Do I Need a Timebase Corrector or a New Card?

[bobspliff]

Having finally got my AIW 9000pro to capture perfectly in synch, I'm now faced with the problem of video quality.

I'm trying to capture a 2nd gen VHS tape that's about 5-6 years old. Some of it captures fine, however, some of it flickers so much that it's unwatchable (although it looks fine on TV) and I seem to drop frames on any tapes that aren't perfect quality.

Is the flickering problem due to the sensitivity of the Radeon All In Wonder? I don't think it's a Macrovision problem, as there is no green screen or looping frames.

Would buying a cheap Timebase Corrector solve my problem (anyone know where I can get one cheap in the UK?) or do I merely need to get a capture card that isn't so responsive to poor quality tapes (can anyone recommend one?).

Thanks,
Bob

[FredThompson]

How are you capturing? Use VirtualDub or VirtualDubMod and the various cleanup filters. See my recent post to get more info or look on my links page.

If you're going to buy new hardware, get a good JVC S-VHS deck with lock and filters. Mine will stabilize the image and cleans it up a LOT. Black is black, not swimming red and blue.

[bobspliff]

Originally posted by FredThompson
How are you capturing? Use VirtualDub or VirtualDubMod and the various cleanup filters. See my recent post to get more info or look on my links page.

I have the same problem with different capture software: VirtualVCR, iuVCR, MMC, etc. and I'm not quite sure how using filters would correct the problem when the source VHS won't capture in the first place.

If you're going to buy new hardware, get a good JVC S-VHS deck with lock and filters. Mine will stabilize the image and cleans it up a LOT. Black is black, not swimming red and blue. [/B]

Can you recommend a particular model? I assume I need one with DigiPure technology (the in-built digital TBC).

Thanks for your help,
Steve

[FredThompson]

NTSC or PAL? If NTSC, are you grabbing at 29.97 fps? How much memory do you have, what OS, how fast are your hard drives?

I have the JVC HS-S7600U. Don't know what a current model # is. Video stabilizer does just that, horizontal lines stay horizontal. Digital R3 does edge correction on luminance so colors are correct. Digital TBC/NR is also in this deck. Dunno what DigiPure means, sounds like a term they coined to make it sound "improved." Gimme a day, I'm researching the multi-format JVC decks right now because I need one next week.

Oh...and use an S-Video cable when you've got a S-VHS deck.

of the filters, there are some that help with smeary colors and Konstantin somewhohis has one that takes care of dropout, very nice. None of them sound like they'll fix the problem you have but, maybe, try the dropout filter.

It sounds like, based on your comments, combination of almost out of alignment heads or these are copies of Macrovisioned source made with old decks that were a little more forgiving. The other option is you're grabbing at 30 fps or your computer isn't beefy enough so it chokes every so often.

Does it look like every so often there's a stutter?

[bobspliff]

Originally posted by FredThompson
It sounds like, based on your comments, combination of almost out of alignment heads or these are copies of Macrovisioned source made with old decks that were a little more forgiving. The other option is you're grabbing at 30 fps or your computer isn't beefy enough so it chokes every so often.


Fred, I've just been doing some research and I now think the problem is due to AIW cards being overly sensitive to old VHS tapes.

I've found numerous threads on another popular forum that talk about people getting flickering in non-Macrovision VHS cap's and ALL of them are using AIW cards! Plus, my PC is pretty powerful (2.3ghz) and can capture good quality original VHS at 25fps and 720x576, no problem at all.

I think I'm gonna ditch the AIW and get a different card (see my last post on the board - which should I get?!). If this doesn't work, I'll then try a new VCR or TBC.

Thanks for your advice,
Shiny (Bob)

[FredThompson]

Oh.

ADS USB Instant DVD 2.0

I've posted some other stuff about this recently.