JVC VCR SR-V101, professional video capture device?
 

Hi, i was wondering if anyboy here could help me with this. I found this JVC model for sale on ebay. Does anybody know if it's a good device for vhs to dvd captures ?

Also, i'm looking for a good capture device for vhs capture on computer, i've tryed some before, but none was satisfactory. Any suggestion on a good professionnal capture device that can do high quality analogue video capture, with hd option, if possible ?

Any proffessional advices will be welcome. Thanks to answer

already done for you:
 

read through this thread: http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/show...date-1436.html

and this one: http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/show...light=AVT-8710

Hi, welcome to the site.

You'll find the JVC SR-V101 is listed in the VCR buyer guide: VCR Buying Guide (S-VHS, D-VHS, Professional)
http://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/show...uide-1567.html

It's a very good unit, essentially an extension of the JVC HR-S7x00+ series of S-VHS VCRs, which included several filters for audio and video, as well as internal timebase correction for "cleaning the picture".

Be sure to read about TBCs, too! What is a TBC? Time Base Correction for Videotapes

Hi monks, here's my advice for you regarding capture cards:

I'm really quite satisfied with the ATI 600 cards: http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957
Ignore the stupid pictures. It has a s-video/composite input bundle, too -- not pictured.
Ignore the stupid $199 seller. The other two are in the $60-70 range.

For more costs, look at the Blackmagic cards: http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957

Related conversations at http://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/foru...ransfer-7.html

That's what I'd do.


NOTE: You'll notice this is a mirror of what I mentioned for you over at videohelp this morning, too. For the best response times, and best access to my advice, always come to digitalFAQ, as you've done. I generally miss VH posts direct at me, but will always see ones from this site. (RSS subscriber)

hi, do you know if any of those cards are good too ?

cards info:

Carte de syntoniseur WinTV HVR 850 de Hauppauge
WinTV-HVR-1250 PCI Express TV hybrid tuner
Diamond ATI Theater™ HD 750 PCIE
ATI Theater™ HD 750 USB

ok, about the usb devices, don't answer, but for the cards ? are they good enough ?

thanks to answer

I would say "NO" to the Hauppauge products. While historically they made great capture cards, I would suggest that's no longer true.
Ideally, I'd look for the ATI 600 card, of all available ATI models.

ok. lordsmurf, what about you ? any advice ?

Same advice.

hi, does the tbc (recommanded many times on this forum) can do the conversion pal/secam (vhs) to ntsc, or do i need a special device to do this conversion ?

Also, does it works for laserdiscs as well ?

thanks to answer

admin, smurf, any answer ?

Again, be sure to read about TBCs, too! What is a TBC? Time Base Correction for Videotapes

hi, does anybody have some experience about the AYI TV wonder HD 750 USB pvr ? because i just buyed it and it's been a nightmare to do video captures with is. it always drops frames or the sound is always out of synch when i playback the video file. i tryed with virtualdub, ulead video studio 8, inter video win dvr 3, virtualvcr, power producer, etc. nothing is doing the job except the software that came with the device (TotalMedia 3.5).

i really don't know what to do, except turn it back to the store to replace it by something else. Maybe my computer is not fast enough, i don't know.

here's some info about my computer:

http://www.mediafire.com/?8xmo0zo2y7jofrr
(don't worry it's a text file)

so, if anybody have a beter solution, please let me know.

thonks to answer

The only ATI cards you'll find suggested here are:

1. 2001-2006 era ATI All In Wonder Radeon cards (AGP or PCI), that use ATI Multimedia Center (ATI MMC) or VirtualDub.

2. 2007-2009 era ATI TV Wonder HD USB2 and PCI-Express cards, using ATI Catalyst Media Center (ATI CMC) or VirtualDub.

Having not use the 750 card, it's hard to say what your problem might be here. It appears the 750 is the current generation of cards, and no longer uses ATI CMC. Third party software has historically never been very good with ATI hardware.

Your computer should be fine, based off the specs in that TXT file. That file was a bit bloated, FYI, not sure why it needs all that info in there. Consider using CPU-Z in the future, and just take a screen shot of the tabs. or just type out what it tells you (CPU, motherboard, RAM, hard drive spec, etc)

Wish I had more for you.

ok, i just return that thing to the store where i buyed it. those idiots here call themselves technicians, my eye...

anyway, i'm still looking for a good capture card that will alow me to capture both avi and mpeg vids (with virtualdub, preferably) in higher resolution than 720x480(hd res. at 1080i should do) & capture NTSC, PAL & SECAM capability.

any suggestions ?

thanks to answer

The only thing I can suggest is a Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro card. It will do HD res, NTSC and PAL.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B001CN9GEA

The biggest problem is you're asking for something that nobody else wants -- therefore it's not made.

I don't know of many cards that do SECAM. SECAM hasn't been used in many years now, neither for broadcast nor recordings. It all moved to PAL about a decade ago. Only a few specific standard definition cards tend to do SECAM, for legacy transfers of old materials.

I don't remember if the older ATI All In Wonder Radeon cards do SECAM, would have to check. But you can't use that card anyway, as it's AGP, and I don't think you have an AGP slot (do you?) Of course, it doesn't do 1080i.

Both AVI (various codecs) and MPEG further limits your card choices.

And then almost nothing will record HD in VirtualDub. Those cards tend to be more closed systems, mostly designed for TV recording. The Blackmagic card will accept non-TV input, but I don't really know what is used for recording. You'll have to read up the official documents at the Blackmagic site to learn more.

I don't really know what you're doing. I have a feeling you're asking for features you really don't need. For example, what are you needing to capture in HD?

To do everything you want, you'd need several different specialized cards, on different specialized computers.

well i want to capture analog videos in higher resolution for a beter quality, unless i need son video upscaler. the crappy card i just turned back could do secam pal & ntsc capture from tv, same thing for analog capture, but only at 720x480, so i'm looking for higher resolution for better quality, especially if i have to restore the video, or improve it.

what do you suggest then ? because i would have kept the ATI thing if i could a decent software wiyh it, that's why i'm asking.

thanks to answer

There's no reason to capture VHS or even S-VHS at HD resolutions. Both of those formats fall far below even the maximum 720x480 resolution used for Full D1 DVDs.

VHS is even below (or near) Half D1 352x480. It's far less than HD.

To capture HD, you have to have HD input anyway, from HDMI or component or via coaxial HD signal. You can't really plug in composite or s-video and capture HD from that -- it's not an HD source.

Trying to upscale VHS to HD will make a mess, to be honest. The HDTV has to upscale from the DVD player anyway, and it does a better job than your computer can.

I think you need to buy the ATI 600 card, not the 750. It has decent software and works with VirtualDub.

ok, but the reason i ask for a device (or a pci card) that can do the switch between pal secam & ntsc is because i want to avoid to buy a special signal converter with your multi system vcr, since i know that some decent card out there can do the switch, wich was the case for the ati tv wonder 750. but, sadly, no software could do the job with it without crashing, or without droping frames and be totally out of synch. as for for the soft. coming in the package, it could only record mpeg, but no way to adjust it. so... do you think you can find a solution about this one ? i'm asking because it'll be easyer for me with your vcr.

thanks to answer

p.s.: as for the tv wonder 600, i'll look into it.

This VCR can output SECAM as PAL, so it's not an issue. The only SECAM it does not do is the special French SECAM that requires a VCR from France.

It can output
PAL as PAL
PAL as NTSC (not suggested)
SECAM as PAL
SECAM as NTSC (not suggested)
SECAM as SECAM
NTSC as NTSC (not the best NTSC player, so not suggested -- the JVC SR plays NTSC better, being an NTSC S-VHS VCR)
NTSC as PAL

I don't remember if it does
NTSC as SECAM
PAL as SECAM
.... don't know a good reason for this anyway.

PAL and SECAM are almost the same anyway. The framerate and resolution matches, and that's the big worry with format conversion. PAL and SECAM mostly differ in how color data is stored, and the VCR sorts that out for you.

Digital video no longer has format-specific color systems, all colour is now stored as standard luma and chroma data. Color has become format agnostic.

wait, you mean that this vcr can't play vhs (films and documentaries) that came from France (vhs secam) ? is it a multi system vcr or what ?

according to this: (PDF attached below)
i shouldn't have much trouble, unless i'm missing something... if it's the case, tell me, please...

thanks to answer

The general rule is that only VCRs from France can play French SECAM. However, there are a few rarer models that play SECAM France.

And I was mistaken! This VCR is not a Samsung 5000W clone, but the Samsung 7000W clone! It's an even more expensive VCR that I had thought. This is the Panasonic AG-W3, not the W2. And it is one of those rarer non-France VCRs that can play the French SECAM format.

It will play France CIS SECAM VHS tapes, according to the label:

Attachment 898

Attachment 900

Attachment 901

Since I already gave you a price, I won't change it. But you're getting a higher end unit now.

So that should be some good news for you! :):)

Output the SECAM as PAL, and record as PAL, to make PAL DVDs, that will almost always work fine in most China-made NTSC DVD players. And these days, almost everything is made in China. Philips players should play PAL DVDs just fine, as will many others. Convert to NTSC if you must, but I suggest leaving PAL as PAL (or SECAM as PAL) for best quality.

you bet :) thanks about that. by the way, it's a us/canada model, right ? not a european ?

thanks to answer

Japan / North American, yes. Sold originally in the USA.

hi admin, tell me, for the playback hardware, what are the utility of those devices for the process:

- SignVideo DR-1000 Image Enhancer $300
- Elite Video BVP-4 Plus Proc Amp $590

i'm asking because i want to know if i still have to get more video hardware, since i already got the s-vhs vcr, monster cables, multi system vcr ant a tbc (i almost got them all, infact).

thanks to answer

- SignVideo DR-1000 Image Enhancer
This device increases edge sharpness of video. It's almost identical to the "unsharp mask" function found in Photoshop -- but it's a piece of hardware that does it live, and on video. It can work well for VHS tapes, which are soft by nature. Only use it when needed.

- Elite Video BVP-4 Plus Proc Amp $590
This is a color processing amplifier, and it adjusts/augments the color, IRE, luma, tint, and saturation. It also adjust "brightness/contrast" by way of luma and IRE settings.

The thicker Philips cables can be just as good as Monster, but at a reduced cost. (In other words, not the cheap Philips sold at Walmart, but the better/thicker ones sold online and in some Lowe's and Home Depot stores.)

I use the Elite Video BVP4+ regularly, but the detailer less often. The disadvantage of adding edge detail is that it can cause aliasing, edge noise/ghosting, and increase bitrate needs of the MPEG. It needs to be used smart.

ok, but those functions aren't included with a tbc ?

by the way, for audio capture from any kind of sources (75, 33, 45 discs, video, etc) what device can you suggest me for proffessional capture and restoration, because right now i have to use the rear control panel to get sound, but it's very messy. any alternative ?

thanks to answer

No.

The AVT-8710 has a wussy little proc amp inside, and it only does very minor little corrections. A dedicated proc amp can make far more powerful adjustments to video colors and values.

I don't know of any TBC that gives true edge sharpening like a dedicated detailer, or the sharpen slider on a Panasonic S-VHS VCR.

Run the audio through a mixer for pre-processing. Any decent $100 board from Tapco, Behringer, Yamaha or Mackie works fine. Just be sure it has at least 3 EQs, and multiple gain adjustments. My board has these in sliders, as opposed to dials, but both are fine. Be sure it's a stereo processing board, not a mono one.

For records (LPs), you need a good player. Those $100 USB "convert to CD" players are crap -- get a turn table that has a good arm and head. I still use a high end stereo from the 80s.

ok, can you give me adresses of online canadian (or others that can deliver in canada) stores where to find all this (proc amp, edger & audio pre-processing mixer) ?

thanks to answer

Not really.

The proc amp can only be found used. Look on eBay, craigslist, or similar types of sites.

The audio mixers at Amazon Canada are not ones I'd recommend either.
At Amazon USA, look at this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B000J5XS3C
It's a Behringer Xenyx 802, under $100, good enough for this task.

hi, i found these on ebay. wich do you recommand me ?

http://shop.ebay.ca/?_from=R40&_trks...All-Categories

thanks to answer

None of the above.

While decent, Vidicraft equipment is from the mid/late 80s and early 90s. It's composite connection gear. It's good if you're on a budget. I won't say anything bad about it, but it's not the best you can get. I've used Vidicraft gear in the past.

If you want "the best" in quality, opt for one that has s-video as the connection in/out of the box.

Vidicraft was bought out by Studio 1 Productions (Studio One) in the 90s, which was then renamed and/or sold to what is now SignVideo. Along the way, all of the Vidicraft gear was updated and upgraded by the various companies that owned it.

I have a Studio 1 Production "Image Enhancer" -- which is their name for the detailer (not the proc amp), at the time that Studio1 was making these boxes.

The current model is $450 directly from SignVideo, new: http://www.signvideo.com/single_dual...-processor.htm

You'll almost never find these on eBay, although it does happen if you are patient and check back once per week. Within 6 months, you'll find one for under $100. (Why so cheap? Well, because most people that want one give up looking after a few weeks or months. Other times, the seller fails to label it a proc amp.)

I'd just spend the $450 if this is a business cost.

hi, can you give me a link of the philips cable you have in mind ? because i didn't find any except the cheaper one from WM.

thanks to answer

Philips s-video cable at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B000BQU4OU
It just needs to be a thick shielded cable, not a thin and flimsy one.

Monster is another option, although it needlessly costs about double the price (or more).

hi admin, could you give me your opinion about the panasonic ag-3200 (s-vhs vcr) ? is it a good machine ?

thanks to answer

The AG-3200 appears to be identical to the JVC HR-S101US.
Curiously, however, it cost $400 compared to the $300-350 price of the JVC unit.

Panasonic was known to clone units, from time to time, under its own brand.

Compare the images below...

Panasonic:
Attachment 964

JVC:
Attachment 963

hi, if the JVC VCR JVC SR-V101 can't play some vhs, what other device /brand can you suggest me ?

thanks to answer

The JVC series machines will play most all tapes. I'd have to say at least 90% of the time or more. It really depends on your collection, and its mix of SP mode, LP mode and EP (SLP) mode recordings. The longer play EP/SLP tends to be trickier to play.

Generally speaking, the Panasonic AG1980 VCR is better with EP/SLP mode tapes than the JVC, although not ALWAYS true. Again, just generally speaking.

Sometimes neither deck can play stubborn tapes well, easily or at all. Sometimes manual tracking and re-tracking is required. Other times, you'll need a spare VCR that is easy to adjust alignment for badly-made tapes.

Anything that's a cheap commercial SLP recording should just be replaced with another copy (and hope it's better). Homemade tapes obviously cannot be easily replaced, hence all the extra work and headaches.

It may always be a case where your JVC SR-V101 is not perfectly aligned, and is the cause of errors. In this scenario, you can either have it properly realigned, or simply add another JVC VCR that may be aligned properly/differently to your VCR lineup.