S-Video input video artifacts

[eXtremeDevil]

Originally Posted by Sharc

Legacy DVD recorders encode the video on the fly as mpeg2 with all its compromises. While being a simple process and giving for some users an acceptable quality, it is clearly inferior compared to making a lossless capture, post process it (denoising, deinterlacing, color and levels adjustments etc.) and then encode it offline using an advanced encoder like x264 / AVC or x265 HEVC. Of course the more elaborate procedure has its pitfalls one has to be aware of and know how to cope with for producing decent results.

Post processing mpeg2 recorded stuff requires re-encoding which once more is a quality hit. An option would be to use take the digitized signal from the HDMI output (if available) of the recorder.

This. In any case, RetsimLegin, I'm planning on watching the capture later to see if there was any errors, so I can try again.

You guys thinks DVR HDMI out would have better quality than S-Video out, given the analog source and how is taken from the VHS, a SCART/composite cable?

[Sharc]

Originally Posted by eXtremeDevil

You guys thinks DVR HDMI out would have better quality than S-Video out, ....

Not really, but it saves an D/A and A/D conversion step.
For more info read and translate from here:
https://gleitz.info/forum/index.php?...en-und-andere/

[eXtremeDevil]

Originally Posted by Sharc

Not really, but it saves an D/A and A/D conversion step.
For more info read and translate from here:
https://gleitz.info/forum/index.php?...en-und-andere/

I'll have to translate that and read it, thanks

EDIT

After a quick look, given that I don't have a S-VHS player, or any particular high quality cables, and since I would have to buy at least to new devices, a HDMI capture device and a HDMI splitter, and I don't want to spend much on it, I guess it won't be worth the quality difference.

[Sharc]

Originally Posted by eXtremeDevil

I'll have to translate that and read it, thanks

EDIT

After a quick look, given that I don't have a S-VHS player, or any particular high quality cables, and since I would have to buy at least to new devices, a HDMI capture device and a HDMI splitter, and I don't want to spend much on it, I guess it won't be worth the quality difference.

Agree.

[eXtremeDevil]

Originally Posted by Sharc

Agree.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[lollo2]

Originally Posted by RetsimLegin

a) a high (max) bitrate (= high "quality") minimises these to what I'd consider practically indistinguishable from lossless

Never. Here a comparison, using the best quality DVD Recorder https://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vid...-device-3.html
For other recorders, the gap is higher.

Originally Posted by RetsimLegin

b) and in any case the source here is (S-)VHS which is intrinsically a massive compromise. You can't make a silk purse, as they say.

Not at all. S-VHS (and VHS) looks nice if captured properly. Have a look here (and consider that YouTube degrades the video) https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/...eo#post2654664

Originally Posted by RetsimLegin

And there is no such thing as lossless capture. The very fact of sampling an analog signal, regardless of where it's done, is liable to cause something. Now, how good is that capture card/dongle?

You are confusing A/D conversion and codec. The first has small impact if done by proper hardware, i.e. looking a well digitized signal on a modern player is not worse than whatching the analog output signal from the VCR on a legacy CRT. The codec (lossless versus crap MPEG2 at standard bitrate or versus DV) plays a significant role, especially if further restoration is planned.

[eXtremeDevil]

Very well explained!