VHS Captures

Here's some info on my VHS capture process.

Capture Set-ups:

I have a number of set-ups I'm using for VHS captures. It will vary depending on the tape's condition, the footage, or the playback format. These set-ups are detailed below. I use my primary set-up for master or nice quality tapes (PAL only). It gives the best quality on a 'clean' source, but in general I find the alternate set-ups give me a better quality overall.

Primary Capture Chain (PAL only):

Lineage: VHS > JVC HR-DVS2 (TBC on) > Tevion DVD Maker+ (ATI clone, eMPIA) > Windows XP > Virtual Dub 1.9.11 > .avi (HuffYUV)

Video transfer: JVC HR-DVS2 > S-Video > Cypress CTB-100G TBC > S-Video > Tevion DVD Maker+
Audio transfer: JVC HR-DVS2 > RCA > Tevion DVD Maker+

Alternate Capture Chain 1 (PAL and NTSC):

Lineage: VHS > JVC HR-S5500AM > Tevion DVD Maker+ (ATI clone, eMPIA) > Windows XP > Virtual Dub 1.9.11 > .avi (HuffYUV)

Video transfer: JVC HR-S5500AM > S-Video > Panasonic DMR-ES10 *or* DMR-ES15 > S-Video > Cypress CTB-100G TBC > S-Video > Tevion DVD Maker+
Audio transfer: JVC HR-S5500AM > RCA > Tevion DVD Maker+

Alternate Capture Chain 2 (PAL only):

Lineage: VHS > Panasonic NV-HS800A > Tevion DVD Maker+ (ATI clone, eMPIA) > Windows XP > Virtual Dub 1.9.11 > .avi (HuffYUV)

Video transfer: Panasonic NV-HS800A > S-Video > Panasonic DMR-ES10 *or* DMR-ES15 > S-Video > Cypress CTB-100G TBC > S-Video > Tevion DVD Maker+
Audio transfer: Panasonic NV-HS800A > RCA > Tevion DVD Maker+

*note: I alternate between the ES10 and the ES15 based on the tape. I prefer to use the ES15, but the ES10 is more effective on particularly rough tapes.

Screenshots:

The following two screenshots highlight the difference on a particularly bad tape. Changing the VCR provided a far better picture (the horizontal colour bars are not present), while using the ES10 as a line TBC seems to provide a slightly crisper image (as the TBC on the DVS2 also forces DNR). The guy's ear and hair in screenshot 2 highlight this nicely.

JVC HR-DVS2
VCR (TBC on) > TBC > PC

JVC HR-S5500AM
VCR > ES10 > TBC > PC

JVC HR-DVS2
VCR (TBC on) > TBC > PC

JVC HR-S5500AM
VCR > ES10 > TBC > PC