Scan converters for SECAM-L VHS tapes?

[SampleText800]

Hello hello again!

I am still interested in the whole VHS restoration stuff, and I was wondering if there was a way to output my SECAM-L tapes into PAL. I did research, and on several forums I've heard of a tool called a "Scan Converter".
I tried to do some research but I've only come across scan converters for recording video game consoles, or similar stuff, and nowhere was I able to find anything about those for VHS or VCRs. (I've even tried to search for stuff on this forum, but nothing!..)

I'd like to know more about those so called "Scan Converters", as I literally do not know anything about them, despite my efforts to look for information online, and I'd like to know if I could use those to output SECAM-L to PAL. Thanks!

[latreche34]

You don't need a scan converter, what you need is to capture SECAM properly in its native state. Converting between standards is harmfull, Maybe it's okay for viewing but not ideal for an archiving and restoration project.

[SampleText800]

It happens I have SECAM-L tapes that I'd like to watch without having this very irritating horizontal jitter,
and there are apparently no SECAM-L-Compatible TBC, so I try and see for what I can do.

And I completely understand that converting formats might damage the overall video quality, but if it isn't
too much damage, then I guess I can go with it, as most of the tapes I digitise are for viewing only, only a
few of them are meant to be kept for archiving.

[latreche34]

There are decent capture devices that accept SECAM, there are TBC's than can accept SECAM. SECAM-L is a broadcast standard in France, For tapes it is just SECAM.
There are some pro scan converters that have SDI out that can be used to capture analog video, you would need a SDI2USB or SDI2PCI interface, They are hard to find and expensive just like consumer external TBC's.

[SampleText800]

Wait, you left me a little confused on SECAM and SECAM-L... Do I have to seek for a SECAM-Compatible TBC/Scan Converter, or a SECAM-L-Compatible TBC/Scan Converter? Because call me stupid here, but I don't quite understand how SECAM-L is a broadcast format, and SECAM are for tapes... Sorry I am making this harder than it has to be, but asking on this forum only has helped me so far ^^;

[lordsmurf]

SECAM-L is a format of VHS tape.
SECAM and SECAM-L is like PAL-N, PAL-M, and PAL-B/G/D/I

[SampleText800]

Thanks Lordsmurf!

So yeah, I believe I'll have to look for a Scan Converter then, I'll try to use latreche34's recommendations
to try and see if I find anything that'll suit my needs.

[latreche34]

If you live in France there is only one VHS format and it is SECAM = SECAM-L, VCR's and TBC's use one SECAM standard only and that is SECAM, Capture cards generally coupled with TV tuners use broadcast terminology so they have letters for color standards that follow the broadcast standard in each country which is SECAM-L for France. The official VHS standard has only 3 color formats, PAL, SECAM and NTSC. In later years some pseudo standards emerged to fulfill special needs for some countries such as middle east, Brazil, Some African countries just to name few.

[lordsmurf]

Yes, only 3 base color standards. But framerates must be considered, along with other areas like IRE. Formats are more than mere color.