dropped frames from VHS but no TV

[SmartUK]

Hi. Can anyone explain in general terms why it should be that my VHS captures are beset by dropped frames but TV capture using exactly the same equipment and settings is fine?

Also, when I stop VHS capture, the jerkiness is gone and I get perfectly good sound and video playback.

Cheers!

[DrP]

It'd be due to poor syncs on the tape and the general instability of a typical home VCR. TV broadcasts (or the output of a DVB STB, DVD player etc) are rock solid.

You might have luck if you get a video stabiliser of some sort.

[Blue_MiSfit]

Yeah. Pro VHS decks and or capture cards have what's called a Time Base Corrector (TBC). It really helps with these kinds of problems.

You have a couple choices
1) Live with it
2) Buy / rent a pro VHS deck
3) Send it to a pro house and have them put it on a more stable format like DVD or MiniDV, or even a hard drive as lossless.

~MiSfit