How to convert VHS-C to digital?

[Sheng]

I have 10-12 old home movies in VHS-C format. The ages are from 7-18 years old. Unfortunately, I know these tapes wear with time. I'm hoping to finally digitize them so they can be shared with family and preserved in at least their current state. However, I have several questions about the methods for capturing the best quality I can from them. I know quite a bit about capturing and encoding TV signals from several years ago, and I'm sure many of the principles still apply. Any help from this experienced forum would go a long way toward ensuring I do this properly the first time.

I am not interested in capturing these movies straight to DVD. I would like them to be individual files for each tape, preferably in an editable AVI format.

1) What is the highest resolution I should consider to ensure high quality without needlessly increasing the overall file size? I've heard 640X480 is the top resolution that can reasonably be gained from a VHS tape. Is this too high, too low, or about right?

2) I have heard a long time ago (and don't remember where) that the highest quality analog output can be had by using the original recording device (with the original heads). I have the original camcorder that the tapes were created by, but it is an older ~1990 model with only a composite output - a single yellow cable. Is it worth using this device to output the analog signal, or should I find a higher quality device?

3) I understand that a quick way to encode video is with a modern DV camcorder using an AUX-in jack. I'm sure the resolution of DV is higher than the original tape, but does this mean the full analog quality will be retained, or will I still lose some quality? How would this compare to a PC capture card?

4) If a DV camcorder is used to digitize the analog video, does the quality matter much between different models? My understanding is that the DV encoding process is standardized for all modern DV recorders (as far as bit rate, filters, etc). Since the optics of the camcorder won't be used, it there a significant difference between the capture quality from an AUX-in jack of a cheap DV camcorder or an expensive one (in general)?

5) If a PC capture card is better than a DV camcorder for digitizing analog video, is the difference significant enough to warrant the extra trouble? Are we talking about a 1% improvement, 20%, etc?

6) If a PC capture card is used, what is a good codec for capturing if the goal is to do minor editing, and hopefully, noise-reduction? What is a good resolution?

7) Since I assume the analog signal is interlaced, what should I do on either a DV camcorder or a capture card to ensure the interlacing doesn't interfere with the encoding process. Should any 'de-interlacing' or other filters be used?

Thank you all so much for this feedback. I have regretted putting this project off for so long, and I'm anxious to get started!

[Ghitulescu]

I have 10-12 old home movies in VHS-C format. The ages are from 7-18 years old. Unfortunately, I know these tapes wear with time.
It's true.
1) What is the highest resolution I should consider to ensure high quality without needlessly increasing the overall file size? I've heard 640X480 is the top resolution that can reasonably be gained from a VHS tape. Is this too high, too low, or about right?

Philips said once that 352x576 would be the "digital" resolution of a VHS (PAL, for NTSC use x480), a position backed up by JVC. Of course, using a higher resolution can help you to capture the finer details, should it be possible with a tape so old. I would go either with 352 or with 704/720 (double).

2) I have heard a long time ago (and don't remember where) that the highest quality analog output can be had by using the original recording device (with the original heads). I have the original camcorder that the tapes were created by, but it is an older ~1990 model with only a composite output - a single yellow cable. Is it worth using this device to output the analog signal, or should I find a higher quality device?

Yes and no.
On one hand you have VHS-C tapes that were written with a half-size drum, that means only a half-size drum device can exactly match the tracks. However, any modern VCR can correctly track VHS-C tapes, much better if it has a TBC.
On the other hand, using a composite cable would be the last option, so you may try a high end deck (if you're Ami use then an panny Ag1980 or a jvc HS9xxx) and use a S-Video (Hosiden) connection.

3) I understand that a quick way to encode video is with a modern DV camcorder using an AUX-in jack. I'm sure the resolution of DV is higher than the original tape, but does this mean the full analog quality will be retained, or will I still lose some quality? How would this compare to a PC capture card?

My personal experience is that is much better, however that depends on the camcorder. In fact, I never used a DV camcorder as my Panny has only composite in, but a combo (DV+SVHS) and the quality was really good.

4) If a DV camcorder is used to digitize the analog video, does the quality matter much between different models? My understanding is that the DV encoding process is standardized for all modern DV recorders (as far as bit rate, filters, etc). Since the optics of the camcorder won't be used, it there a significant difference between the capture quality from an AUX-in jack of a cheap DV camcorder or an expensive one (in general)?

It depends on the DV algorithm, which is pretty much the same, and on the analog part, including the I/O (my panny has only a composite in) and the preprocessing.
Don't forget that a DV camcorder (or a Digital8 - which is the best way of digitizing Video8 and Hi8 tapes BTW) would output a blue screen if it looses the synch.

5) If a PC capture card is better than a DV camcorder for digitizing analog video, is the difference significant enough to warrant the extra trouble? Are we talking about a 1% improvement, 20%, etc?

If it were better, then we are talking money here. However, there are no new good cards today, the best were produced some 10 ago. A DV500 cost at the time some 1000€ in DE, including Premiere fullversion. The USB boxes of today are much worse than any DV camcorder.
Nevertheless, quality is a matter of personal experience, expectations and taste.

7) Since I assume the analog signal is interlaced, what should I do on either a DV camcorder or a capture card to ensure the interlacing doesn't interfere with the encoding process. Should any 'de-interlacing' or other filters be used?

I do not understand people that deinterlace a video material. You only want to deinterlace interlaced material if your intended target is progressive. End of story.

[2Bdecided]

Go and read the videohelp.com forums - especially capturing and restoration.

There are far more experienced people there for this sort of question. Come back here when you want to process it with AVIsynth!

Cheers,
David.

[Ghitulescu]

Go and read the videohelp.com forums - especially capturing and restoration.

There are far more experienced people there for this sort of question. Come back here when you want to process it with AVIsynth!

Cheers,
David.

It's not my intention to contradict you, however doom9 has a video capture section that deals exactly with this subject. I mean this subforum.
Also it should be noted that analog conversion is a subject that is finished from the technical point of view - that means nothing new under the sun.

As you correctly pointed out, the stickies (like this one ->http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=78797) even if they are old they are actually up-to-date. There are lots of threads and places on the net where one can find if he wants all that s/he needs. However reading is one, understanding is another and answering is the third.

[2Bdecided]

It's not my intention to contradict you, however doom9 has a video capture section that deals exactly with this subject....and videohelp.com has threads where the performance of different DV camcorders, TBCs and VCRs are compared when digitising VHS.

Also plenty of discussions on the pros/cons of capturing through a PC capture card to lossless, through an Canopus device to DV, through a camcorder to DV, through a DVD recorder to MPEG-2, and through a PC capture device to various lossy formats.

I'm not trying to start a pissing match. The understanding of AVIsynth and digital restoration over at videohelp.com is generally quite low. But for the capturing part, all these crucial issues WRT VHS are barely covered on doom9 - certainly not in the guide you linked to.

It's not a criticism. Horses for courses.

Cheers,
David.