capture a video from my old Video8 Sony Handycam (CCD-TR45E) to my PC

[stenews]

Hi mates,
what I'm trying to do is to capture a video from my old Sony Video8 Camcorder CCD-TR45E to my PC.
My capture device is a Pinnacle PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick 330e.
I connected the camera via the video RCA jack (yellow connector).
When I start VirtualDub capture avi I can see the video and clearly listen the audio, but the overall quality of the video is very bad...why?
If I connect the camera on my TV, always by RCA jack, the video looks good...

I Hope someone of you will help me.
Bye,
Stefano

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by stenews

Hi mates,
what I'm trying to do is to capture a video from my old Sony Video8 Camcorder CCD-TR45E to my PC.
My capture device is a Pinnacle PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick 330e.
I connected the camera via the video RCA jack (yellow connector).
When I start VirtualDub capture avi I can see the video and clearly listen the audio, but the overall quality of the video is very bad...why?
If I connect the camera on my TV, always by RCA jack, the video looks good...

I Hope someone of you will help me.
Bye,
Stefano

The PC monitor has a much sharp image than a TV screen which is blurred.

You may want to use a S-Video cable, you'll see some improvements at least regarding the colours.

Most people try to find a Sony Hi8 deck for transferring such tapes to PC. The best ones (next to EVOs which are profi) are the 9000 series.

The variant I would prefere (if I ever need this ) would be to use a D8 camcorder, that would read a Video8/Hi8 through FireWire. You need a FireWire connector on your PC and a D8 camcorder that reads analog tapes (not all of them do).

Otherwise, Video8/Hi8 is not much diffrent from say VHS, read the sticky (I think you did already ).

[stenews]

Hi Ghitulescu and thanks for your reply!

...You may want to use a S-Video cable...

but my camcorder hasn't one.
I mean it only has a video composite connector or maybe are you thinking about to use a cable that starts with a male jack RCA and ends with a male S-VIDEO?
Just one more question to you:
My camera has been shipped with a special coaxial cable that can be plugged to the video RCA of the camera and to the antenna of the Pinnacle PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick. I uploaded the photo for you.
Can I have better result with it?

Thanks,
Stefano.

[Ghitulescu]

We discussed some issues earlier this year: you can't get good results with bad hardware.
You Italians are like brothers, I'm pretty sure one of you have a Digital8 camcorder (Sony). Have a look in Google.com for the models that support analog Video8/Hi8. Their analog part is much better than any Hi8 camcorder and I mean any, plus you already have the video in digital form and 1:1 transfered to PC. DV is the best lossy codec for video editing for amateurs. The artefacts you hear that profi complains about won't play a difference to you, you have bigger problems to solve
The reason why S-video is better than CVBS is not that uses a different cable, but the electronic in both ends is different.

[Ghitulescu]

I've seen the Pinnacle in google. It's the kind of toy they use to advertise "Save your VHS tapes to DVD" or "Create your own Hollywood style DVDs" - although it's pure marketing. Lost money in my own and pure personal view.

I repeat myself - if you want results get better hardware.

[stenews]

I see what you mean and may be you're right!

Thanks,
Stefano

[Ghitulescu]

The cable in the photo seems to be a RF-modulator, ie a cable to connect the camcorder to the antenna input of an old TV that has no SCART or similar inputs.

[stenews]

yes, you're right.
I was thinking to use it instead of the RCA connectors because in this way I should be able to acquire my video at same quality of my analog TV.
Am I right?
May be my device is lacking in capture from the RCA connectors but if I give it the signal through the antenna it should work better in doing what it as build for...

Thanks,
Stefano

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by stenews

yes, you're right.
I was thinking to use it instead of the RCA connectors because in this way I should be able to acquire my video at same quality of my analog TV.
Am I right?
May be my device is lacking in capture from the RCA connectors but if I give it the signal through the antenna it should work better in doing what it as build for...

Thanks,
Stefano

No. No.

[stenews]

thanks for your reply...
In this case could you suggest me one of the best seller capture card?

Bye,
Stefano

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by stenews

thanks for your reply...
In this case could you suggest me one of the best seller capture card?

Bye,
Stefano

I suggested you a D8 camcorder. It can recover your Video8 footage better than any other player, at least because it has dynamic tracking (I wish it were more than one deck for VHS that could do this) so it can in theory recover badly tracked tapes. It outputs the signal digitally so you need no capture card.

On the other hand, people here swear on Bt8x8 cards; Electronic Design's capture cards, ones of the "daddies" in this field, have however Zoran chips (some Sharp DVD recorders have it too). Except for some minor issues, if we discuss the high tech liga here, there is no particular issue with the used chip (if the drivers exist and are ok), but with analog processing part (before the signal reaches that chip).

I would recommend Canopus ADVC-300 because it has TBC (it's DV again) and about 400€ in Italy. Or a PCI-card with external break-box (Pinnacle DV500 or similar).

[Blue_MiSfit]

In cases like this, it's almost not worth the hassle of buying a capture card etc...

My suggestion would be to just get a DVD recorder, hook it up with your composite cables, and transfer the sucker to DVD at the best quality the DVD recorder can handle.

I can almost guarantee it will be transparent to the source, since Video8 has so little resolution to begin with (only a hair more than VHS, but better audio heh).

~MiSfit

[Ghitulescu]

Yeah, you can politely ask the DVD-Recorder to command the Digital8 camcorder via FireWire.

If you don't find a D8 camcorder or deck, then look for a Hi8 Sony deck (has S-Video), eventually use your camcorder.

A TBC would be nice to have (no need for D8, maybe also not need for HiEnd Hi8 decks).

I also use to recommend DVD recorders over budget PC cards.

[stenews]

@Ghitulescu and @Blue_MiSfit
I have to apologize with both of you for my late, but I had my ADSL line down until now...!

BTW, I read your last messages and I said thanks to you for your great help.

Tanks again.
Stefano

P.S.
the Canopus ADVC-300 seems to be a really great tool and as soon as I get save some many I'll buy it for sure...
@Blue_MiSfit
it's really cool idea but which model and brand of DVD recorder do you guess to me...?

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by stenews

@Ghitulescu and @Blue_MiSfit
I have to apologize with both of you for my late, but I had my ADSL line down until now...!

BTW, I read your last messages and I said thanks to you for your great help.

Tanks again.
Stefano

P.S.
the Canopus ADVC-300 seems to be a really great tool and as soon as I get save some many I'll buy it for sure...
@Blue_MiSfit
it's really cool idea but which model and brand of DVD recorder do you guess to me...?

My first option would be Pioneer DVR-7000 (I own one and it's fantastic until it reaches 5 hours - no artifacts at all), then Panasonic HS2, E100, E85 or better E500 (beware that E series has a power supply problem - I mean really a problem). Newer Pannies have full PAL even by LP but reports are that it's not so good, however their analog part is inferior to the earlier models.

I normally do not recommend any Philips, not because of their quality (it's excellent) but because ALL their pickups are prone to failures (it's a fact unfortunately).

If you plan DV->DVR, then almost every recorder (ALDI ) would suffice, the quality loss is negligeable.

[stenews]

Hi Ghitulescu and thanks again for your help.
I just had a look the Pioneer DVR-7000 and it's seems to be great...!

Thanks
Stefano

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by stenews

Hi Ghitulescu and thanks again for your help.
I just had a look the Pioneer DVR-7000 and it's seems to be great...!

Thanks
Stefano

Pio is quite old (it was the first DVD recorder Pio launched in Europe, par with Philips DVR1000 and Panny E20) and uses a DVR103 (which means is not optimised for newer DVDRs and cannot be updated to ).

And secondly, don't forget the other half: borrow (rent ) a D8 camcorder with analog in.

[stenews]

I see what you mean...I'll try to manage in some way.
If I can save some many I'd like to buy one of those DVD recorders otherwise I'll ask around for a D8 camcorder with analog in...

Bye,
Stefano

P.S.
what do think about the Pioneer DVR-LX70D...?
in case you'll discover some new DVD recorders models, let me know...