Advice on digitising VCR tape

On 25/01/2016 14:33, Lobster wrote:
I have been asked to extract a short video film (a very precious wedding
video) on VHS cassette into a 21st century format so it can be viewed
again.

I need to decide whether to send it off somewhere to be done
'professionally', or DIY it? If so, any suggestions as to what kit would
give decent enough results (given that the video was pretty crappy 1980s
VCR quality anyway; but I don't want it to get worse!). I do have an old
domestic VHS player which was consigned to the back of the workshop about
10 years ago when a cassette got jammed inside and I never bothered sorting
it. I expect I could nurse it back to health? And it would be quite
useful to have the necessary hardware in house, as there are a few more
tapes I'd like to view and digitise too, ideally.

If the panel reckons I should just send my tape away somewhere - any
suggestions as to where? What would be the best primary output spec - some
form of computer video format or standard DVD format? (whichever primary
file I get, the actual file will end up being viewed both via DVD and
computer screen).

Thanks

I tried to post this earlier, but it seems to have vanished in the
aether. (No personal experience but a former collegue strongly
recommends them).


Harley Jones trading as
Celtic Films and Video,
29 Beulah Road
Cardiff
CF14 6LT

Tel 07837 704100
and email

"Lobster" wrote in message
. 236...
I have been asked to extract a short video film (a very precious wedding
video) on VHS cassette into a 21st century format so it can be viewed
again.

I need to decide whether to send it off somewhere to be done
'professionally', or DIY it? If so, any suggestions as to what kit would
give decent enough results (given that the video was pretty crappy 1980s
VCR quality anyway; but I don't want it to get worse!). I do have an old
domestic VHS player which was consigned to the back of the workshop about
10 years ago when a cassette got jammed inside and I never bothered
sorting
it. I expect I could nurse it back to health? And it would be quite
useful to have the necessary hardware in house, as there are a few more
tapes I'd like to view and digitise too, ideally.

If the panel reckons I should just send my tape away somewhere - any
suggestions as to where? What would be the best primary output spec - some
form of computer video format or standard DVD format? (whichever primary
file I get, the actual file will end up being viewed both via DVD and
computer screen).

Personally with something as irreplaceable as that, I'd do both if it
looked like your own digitising could be done better professionally.
I'd do it myself first just in case it got lost in the process of doing it
professionally.

And I'd due blueray just because it's more recent.

On 25/01/2016 14:33, Lobster wrote:
I have been asked to extract a short video film (a very precious wedding
video) on VHS cassette into a 21st century format so it can be viewed
again.



OK if it helps I just did a whole selection of VHS tapes .... I wrote up
a small article if of interest. (was a response in a video forum)

You may not want to invest in the kit .......... I did, digitized all
the tapes then sold it at no loss on eBay.

Cheap 'convert your tapes' USB devices are useless, you need a good
Analogue to Digital hardware device ...
I used ADVD300 a small free standing box .... another respected approach
is to use a Colossus video capture card

There are some very good steps you can do ... such as 'play through' to
get frame sync corrected and signal levels correct.

Once you have A-D done, capture it on your PC ..... simplest and best
capture software is WINDV free and bombproof

When it is on your PC you can use free software such as Virtual Dub /
AviSynth that will significantly clean up & edit your captured footer,
white balance, colour correct, de-noise etc.... and you can leave it at
that or drop into one of the NLE programs such as Sony Vegas or Adobe
Premire.

I think there is even a free NLE built into windows.

Also bear in mind where your intended 'viewers' will watch it ...... if
on a TV then you do not want to de-interlace, and create an MPEG2
(standard) DVD if it is for internet play-back then you would be advised
to create a progressive format mpg4.
Unless you want small file sizes and high compression - which you have
loads of options.

In case it is of interest I have just put a copy of the doc in a shared
folder for you : http://tinyurl.com/zct66vf

On 25/01/2016 14:33, Lobster wrote:
I have been asked to extract a short video film (a very precious wedding
video) on VHS cassette into a 21st century format so it can be viewed
again.



OK if it helps I just did a whole selection of VHS tapes .... I wrote up
a small article if of interest. (was a response in a video forum)

You may not want to invest in the kit .......... I did, digitized all
the tapes then sold it at no loss on eBay.

Cheap 'convert your tapes' USB devices are useless, you need a good
Analogue to Digital hardware device ...
I used ADVD300 a small free standing box .... another respected approach
is to use a Colossus video capture card

There are some very good steps you can do ... such as 'play through' to
get frame sync corrected and signal levels correct.

Once you have A-D done, capture it on your PC ..... simplest and best
capture software is WINDV free and bombproof

When it is on your PC you can use free software such as Virtual Dub /
AviSynth that will significantly clean up & edit your captured footer,
white balance, colour correct, de-noise etc.... and you can leave it at
that or drop into one of the NLE programs such as Sony Vegas or Adobe
Premire.

I think there is even a free NLE built into windows.

Also bear in mind where your intended 'viewers' will watch it ...... if
on a TV then you do not want to de-interlace, and create an MPEG2
(standard) DVD if it is for internet play-back then you would be advised
to create a progressive format mpg4.
Unless you want small file sizes and high compression - which you have
loads of options.

In case it is of interest I have just put a copy of the doc in a shared
folder for you : http://tinyurl.com/zct66vf

I used to do this with a Matrox Marvel G450eTV AGP card, it worked well in
XP but could never get working drivers for Win 7. Loads of software out
there, much of it free including Windows Movie Maker. Maybe get an old PC
and put a similar capture card in it. Haven't any experience of external
capture devices.

Kenny Cargill

"NY" wrote in message
...

"Lobster" wrote in message
. 236...
I have been asked to extract a short video film (a very precious wedding
video) on VHS cassette into a 21st century format so it can be viewed
again.

I need to decide whether to send it off somewhere to be done
'professionally', or DIY it? If so, any suggestions as to what kit would
give decent enough results (given that the video was pretty crappy 1980s
VCR quality anyway; but I don't want it to get worse!). I do have an old
domestic VHS player which was consigned to the back of the workshop about
10 years ago when a cassette got jammed inside and I never bothered
sorting
it. I expect I could nurse it back to health? And it would be quite
useful to have the necessary hardware in house, as there are a few more
tapes I'd like to view and digitise too, ideally.

If the panel reckons I should just send my tape away somewhere - any
suggestions as to where? What would be the best primary output spec - some
form of computer video format or standard DVD format? (whichever primary
file I get, the actual file will end up being viewed both via DVD and
computer screen).

I have tried using USB devices such as EZCAP and Hauppauge Live 2, and the
results from VHS have not been pretty: there's a lot of waviness of the
picture, and saturated colours have a pronounced pattern on them - and yes,
I have selected PAL rather than SECAM! Even from good clean PAL (eg from a
Sky box) there's some patterning on strong colours and occasional frames get
dropped. VHS as a source is a problem because the signal isn't perfect PAL
(it has slight timing errors).

Best results are from a PCI card in an old Windows XP computer that I
acquired - but that's not as portable as my laptop.

I'd suggest that if there's not very much to transfer, you get it done
professionally. Go for one which advertises that it does timebase correction
to correct for variations in signal timing from VHS tape. Maybe go for MPEG
as the output format then you can edit out obvious glitches like bad edits
and "forgot to turn the camera off". I use VideoReDo for removing glitches
like this (and for removing continuity announcements and commercials from
broadcast programmes).

VideoReDo can save its output back to MPEG again for viewing on a PC, and/or
it can convert that MPEG to a DVD image (complete with disc title/menu if
required) that you can then burn to a physical DVD. Best of both worlds.

If you get the professional company to supply the output on DVD in DVD video
format, you've got the problem of converting it to MPEG if you want to edit
it at all - may as well start with MPEG, even if they supply it on DVD as a
data (rather than video) DVD.

On 25/01/2016 14:33, Lobster wrote:
I have been asked to extract a short video film (a very precious wedding
video) on VHS cassette into a 21st century format so it can be viewed
again.

I need to decide whether to send it off somewhere to be done
'professionally', or DIY it? If so, any suggestions as to what kit would
give decent enough results (given that the video was pretty crappy 1980s
VCR quality anyway; but I don't want it to get worse!). I do have an old
domestic VHS player which was consigned to the back of the workshop about
10 years ago when a cassette got jammed inside and I never bothered sorting
it. I expect I could nurse it back to health? And it would be quite
useful to have the necessary hardware in house, as there are a few more
tapes I'd like to view and digitise too, ideally.

If the panel reckons I should just send my tape away somewhere - any
suggestions as to where? What would be the best primary output spec - some
form of computer video format or standard DVD format? (whichever primary
file I get, the actual file will end up being viewed both via DVD and
computer screen).

Thanks


I have tried to post a contact for this post twice, but it is still not
showing. Please ignore!

On 25/01/16 21:36, newshound wrote:


I have tried to post a contact for this post twice, but it is still not
showing. Please ignore!


It's showing fine. I/We see all copies.

I see you are using Thunderbird. Check it's set as 'View All' in the
tool bar.


--
Adrian C

In message , Davey
writes
On Mon, 25 Jan 2016 14:33:42 GMT
Lobster wrote:

I have been asked to extract a short video film (a very precious
wedding video) on VHS cassette into a 21st century format so it can
be viewed again.

I need to decide whether to send it off somewhere to be done
'professionally', or DIY it? If so, any suggestions as to what kit
would give decent enough results (given that the video was pretty
crappy 1980s VCR quality anyway; but I don't want it to get worse!).
I do have an old domestic VHS player which was consigned to the back
of the workshop about 10 years ago when a cassette got jammed inside
and I never bothered sorting it. I expect I could nurse it back to
health? And it would be quite useful to have the necessary hardware
in house, as there are a few more tapes I'd like to view and digitise
too, ideally.

If the panel reckons I should just send my tape away somewhere - any
suggestions as to where? What would be the best primary output spec -
some form of computer video format or standard DVD format?
(whichever primary file I get, the actual file will end up being
viewed both via DVD and computer screen).

Thanks


I have had great success with an EZ-Cap (note that it is not an
Eazi-Cap, which is a different, and apparently inferior, device).
I could never get it to work with Linux, but it is fine with Win7.
It can also accept signals in NTSC 4.33 format, should you wish to
digitise US tapes, and can play them in that format.
Hauppauge cannot do NTSC 4.33, as I pointed out to them, contrary to
their claims, but should also be good for the work you need.

http://www.ezcap.tv/usb-video-captur...d?zenid=c14562
0c5c228b18d36a54e0e7626e9e

http://www.hauppauge.com/

Usual disclaimers: No connection, etc etc, just a satisfied customer.

The first video-to-USB converter I bought was the wrong-un (presumably
an Eazi-Cap and not an EZ-Cap). However, as if it was only a fiver, it
wasn't a disaster. I think the EZ-Cap (which works) isn't much more.

However, I thought it was better to be safe than sorry, so I bought what
was hopefully a better class unit - the Video-2-PC.
https://www.video-2-pc.co.uk/?gclid=CK_I7cv_xcoCFUyeGwodflYGvQ
I've only copied three or four tapes, but it seemed to do a pretty good
job. It's a while ago, but from what I recall, the software has lots of
extras, if you care to use them (see the website information).

--
Ian

On 25/01/2016 14:33, Lobster wrote:
I have been asked to extract a short video film (a very precious wedding
video) on VHS cassette into a 21st century format so it can be viewed
again.

I need to decide whether to send it off somewhere to be done
'professionally', or DIY it? If so, any suggestions as to what kit would
give decent enough results (given that the video was pretty crappy 1980s
VCR quality anyway; but I don't want it to get worse!). I do have an old
domestic VHS player which was consigned to the back of the workshop about
10 years ago when a cassette got jammed inside and I never bothered sorting
it. I expect I could nurse it back to health? And it would be quite
useful to have the necessary hardware in house, as there are a few more
tapes I'd like to view and digitise too, ideally.

Oddly enough, I have the same to do and placed an order at
transparent-uk.com today. No idea whether or not the results will be
acceptable!


KWorld VS-USB2800D computer TV tuner VS-USB2800D £5.48
TARGET SCART Adapter with Input/Output Switch 3SR3-11 £0.76
Subtotal £6.24
Shipping & Handling £4.99
Grand Total (Excl.Tax) £11.23
Tax £2.25
Grand Total (Incl.Tax) £13.48

--
F

On Mon, 25 Jan 2016 22:28:44 +0000
Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , Davey
writes
On Mon, 25 Jan 2016 14:33:42 GMT
Lobster wrote:

I have been asked to extract a short video film (a very precious
wedding video) on VHS cassette into a 21st century format so it can
be viewed again.

I need to decide whether to send it off somewhere to be done
'professionally', or DIY it? If so, any suggestions as to what kit
would give decent enough results (given that the video was pretty
crappy 1980s VCR quality anyway; but I don't want it to get
worse!). I do have an old domestic VHS player which was consigned
to the back of the workshop about 10 years ago when a cassette got
jammed inside and I never bothered sorting it. I expect I could
nurse it back to health? And it would be quite useful to have
the necessary hardware in house, as there are a few more tapes I'd
like to view and digitise too, ideally.

If the panel reckons I should just send my tape away somewhere -
any suggestions as to where? What would be the best primary output
spec - some form of computer video format or standard DVD format?
(whichever primary file I get, the actual file will end up being
viewed both via DVD and computer screen).

Thanks


I have had great success with an EZ-Cap (note that it is not an
Eazi-Cap, which is a different, and apparently inferior, device).
I could never get it to work with Linux, but it is fine with Win7.
It can also accept signals in NTSC 4.33 format, should you wish to
digitise US tapes, and can play them in that format.
Hauppauge cannot do NTSC 4.33, as I pointed out to them, contrary to
their claims, but should also be good for the work you need.

http://www.ezcap.tv/usb-video-captur...d?zenid=c14562
0c5c228b18d36a54e0e7626e9e

http://www.hauppauge.com/

Usual disclaimers: No connection, etc etc, just a satisfied customer.

The first video-to-USB converter I bought was the wrong-un
(presumably an Eazi-Cap and not an EZ-Cap). However, as if it was
only a fiver, it wasn't a disaster. I think the EZ-Cap (which works)
isn't much more.

However, I thought it was better to be safe than sorry, so I bought
what was hopefully a better class unit - the Video-2-PC.
https://www.video-2-pc.co.uk/?gclid=CK_I7cv_xcoCFUyeGwodflYGvQ
I've only copied three or four tapes, but it seemed to do a pretty
good job. It's a while ago, but from what I recall, the software has
lots of extras, if you care to use them (see the website information).


When I came back here from the USA, I had (still have) lots of NTSC
tapes, and I wanted to transcribe a bunch of them. Playing them on many
VCRs is possible, but they can't be recorded with the output given,
PAL60. I found a VCR that put out NTSC 4.33, which is recordable, and
after the Hauppauge disaster, (they didn't know they couldn't output
NTSC 4.33 until I forced them to tell me how, or not), I tried the much
cheaper EZ-Cap, which did exactly what I wanted. Considering that I'm
starting with tapes recorded in NTSC LP mode, and then converting them
to a system that works here, and then digitising them, the quality is
not at all bad. I am not a technical guru, I just want to be able to
watch them. They started in NTSC, after all!

--
Davey.