ExpressCard 34:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...k_pcie_x1.html

USB 3.0:
http://www.magewell.com/usb-capture-sdi

There are other devices if you start looking, those just the most known devices.

It might be cheaper to forego the laptop altogether and buy HyperDeck Shuttle 2 + SSD.

I wouldn't trust their answer, given their claims about the Intensity Pro 4K having a "professional, broadcast-grade TBC" to stabilize VHS.

WaxCyl, any chance of a VHS sample using the BrightEye? Please? :)

Sample raw interlaced xHi8 clip.
Clip is cut to max file size limit for forum

I don't know how good the TBC is in the Intensity Pro 4K but I would guess that the time base correction requirements for Broadcast type SOURCES is not very high.
Consumer grade VHS is a different kettle of fish.

I forgot to mention tech details of clip above.
Hi-8 camcorder, S-video cable, Brighteye BE75 (A-D)with TBC on, Blackmagic Mini Recorder capture.
Format : YUV
Codec ID : v210
Duration : 3s 680ms
Bit rate : 221 Mbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 5:4
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:2
Bit depth : 10 bits
Compression mode : Lossless
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 21.333

Thanks for the Hi8 sample. :) Did the Hi8 camcorder have an internal TBC turned on? I wonder whether the BrightEye's proc amp controls could recover the clipped brights (hitting Y=254 in 8-bit).

I would still love to see a VHS sample (from a non-TBC player or player with TBC turned off).

Sure, but they specifically reference the utility of their TBC for VHS.

Yes, the Hi-8 camcorder had the LTBC engaged. It makes sense for me since the Brighteye is a Frame based TBC.
The "proc Amp" on the BE-75 does not appear to Proc Amp as we know it.
I have attached the controls page from the manual. No probs with Chroma adjustment. To prevent the clipping you mentioned above you could only reduce the gain. Which does not seem ideal as I assume it reduces the entire waveform. You could compensate if necessary by tweaking the pedestal voltage a touch? In my opinion though, the clipped highlights are recorded on the tape anyway and I dont want to adjust the capture parameters for every scene on every tape. Other scenes are not clipped presumably.
It is just this very type of problem that hightlights the benefits of 10bit capture in that levels adjustments can be made AFTER capture without the risk of creating banding. 8 bit video has 256 grey levels and 10 bit video has 1024 grey levels.

I now understand what it is you are after. You need to know the TBC performance of the BE on poor quality ex VHS material with no LTBC. It might take me some time but I'll see what I can do.
Juhok states the below quote that the BE is inferior for TB correction. I have no reason to disbelieve him. But I can say that the BE works fine for me.
Thanks for posing this pic. I should look at what you are talking about before posting an opinion.
Like you, I am a bit negative about Blackmagic's claims , but reading that brochure sure gives the impression it might work on domestic video gear. But only because the camcorder in the image appears to be not "pro". Keep in mind that there ARE pro VHS decks in existence.

I felt the need to revive this thread, Is the BE 75 after all worth getting for capturing NTSC/PAL tapes via S-Video?

As discussed above the BE-75 has better quality but may not be as stable for reclocking video from damaged tapes.
The BE-25 would also be equally as suitable for SD NTSC/PAL that you require.

PS. The Brighteye BE-75 also requires some simple wiring skills to create A & V adapter leads to suit S-video 4-pin DIN and to RCA audio. Svideo to 2xRCA can be purchased along with 2x RCA to BNC socket adapters. The audio adapter can be made by cutting off 2 RCA plugs from the end of an a normal stereo audio lead. The 4 wires can be stripped back and tinned to suit the audio screw terminals on the BE-75

BE-25 is a composite only box, Am I wrong? I need a S-Video device. And yes I'm trying to recover some curly edge tapes where the video portion is intact just the sync pulses section is damaged, Would the Leitch DPS-575 works better for this scenario?

I have the cable already, Looks like this and for the SDI capture I have this.

Oops, sorry, you are correct the BE-25 is composite only. I missed that!
A video tape player based line-TBC is also required if if you have flag waving type instability.
For SDI capture I used a Blackmagic PCI-E Decklink Mini-recorder. It captures at 10bit resolution.
The SDI capture unit that you linked to only captures at 8 bit - which to me defeats the advantage of using
the BE-75. It wont matter though if your software does not handle the 10bit files.
If you only have a laptop and require USB capture I am not sure if Blackmagic has a USB model , but they do have a Thunderbolt device. The adapter you linked to is certainly correct. Beware cheap S-video cables. I have been caught with quality loss from using cheap ones. Look for double shielding and thicker fancier cables. Remember the signal is analog.
The DPS-575 internally processes at only 8 bit, but works well enough.

- I have the JVC HR-S7600AM even with LTBC on it wouldn't fix the tape problem.
- The Magewel claims that the SDI to USB processes video @10 bit unless they miss print the user manual.
- If the BE75 is a 10bit processor I will just keep an eye on it until I find an affordable one.

The unit accepts 10 bit input for compatibility with SDI standard.
Internal processing appears to be 8bit?
Not sure if this software processing can be bypassed
It may be possible to use third party10bit compatible capture software.
When there is a lack of spec always assume the worst!
The DPS-575 is 10 bit input but if the TBC is engaged the the processing is 8bit and then reupsampled to 10 bit.
The BE-75 is all 12 bit internal processing.
It is now possible to do video de-interlacing, levels, and most filtering at 10 bit resolution using AVIsynth+. Some of the filters use 16 bit precision internally.

Spex from website;
Video Engine
8-bit video processing
Deinterlace
Cropping
Color Adjustment
Color Space Conversion
Up/down Conversion
Aspect Ratio Conversion
Mirror and Flip

It seems like it defeats the purpose for the BE75 to process in 8bit and upsample to 10bit. So there is always a bottle neck in the system, May as well stay in 8bit all the way, After all it is VHS to begin with.

The BE-75 is 10-12-10 bit.
The DPS-575 is 10-8-10 Bit

I was talking about when TBC is on the BE75 defaults to 8 bit. If it wasn't for FF TBC I wouldn't need BE75, My Pinnacle 500-USB can capture lossless.

The BE-75 is fully 12 bit with TBC engaged. The DPS575 is 8 bit with TBC engaged.

I think the Magewel appears to most likely only 8 bit.

Good to know BE-75 is not 8bit in TBC mode, I can get a different SDI transfer device, I got the Magewel for $40 as non working, It turned out to be fully operational, So I will sell it and get a 10bit USB device.

What do you recommend as a 10bit SDI to USB grabber? I put the Magewell up for auction on ebay.

Do you only have a laptop?
I had a quick look and couldn't find a USB to SDI.

I think I can recall seeing an SDI to express card.

Plenty of SDI to USB I just couldn’t find the 10bit box, I confirmed that Magewell and Aja are 8bit devices according to their support via email, Black magic advertised as 8bit, I’m still waiting a response on the MOKOSE HDMI / SDI combo to USB.
Yes I have a laptop only.

This is a 8bit device per the customer service.

-- merged --

I came across this and already got a response from Blackmagic team that it does 10bit natively in pass-through mode which what I will be doing anyway. I found one locally for $120.