Adding a TBC won't help with this specific dropped frames issue. Worse yet, it won't report them. It'll report 0 dropped frames, but it won't be accurate. So you'll never know what's going on. It's the 1990s all over again!

Shells don't vary much. Any should do.

You mean the Blackmagic won't report dropped frames because the HDMI signal from the EH65 is stable?
That means, if the EH65 actually drops frames in the process of digitization, it will duplicate the previous one because otherwise the Blackmagic would report dropped frames.

I should be able to test if this actually happens, simply by filming a constantly moving object and watching the captured file frame by frame (or field by field :D).

...I am really not fond of spending 200 bucks on a tool I may not actually need.

I've never seen anyone claim that the Blackmagic drops frames without notification during HDMI capture. Metaleonid's post was only about component capture, and only with the DMR-ES25 in-chain, not direct from source device.

I also never had issues with HDMI capture but just to be sure I will check the frame count and look for duplicate frames in my test video file.

The VCR has arrived and is working well.
Waiting for the EH65 now.

Going to practice respooling in the meantime.

Everything has arrived and is working correctly apart from some audio issues that occur randomly (thankfully not after a proper connection has been established).
I think I know how to avoid them in the future, though.
The ViewHD splitter successfully removes HDCP without doing anything else to the signal like upscaling or deinterlacing.
I'll just have to file off some plastic around the JVC's S-Video output so that my cable fits properly.

After modifying the Desktop Video 10.5.4 installer, I was able to install the latest Blackmagic drivers and now I also get audio over HDMI in programs other than Media Express.
My setup is pretty simple now: HR-S9600E =[S-Video+RCA]> EH65 =[HDMI]> HDCP-removing splitter =[HDMI]> Blackmagic

I captured a short AVI (Lagarith+PCM) with VirtualDub from some random VHS I had lying around.
The audio was perfectly in sync all the time and there were no inserted or dropped frames (also checked it manually after recording).
I uploaded the untouched file here.

There are still a few things where I need some guidance:
Should I use the EH65's Noise Reduction or is it only suggested when dealing with very bad tapes?
Also, I am not so sure how I should configure the JVC ('digital 3R', B.E.S.T. and the sharp/soft filters).
Could somebody who has knowledge of these JVC functions explain their advantages and disadvantages to me (or link me to somebody who already did that)?

I always "off"

Digital 3R = off

Best or Edit depending on tape, check the control monitor

There are halos in the sample. Possibly added by Digital 3R's sharpening, possibly added by other JVC picture filters, possibly baked into the tape.

I would check whether 3R off + EDIT mode removes the halos.

Thanks for the tip!

I should be able to start digitizing my SVHS-C tapes next week.

We've had several reports of this here, and I've seen grumbling elsewhere online. The exact combo of devices in the chain was never the same.

It'd be great if we could find out when and why this happens.

It was only reported on SD captures, not HD (via HDMI).

Unfortunately, this isn't something that I have time to test.

I have not had problems with it but what I have problems with is the Blackmagic HDMI audio.

The sound randomly doesn't work or sounds distorted without me changing anything (software or hardware).

It seems to be less likely to occur when I don't reboot the VCR or the EH65.


I always have my Onkyo receiver connected to the same splitter to confirm that the audio signal is working and it always does, so it has to be the Intensity Pro.

Post a screenshot of your VirtualDub Timing settings?

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/imag.../Dyyuhfw-1.jpg
I completely missed those settings and it looks like it could well be the cause of the audio bug.

What are the recommended settings for my setup?

Do not resync between audio and video streams.

Also never enable audio preview while capturing, in case you were using that.

I changed the setting but I still get the audio bug.


I use the Intensity's RCA outputs for audio playback.

Does it also happen when you use Media Express to capture?

Yes, it does.