signal amplifier

[MBorg_PL]

Hi
I'm looking for best picture quality while capturing from VHS and have some quastion about it:

1) Should I buy a signal amplifier? Will it increese quality of video signal in a visable way? Is it worth buying? And if so what type? Maybe you have any link to test/review of such things?
2) I have an old VCR with a composite output. If I buy some newer one with s-video output will I see a better quality picture? And also what type? Any suggestions?

Thanks

[theReal]

I don't think you'll get a better picture using a signal amplifier or S-Video connection. You might get better quality because of a new VCR though.

The reasons are: Your cables are probably not that long that you'd need a signal amplifier (if you don't trust the quality of your cables try better quality cables first, it's cheaper than buying an amplifier!)
S-Video cables would give you better quality with HD sources like DV, DVCAM, Betacam... but the quality of VHS is so bad, I doubt you'd see any difference. The quality of a simple composite cinch cable is much better than VHS (you'll see if you transfer video from HQ digital sources through a simple analog composite cinch cable).

If you think you're losing much quality, better look for a better capture card/capture solution - there you can still lose quality, even if the source is as bad as VHS.

[MBorg_PL]

Thx fo reply.

I do say I lose much quality, I simply had no opportunity to compare the signal quality from s-video, or while using signal amplifier. But if You say it would not increase in a visable way I will not buy it.
In the other way im not happy with the quality of picture, but just like You say it is problem of VHS tapes quality. Maybe I try to look for a newer VCR and check if it gives anything.
And I think Radeon all in wonder 8500 is pretty good card to capture video?! Or if not which is better? I thought of pinnacle studio, but only the analog one, becasue I've fire wire on motherboard. Would it increase picture quality much?

[SKD_Tech]

about how long are you cables to you TV?

[MBorg_PL]

One metre, plus a cable from Radeon, about half. I seperate it from the power cables, as well as from other ones :)