I was never able to get correctly-aligned SDI recordings to the SSD using the HyperDeck Shuttle 2 with this, but outputting HDMI from the HDS2 to my capture card did result in a correctly-cropped 720x480 image.

I found that VHS signals are spatially noise-reduced even over SDI output, blurring away small details.

Several tapes show a slight bend at the top of the image even with the TBC set to Extreme Head Switch mode. The DMR-ES15 doesn't have this issue with the same tapes.

In summary, I can't recommend the DPS-470AV.

Thanks for the tests. Maybe we should also have a "do not buy" part to our buying guides?

There is a opportunity on ebay for a DPS-475 (NTSC only) (before leitch) with NR features unlocked.
I asked the seller by curiosity to check. I read somewhere that before leitch bought DPS, all the unit have the NR unlocked, locked NR came with leitch.

Item number on ebay
171748157169

"all the unit have the NR unlocked, locked NR came with leitch."

Interesting. :hmm:

I found the link where I read it, it seem to goes in the direction of the answer of ebay seller about NR...

http://www.smecc.org/dps_-_digital_p...ng_systems.htm

This looks to be a usegroup dump. :hmm:

I've reposted it here...

Leitch DPS-575AV Firmware, NR Option Code ?
 

Hi,

First of all I would like to thank you for this forum and its knowledge, reviews, stories, chit chat, etc. :congrats:

Great place to be, to read and to spend countless hours of research.

My first steps into this realm are two questions regarding the LEITCH DPS-575AV.

#1 I sourced a unit in great working condition and for a good price but unfortunately this unit does NOT have the NR-575 option/feature enabled.
Does anyone have a clue where I can get the code for unlocking the option?

#2 Same question for the firmware. Does anyone know which number the last firmware version has?
Any idea where to get the FW?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers!

I have no idea where to get the firmware.
I have the same device and it would be nice to have the NR, but realistically NR has come along way since then and you will get far superior results using software NR esp some of the plugins for AVIsynth.
If you need NR with a GUI I would recommend Neat Video.

My Observations
 

The DPS-475/575 Units have a plethora of features going for them including a custom designed 3D comb filter, Proc. Amp, Test Pattern Generator, and a wide array of in- and out-puts, including SDI. The AV model also has audio embedding with automatic delay to compensate for the digital section. The control panel is slick! They show up at very affordable prices on eBay.

My observations: The TBC is not bad, but slow to respond to head-switching, which means sometimes you get the dreaded "top curl." Most of the time, it isn't a problem, though. Of greater importance, the comb filter doesn't actually work in TBC mode, greatly reducing the resolution of the composite input. This is noticeable even on regular VHS. Therefore, I can't recommend it for stabilizing a composite signal. The S-Video input is fine, however.

Also, don't worry about missing the noise reduction feature. It's nothing special. I kept getting blurring artifacts no matter how I adjusted the settings and thus never use it.

Odd, because the older DPS-235 (actually Personal TBC IV+ cards in a rackmount case) always has the 3-line adaptive comb filter turned on.

I guess newer isn't always better. Apparently both the comb filtering and TBC are done in software running on FPGAs. Either they didn't have the horsepower to do both simultaneously or they weren't weren't getting satisfactory results on jittery signals and decided to just use the notch filter built into a Phillips SAA7113.

None of this surprises me. The DPS was a rack mount unit, designed for and used in broadcast facilities, and better analog non-VHS sources were expected. These are unlike the Cypress and DataVideo units, that were expressly created for VHS>digital workflows.

I had tried/tested many of these "Big Bertha" TBCs in the late 2000s and early 2010s, in the hopes of finding TBC deals or to use the unique features. None were ever pleasing. Usually the quality was harmed in processing, or the TBC was flaky, or the advertised features didn't actually work (or work correctly) -- or a combination of all those faults. The entire DPS/Leitch/Harris brigade is something I learned to long ago avoid.

I'd never use one of these.

The sharp edges and big body alone makes it not-fun.

a littzle help with DPS 575
 

Hi guys...just got a fiew of dps-575 without front panel and so I need PC remote control software...anyone has it? please post it or send it to me...
thx

How does the DPS-470AV compares to the DSP-475AV does it come in a PAL version? And How does BrightEye 75 compare to all ? Is it good for VHS signal?

Hi!
I've owned and used the PAL enabled 575 version for a while now.

Bad things first: noisy fan and VERY deep. You can not use this thing in a typical living room.
My unit's VFD has some problems, too: it Flips into negative after a while. This does not affect Operation.
And it loses some button caps.
The unit will not accept an NTSC 4.43 signal. Actually, it would but output is b/w.

OK, even with the best of the best of VHS Players, like the Panasonic AG-7350, you're still going to need a TBC or frame sync to get any useful output for a digital production chain. (Who would have guessed). That means that the 575’s 3D comb filter is not available to you when you use VHS, unless you buy two and daisy-chain them. I found the 575’s TBS to be very reliable, so I do all my VHS dubbing through it. The 575 also has very fine video adjustments which allow tweaking weak or off signals. The unit does have an SDI output that allows direct recording to an SDI-capable VTR.

I also own a Snell & Wilcox KUDOS Plus TBS185 Advanced Synchronizer/Timebase Correctors with 3D Golden Gate Technology. Ironically, this device has a similar limitation than the DPS 575: If you need to stabilize the image, you must run it through the A or B composite inputs, but only input C employs the illustrious Golden Gate decoder. If you feed VHS to input C, you don’t get a stable picture. With Laserdisc, you do. Also with the JVC HR-DM10000EU, when you enable its integrated TBC. (Input C goes to the IQDAMDD 12-bit advance multi-standard decoder board, in case you are interested.)
Out of frustration, I put the TBS185 in daisy-chain after the DPS575 to use the latter’s TBC and the former’s decoder. Wait a minute, you’re going to say, how does he do that? I do connect the 575’s CVBS output to feed the 185’s CVBS input. Yes, this involves at least one unnecessary D/A conversion stage. OTOH, both units have 12 bit converters and we’re still talking about VHS, so let’s not split hairs I think.
Anyway, the results are really nice. Pictures are super stable and the TBS185’s noise reduction and enhancement circuits can contribute to a better image if used with caution.
Have fun with your standard definition gear and media!

The problem with going VHS > DPS decode/TBC > CVBS > TBS185 decode is you're limited by the DPS's initial notch filtered decoder in TBC mode. To take advantage of the Golden Gate you really need to feed it the analog signal directly, which as you've discovered, won't work because it can't tolerate VHS time base errors. That's a bummer.

While I initially bought the DPS for use as a TBC, I now use it more like an A/V receiver with Proc Amp and SDI converter. It works great in that capacity. My VHS machines have built-in TBCs, so I just turn that feature off on the DPS.

I added a resistor to the fan circuit to slow it down. No more noise! :)

Thanks for sharing your observations and advice with the resistor! :congrats: