Noise removal from 8mm videos?
 

I was wondering why there ends up being so much noise in my 8mm videos, once they enter my PC. Video looks good on the camera. I'm using a Sony DCR-TRV320 straight to firewire port on my computer, then capturing with VirtualDub (LS's latest version with all the filters). Tried DNR off and on, also TBC off and on. Also tried the TRV320 to my Avermedia M791 combo card via S-Video, using VDub. Computer is HP Z420 Workstation with 16GB RAM, Xeon E5-1650 CPU, AMD Fire Pro S7000 GPU and Windows 7 updated and running offline.

Sony's Digital8 camcorders/decks oversharpen analog sources, exaggerating inherent noise and causing artifacts on edges. The Sony Hi8 cam I have does the same thing.

My expensive TEAC V-800G-F deck outputs a soft picture, truer to a neutral setting, IMO.

Tiny LCD screen = noise is hidden. If you downscale your capture to the resolution of the LCD, it will look about the same.

We recommend capturing lossless via S-Video, not DV-converted.

OK thanks. Do you know anything about the Sony EV-S2000 Hi8 player? Just wondering if it is a decent player and might play better than my camcorders. Thanks for the reply.

Unless there have been samples posted somewhere, I don't know. Some comparisons of other models:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vide...html#post44781
http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vide...nd-video8.html (PAL)

I like that comparison article. I found one of those Sony EVO's on an online auction. Only had 2 bidders and the price was $55.00 with a minute or so left. I had my phone synced with the countdown clock and bid with 8 seconds left. It said "Sorry, This Auction Has Ended." As it said that, I looked at both timers and they both had 2 seconds left! It sold for $64.00 + $19.60 shipping. Looked to be in excellent condition and had extras. I wasn't very happy...lol.

The DNR circuit on the D8 cams - in my experience, anyway - visually does nothing, so I leave it off. You may (likely) also need a frame TBC like a AVT-8170 Can you post some lossless samples?

Even with the proper prerequisite hardware and capture card every Video8/Hi8 tape I've ever captured has had some degree of grain and grunge that is easily removed with some light-duty filtering in Avisynth. It's just inherent of the format that older CRT sets did a better job of hiding.