USB Live2 output quality not good?
 

Hi,

I just received USB Live2 and the output is not as I expected.
Is there some special settings that should be adjusted in USB Live2

USB Live2 is the newer model “122020”

Attached short test videos (Vbud) taken with following setups (in some vids GX350 brighnes etc are adjusted):
DVD Player / S-video / USB Live2: Test-1
DVD Player / S-video / Osprey 260e: Test-2
DVD Player / S-Vdeo / Sony RDR-GX350 / HDMI / BM Decklink Mini recorder: Test-3
DVD Player / HDMI / BM Decklink Mini recorder (for reference): Test-4

What was your DVD source file that you used for the SW2 pattern?

What caught my attention is that the little indicator arrows that show the image are a bit cut off on the NTSC version of the DVD because the full frame for NTSC is 486 lines vertically whereas DVD only does 480 vertical lines. But then I saw this is the PAL version (625 showing at the top).

Anyway, that's your problem, the Live2 is capturing at an NTSC vertical resolution of 480 whereas your other captures are the correct 576 for PAL.

So I suppose the next question is, why use the Live2 when you have those other good options? I honestly can't really tell them apart haha. Granted, I get there are no time base errors here. I would also suggest that you record from the DVD player to a VHS tape (via S-Video ideally) and then capture from the tape if you want to see how adding some timebase errors affects things. If you want to do a more fun test (And I'd be curious to see the results), try capturing via composite out of the DVD recorder and I bet you'll see a difference then. When you do that, you'll see which capture device has the better comb filter.

Digital Video Essentials DVD

Thanks! I missed to check resolution settings. New attachment for USB Live2 with 576x720 file "Test-1.1.avi"

Just wanted to compare different methods:)

Tape test has been also on my mind, but composite not. :hmm: Maybe I will do these same tests (with DVD source), only using composite instead of s-video(?)

I added also a picture "Compare-1.jpg" comparing these capture methods with this test pattern. Osprey having most of some kind of "echo" but otherwise clearer than USB Live2? (Picture is made up of screen captures so use the actual avi-files to do more specific comparisons.)

Hmm. That is a bit more "ringing" than I'd have expected on most of those. Are you using high quality S-Video cables?

Yes, I believe so, tested several cables. I have even fabricated one-piece cable to Osprey using Philips S-video cable and 15 pin mini DIN connector, but always the same "echos" are present.

I also did tests You suggested (attached) using composite:

I don't think that USB Live2 has 3D Comb-filter?
Also when enabling 3D Comb filter in Osprey 260 the picture broke really badly:hmm: so, Osprey test is done without 3D Comb filter.
Sony RDR-GX350 3D Comb filter setting: middle

Tests:
DVD Player / Composite / USB Live2: Test-4.avi
DVD Player / Composite / Osprey 260e: Test-5.avi
DVD Player / Composite / Sony RDR-GX350 / HDMI / BM Decklink Mini recorder: Test-6.avi

I suppose it could be that the DVD player itself is adding the ringing when it does the analog output maybe? Seems the only output from it that doesn't have significant ringing is the digital output (HDMI). Maybe try the same test but using the RDR-GX350 as the DVD player to see if you still get ringing on the composite and S-Video outputs on that as captured by the osprey and live 2?

Live2 is a not-suggested card for multiple reasons. :no2:

I did following tests (Compare-2.JPG):
Panasonic DMR-EX77 -> S-video -> Osprey
Panasonic DMR-ES10 -> S-video -> Osprey
Sony RDR-GX350 -> S-video -> Osprey

All having the same echos (is this a common issue and correct term for it is ringing?)

Hmm. The EX77 seems to do it a little less than the others to my eye. Most actual video content won't have patterns quite like that where there are alternating high contrast followed by a light grey, but it sure does expose the capture card to a "worst case" scenario.

I do believe ringing is the correct term. Usually it is due to inferior cables or "oversharpening", or if it is not a first generation copy. Could be that the DVD players apply some sort of sharpening on the analog output and that could be the cause possibly as well.

Some information here: https://www.avartifactatlas.com/artifacts/ringing.html

Thanks about the info :)

More comparisons:
DVD Player / S-video / USB Live2: Test-1 -> Some ringing
DVD Player / S-video / Osprey 260e: Test-2 -> Most ringing
DVD Player / S-video / HD880: Test-7 -> Least/no ringing

Compare-3: for ringing
Compare-4: for "color bleed" (or is this color shift?)

Same S-video Cable used in all tests.
To my eyes Osprey is the worst regarding ringing, but best in color.


From available capture methods I think I will use "VHS -> S-video -> Osprey" (Test-2) or "VHS -> S-video -> RDR-GX350 -> HDMI -> BM" (Test-3) for my tape capturing.


I will next do some testing with VHS capture.

About HD880:
I saw used HD880 for sale / few € and just wanted to test it, no clue what the device was when I bought it. Only "Video Image Multimedia" text on the box :)
What makes HD880 useless is, that it is not possible to adjust anything, most important would be brightness. Only thing coming to my mind is to put S-video through DVK-100 and adjust brighness with DVK, but when capturing VHS DVK may in some rare cases cause "jumps" to the picture (too weak Frame TBC?).
https://www.szminetech.com/news/hd88...p-1374550.html