Welcome.
Converting VHS is a simple recipe
VCR > line TBC > frame TBC > capture card
Not just any random item, but specific recommended items known for quality.
There really is no external line TBC, so you get S-VHS VCRs with embedded line TBCs. (Technically, yes, there are some external items with line TBC, but those are not transparent, and tend to add quality issues to the video. For example, the ES10/15 type DVD recorders are not transparent, adding lots of issues.)
There is no VCR with a frame TBC. Those are the external TBCs.
Line TBC is not frame TBC.
- Line TBC fixes the image. In-frame/intraframe corrections.
- Frame TBC fixes the signal (thus prevents dropped frames, audio sync errors, etc). Temporal/interframe corrections.
- You need both.
What you're missing here is frame TBC.
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Originally Posted by adrisnz1
Last year I started digitalizing the PAL VHS-C tapes that I have from my childhood. I used an AVerMedia dvd EZMaker 7 c039 and an average VHS device through composite and a software that I don't even remember the name, but it was not OBS, VirtualDub |
Yuck.
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Halfway through, I saw that using S-Video would improve the quality drastically, so I stopped my process of digitalizing tapes.
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s-video was a start. TBCs, and a better capture card, are the finish.
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Now I want to start from new and although I've seen that new method of vhs-decode, I believe that's just too much for me so I want something more simple
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vhs-decode is an overly complicated method that tries to avoid buying gear. End quality is no better, and often actually worse (halos, ringing). It's still very buggy, results are all over the place.
You can easily get sucked into tinkering with VCRs, and never accomplish the actual video capture projects. You'll spend time/effort/sanity instead of dollars. Everything has costs, one way or another. Most people would rather spend money to avoid nuisances/hassles. I also don't churn my own butter, or change my car's oil -- that's what the grocery store and the local "quick lube" are for.
Video gear is boring, just tools for tasks. It's not much different than owning lawnmowers or refrigerators, also essential tools for those tasks (cut grass, keep food cold). But unlike many others, with video gear, you can "buy it, use it, resell it" as quality gear holds value (and junk is yours forever).
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I've bought this VHS in pristine condition + remote: JVC HR-S9600EU
I have a Windows 11 laptop, and I'm planning to buy the ATI TV Wonder 600 USB that I know it can have some incompatibilities
And then I should use Virtualdub 1.9.x
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- If in proper working condition, that VCR can be excellent.
- ATI 600 USB is an excellent capture card, but does not work beyond Windows 7. However, there is a certain "clone" that can. (I don't name-drop the brand/model, because there are actually more non-clones using the same brand/model. I have some of these cards in the marketplace, trying to make it easy for others to locate those.)
Now, onto the questions...
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My questions:
-I will connect the JVC through S-Video to the ATI usb card right?
-Will the quality be much better?
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Yes, s-video connections.
Quality is be better for 3 reasons:
- quality card
- line TBC in that JVC 9600 (also NR is suggested, AUTO/NORM not EDIT)
- s-video
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-Is this ATI USB card my best option if I want to use my laptop?
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Not if it's Win11. There are other cards that need to be used here, namely specific Pinnacles (NOT Dazzle!), or the aforementioned ATI 600 USB "clone".
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-Is deinterlacing recommended? Does it remove detail/resolution? I've seen this software: QTGMC
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Only deinterlace when required. For example, to mix edit with HD content, like a documentary. Or streaming for Youtube. Only QTGMC deinterlaced in Avisynth or Hybrid, other methods are vastly inferior, destroy quality.
Yes, deinterlacing affects the detail and sharpness.
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-Is it better that I buy a dedicated Windows XP pc?
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If you're willing to build/buy a Windows XP system, you can acquire the best quality ATI AIW cards. Certain AIW, not any random AIW. There are older AGP, but certain PCI and USB can also be used on modern(ish) hardware from as recent as 2017. So a fast i7 CPU can run with XP and AIW. It doesn't have to be some old slow POS for 20-25 years ago. Not much has changed since 2017, aside from GPUs and adding cores, neither of which matter here.
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-Am I missing something? VHS digitalization is more complex than I thought
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The frame TBC.
Yes, it is more complicated, but so is everything in life. "I didn't realize __" is what intelligent people admit regularly. I don't know lots of stuff -- but I do know SD consumer format analog ingest/capture! So you've come to the right place for help and guidance.
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-What is the best format for recording the tapes? I only have a 4TB NVME, so I don't have that much space currently. I have around 50 VHS-C tapes of around 45 minutes each
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You want
Huffyuv lossless AVI.
50 -C can be quite a chore. Such a flimsy format, worse than full-sized VHS.
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Glad to help.
