Unisheen capture stops recording?

[StereoVideo62]

I am digitising my old VHS-C. 8mm video and Mini DV. I have used a capture card with OBS on my laptop and am pleased with the results. I also use the Unisheen and am also happy with the results.

The Unisheen was perfect with the Mini DV and Video 8mm, but I am having problems with the VHS-C.

It seems every time there is a change of recording with a short gap, it stops recording. It seems to happen when the noise of unrecorded tape comes on for a second or so between different recordings. Change of scene or day is not a problem.

I previously digitised the VHS-C tapes with my old but still good Panasonic VHS recorder and the Unisheen never stopped at all on all the tapes, but now I am using a Super VHS with TBC it does not like the breaks in the tape.

Using the Super VHS and TBC on my Laptop with OBS is perfectly fine with no stopping at all. But I have so many VHS tapes the Unisheen would be easier and quicker.

Any idea why it stops on the breaks in tape that are unrecorded.

[latreche34]

You have been just lucky using mediocre chinese gadgets but eventually you came to a point where it didn't work anymore, You need better capture hardware, and software, Not Unisheen or OBS.

[StereoVideo62]

What do you recommend? also have you used the Unisheen? so far it has been good, it still is apart from the VHS-C tapes with a break in them.

[lordsmurf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StereoVideo62

also have you used the Unisheen?

It's a generic low-end Chinese Temu-quality item, not any different than the infamous ClearClick (which earned the nickname ClearCrap or ClickCrap). It's essentially an Easycap with onboard destruction of quality (forced deinterlace, heavy compression, etc).

Quote:

Any idea why it stops on the breaks in tape that are unrecorded.

You lack a frame TBC.

Quote:

Using the Super VHS and TBC on my Laptop with OBS is perfectly fine with no stopping at all.

Understand that the "no stopping" is no the same as "quality capture". Without a frame TBC, and only a mere line TBC, frame drops/inserts and audio desync is/was still very likely. You cannot judge a capture based on "no stopping".

Line TBC cleans the image.
Frame TBC cleans the signal. This allows captures without dropped frames, without sync issues, without continuity issues (such as halting on unrecorded tape).

You need both.

These are just tools for this task, it's not optional.

At very worst, you can attempt to get by with a ES10/15 TBC(ish), which is a strong+crippled line TBC with a non-TBC frame sync. Those are DVD recorders, not TBCs, but have the unique ability of signal passthrough. However, it's not transparent, the ES10/15 type also have degradations (luma gain, AGC aggression, posterization, etc). Hence least-worst options. Right now, you have a worst option, which is nothing at all.

[StereoVideo62]

So what capture card & software do you recommend?

[lordsmurf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StereoVideo62

So what capture card & software do you recommend?

OBS is not analog videotape capture software, but digital streaming recording software. So never use it, wrong tool for the task. What you need is VirtualDub.

Read my post above, I edited it just now. (I had to step away, came back to it.)

The root cause here is lack of frame TBC, and no software or capture card will correct that.

However, that said, you do need a quality capture card. This is why I have cards in the marketplace, the specific ATI/Pinnacle cards needed. You're not going to find anything sold new on Amazon, or Temu, or wherever. Quality capture cards have not been made in 10-15 years now, it's all Chinese junk now. You've already seen how that works out.

[StereoVideo62]

So if I get a Panasonic ES10 or ES15 and VirtualDub software, I should be good to go?

[Aya_Rei]

Those and a better capture card at the very least, you'd at most be in a better place then when you started.

[StereoVideo62]

What capture card is good without breaking the bank?

[lordsmurf]

You just spent $300 on the Unisheen junk (assuming you bought it from Amazon), so what do you consider "breaking the bank"? FYI, the cards I have in the marketplace are literally about half that cost.

ES10/15 + VirtualDub + new capture card will get you where you need to be.