if possible in 720p. I have a low budget (about $500), which I'll spend on a used VCR and a USB capture device (I know these are not the best, but something like an Elgato is what I can afford).

VCR availability is low, but I know of a local online store that is selling a few, allegedly clean and refurbished:
- LG RCT689H VHS/DVD combo (components)
- Philips DVP3100V VHS/DVD combo (S-Video)
- Sony SLV-D910E VHS/DVD combo (scart)
- Panasonic DMR-E65 VHS/DVD combo (S-Video)
- Samsung SV-DVD3E VHS/DVD combo (S-Video)

So far, the LG seems theoretically better, has component outputs, but no S-Video output. Since USB capture devices seem to be S-Video/composite only, I wonder if I would get better results with an S-Video VCR or even converting directly to DVD...

Any comments?

-- merged --

Added due to more details... -LS

Hello lordsmurf,

I'm a newbie trying to convert my old VHS home videos into digital. I have been reading so much information online that I think I'm more confused now than before (or am realizing just how much technologically-challenged I am). So I would like to request your honest advice.

I have to start by saying that I have a very limited budget. In fact, it's so limited, that I shouldn't even be trying to do this. But these recordings are very important to me, so I'll try to find a way, even if I have to skip a few meals.

I live in Europe (Portugal). Back in the 90s we made many home videos using a Philips camcorder (unknown model, on loan from the public library), which we then transferred into VHS tapes using our VCR (Panasonic NV-G45EO). Unfortunately, since we didn't have much money, we had to save on tapes, so most recordings were made using LP mode, instead of SP.

Back in 2010, I decided I had to preserve these movies. I purchased a used DVD player/recorder (Sony RDR-HX 910), which I connected to my old VCR (Panasonic NV-G45EO, SCART only), recorded into a DVD-RW, and then copied the DVD-RW files to my PC.
In the end, I couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed: only 576p, washed-out colors, image lacking fine details I distinctly remember seeing on my old TV.

Please download this sample:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13sd...ew?usp=sharing
Do you feel this is a good capture? I have seen many 720p VHS captures on YouTube that look much better, allegedly using "generic USB capture card" only.

So my plan is to redo the whole recording, if possible in 720p:
• capture card: What would you recommend for me? (Win7 PC, PAL)
• TBC: Is this really beneficial for this job?
• VCR: I assume my old Panasonic is not that great, so I'd try to find a better one locally (IIUC, S-video beats components, and components beat SCART).

Thank you in advance.

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[lordsmurf]

Yep, inferior gear = inferior quality, and often very obvious.

Your Google Drive link = "Sorry, the file you have requested does not exist."

$500 is low, but you have options -- just not anything on your proposer list there.

Elgato is among the worst cards, and is one of the "new" (old components) cards sold on Amazon/eBay/etc. Although not the best cards (certain ATI, Pinnacle, etc), there are some middle-of-the-road cards.

When you start to sacrifice quality of gear (usually due to costs), then you start to lose quality. You also have to intimately know your sources, as budget methods are heavily source dependent, in terms of workflow viability. The best workflows "just work" with almost anything fed to it, while budget setups can vary wildly based on sources (passably decent, to outright garbage captures).

This is precisely why I ask so many questions, and don't just barf out worthless generic advice (like most Youtubers do).

But let's start with the Google link, to see what you're dealing with.

[bmv1]

Sorry the link to the sample got corrupted somehow:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13sd...ew?usp=sharing

Please download it, the online feed quality is worse than the actual video file.

Also, I removed the audio from the sample, but the original audio is fine and in sync.

[traal]

The video has a lot of dynamic range, and the brightness is constantly changing due to the camera's AGC, but the capture appears to have quite a lot of noise reduction or possibly captured through composite, and that can impact resolution. But the video is so shaky from being taken handheld that it's hard to know for sure.

There's some discoloration in the clouds, I feel that it was caused by the playback VCR or lack of external TBC.

[bmv1]

It was indeed captured through composite. Also, my Panasonic VCR had only 2 heads.