GoDVDs? Want to clean up picture from tape to DVD?

[battle7]

Are the GoDVD's any good? I don't really know the technical name for them but it's little box like thing that you connect in betwen your VCR and your DVD recorder to clean up the picture and for color adjustment. I think the brand was Simco or something like that, they were around $100.

If not, what can you get to clean up the picture between conversion from tape to dvd and are they expensive. I know you can only do so much going from tape to digital but anything is a help.

Also, same question but for connecting between Direct TV with Tivo and your dvd recorder for a cleaner pic. For some reason my Tivo occasionally gets grainy looking, not all of the time though, with the exception of UPN, its always blurry. I don't know if its Sunspots/Overcast or what, but I have a strong signal.

[allaboutduncan]

I don't know about the GoDVD, but there are units that will connect between the VCR and DVD to clean up your picture.

The Elite BVP-4 can be found on ebay. This unit is what I, Lord Smurf and Mark use to clean up pictures and correct color. It's quite an amazing piece of hardware and I picked mine up on ebay for about $100.

http://tinyurl.com/e2xee

A Time Base Corrector (TBC) is also a necessary piece of hardware when going from tape to DVD. I persoanlly use a Datavideo TBC-1000, but there are other alternatives.

For the DirectTV to DVD Recorder, make sure to use a quality S-Video cable. I've got the same setup and my picture is flawless in most cases. However, you will notice some channels are better / worse than others.

[battle7]

I've got a monster cable S-Video cable somewhere, right now, I think I have my recorder hooked up via composite cabels.

[lordsmurf]

The GoDVD is mostly useless. It is a partial sync filter, mostly meant to blank portions of the signal, usually where anti-copy is. But it's really weak and really limited. For $100, it's a total rip. You'd do better to just go ahead and buy a full TBC that works 99% of the time, not just part of it.

Equipment to consider:

(1) Proc amp: Adjusts color, contrast, IRE, tints, brighness, gamma.
Example: Elite Video BVP-4 Plus, SignVideo PA-100, Vidicraft Proc Amp
Price: $50 used to $700 new

(2) Detailer: Increases the detail and clarity of an image. Makes VHS tapes (all tapes are blurry to a degree) look as good as satellite digital quality.
Example: SignVideo DR-1000, Vidicraft Detailer II, III, IV
Price: $50 used to $300 new

(3) Standalone timebase corrector (TBC): Stabilize the signal, remove any true or false anti-copy
Example: DataVideo TBC-1000, AVT-8710
Price: $200-300 new

(4) JVC S-VHS VCR (with DNR/TBC): These units have several filters, including a DNR-based TBC, and is intended to clean up a VHS tape, or S-VHS tape, creating a very clean image.
Example: JVC HR-S7800, 7900, 7600, 9600, 9800, 9900, 7965EK, 8965EK, SR-V10U
Price: $150 used to $500 new

(5) Sync filters: These will correct flagging and intra-image errors, where part of the image jerks to-and-fro, or wiggles when it should not.
Example: Built into the Panasonic ES10 DVD recorder (NOT used for recording, just filters!), pass signal through this recorder, and on to a better recorder.
Price: $175-200 new


Use s-video cables whenever possible. Especially when you start to use proc amps and detailers and S-VHS equipment. Try to use composite as little as possible.

[battle7]

I had always heard that composite was better, I hooked it up that way so my progressive scan dvd player would automatically change to the correct aspect when watching dvds.

[allaboutduncan]

I knew Smurf would post a complete list. I bet he's got that saved somewhere, so he can copy and paste it.

[markatisu]

I actually have the go video unit, bought it just out of curiosity on discount. Its main feature is that it allows you to copy macrovision tapes and can partially keep a signal clean

But for $89 more than the retail price for a go video you can get a AVT TBC which I also have that does far more and even allows for slight color, contrast, brightness correction. For $200 more you can get a Datavideo TBC1000

[battle7]

Sorry, meant to say component, (red,blue,green). As of right now I have coaxial from the satellite to Tivo, then S-Video to my recorder (because it doesn't have component outs), then component to my TV. Should I have it hooked up any differently?

[markatisu]

Are you using RG6 coax? If not you should really switch, MOST people use by defauly RG59

[battle7]

not sure, its what was here before I moved into the place.

[markatisu]

Its probably RG59, thats what most cable companies use by default, its cheaper.

If you have the time and the money I would run RG6 and it should improve the pic somewhat, the noise should not be due to the unit, its the signal or something affecting the signal that brings the noise/grain, you could try a booster (ask Phillip what he uses), I have to deal with slight slight slight grain on CN and some other channels, all the digital ones like Toon Disney are perfect but some channels on regular cable are better than others, its just the ups and down of cable

[lordsmurf]

At very least, run RG6 inside the house. Even if you leave the wall/attic/poll alone.