Digitising VHS tapes

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EviLClouD

191 posts

Master Geek

#306593 6-Aug-2023 10:41

Hey all, looking for some advice on how to best digitise VHS tapes.

Probably looking at between 10-20 tapes.

Is something like this the best way to go about it?

https://www.computerlounge.co.nz/shop/peripherals/cables-/-adapters/display/elgato-video-capture-for-mac-pc-or-ipad

Or are there better options out there for cheaper?

Appreciate any tips or advice.

Thanks in advance

Wombat1

400 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3112342 6-Aug-2023 11:42

That will work fine, though that’s a bit pricy, I have had good success with one of those $10 ones from Aliexpress. To get the best results use a good quality vcr player, preferably 6 heads with s-video output.

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EviLClouD

191 posts

Master Geek

#3112359 6-Aug-2023 12:00

Thanks will check those out. I dont have a cd drive and notice they all come with software on a cd - do you know if there is a downloadable version of the software or do i need to buy a cd drive?

I have one a Sony SLV-D940P…i assume this should be ok for the job?
https://www.sony.com.au/electronics/support/res/manuals/2109/21092281M.pdf

richms

26393 posts

Uber Geek

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#3112417 6-Aug-2023 15:54

The last device I got off aliexpress for composite to USB just shows as a camera, and needed no drivers or anything and just worked in OBS to capture the video.

Did have issues where it would go slightly out of sync with the audio if there was a dropout on the tape where a new recording was done over an old one, but that was easy enough to fix in premiere when I was editing it.

It was about $8 from memory. Just one of the clone looking easycap things.

Richard rich.ms

EviLClouD

191 posts

Master Geek

#3112448 6-Aug-2023 17:21

richms:
The last device I got off aliexpress for composite to USB just shows as a camera, and needed no drivers or anything and just worked in OBS to capture the video.

Did have issues where it would go slightly out of sync with the audio if there was a dropout on the tape where a new recording was done over an old one, but that was easy enough to fix in premiere when I was editing it.

It was about $8 from memory. Just one of the clone looking easycap things.

Thanks will give that a try.
Is OBS - Open Broadcaster Software?

In terms of exported video quality i assume they would all be quite similar regardless of the capture device used? As in VHS itself wasn’t that high quality?
Are there any export settings or features to look out for ie mpeg4 vs mpeg2 etc?

huckster

706 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#3112460 6-Aug-2023 18:29

Where are you? MIL has a VHS machine with a DVD slot that can go from former to latter.

Not used day-to-day so could be available for a loan.

EviLClouD

191 posts

Master Geek

#3112479 6-Aug-2023 20:40

huckster:
Where are you? MIL has a VHS machine with a DVD slot that can go from former to latter.

Not used day-to-day so could be available for a loan.

Thanks but I’m hoping to digitalise it so it can be stored on pc / online. I don’t have a dvd drive either so it might be easier if i give one of those aliexpress adaptors a try first

Nate001

606 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3112481 6-Aug-2023 20:46

I got this from PBTech a few years ago and it worked fine from VHS to Macbook. Shows up in QuickPlayer as a capture device.

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/TVNHGR1128700/Hauppauge-UPC00610-USB-Live2-video-capture-for-PC

richms

26393 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#3112665 7-Aug-2023 10:35

EviLClouD:
richms:

The last device I got off aliexpress for composite to USB just shows as a camera, and needed no drivers or anything and just worked in OBS to capture the video.

Did have issues where it would go slightly out of sync with the audio if there was a dropout on the tape where a new recording was done over an old one, but that was easy enough to fix in premiere when I was editing it.

It was about $8 from memory. Just one of the clone looking easycap things.

Thanks will give that a try.
Is OBS - Open Broadcaster Software?

In terms of exported video quality i assume they would all be quite similar regardless of the capture device used? As in VHS itself wasn’t that high quality?
Are there any export settings or features to look out for ie mpeg4 vs mpeg2 etc?

You can export in a crapload of codecs and formats, you just make a layout for the resolution file you want, add a source which you pick the capture card and you can stretch and scale it so that you move the flapping junk at the bottom of a VHS tape outside the image area so you don't have to see it.

I usually just export it at the native capture resolution and do the cropping later on when editing it in premiere.

You can use anything that records video from a camera, so long as it has the options dialog to choose which input and video format, I already had OBS installed and it was easy enough.

Richard rich.ms

EviLClouD

191 posts

Master Geek

#3115795 14-Aug-2023 17:25

richms:
You can export in a crapload of codecs and formats, you just make a layout for the resolution file you want, add a source which you pick the capture card and you can stretch and scale it so that you move the flapping junk at the bottom of a VHS tape outside the image area so you don't have to see it.

I usually just export it at the native capture resolution and do the cropping later on when editing it in premiere.

You can use anything that records video from a camera, so long as it has the options dialog to choose which input and video format, I already had OBS installed and it was easy enough.

Thanks for the clarification!
Is it worth ‘upscaling’ the video?
If so, do you know if this can be done in premiere pro or do i need one of those external hdmi upscaler devices?