Introduction

What a nightmare rabbit hole this is! I have never come across a subject that has so many different methods and opinions on how to achieve the aim, being digitisation of analogue (tape) video. That said, I thought it might be helpful if I simply detail what I use for analogue tape digitisation and the workflow. I consider my workflow is “intermediate” because I don’t use a VCR with an inbuilt TBC, nor do I use a dedicated external TBC; I use a DVD recorder as a stabiliser. I use a reasonably complex software workflow involving some text-based coding. For Video8 and Hi8, I use a Digital8 camcorder with internal TBC and either transfer the DV via FireWire or capture the S-Video Out. For DV and HDV, I use a Digital camcorder and do a DV (or HDV) transfer over FireWire (IEEE1394) or USB. Note: all steps described on this page are covered in the various sections on this site.

Equipment

Computers

Main editing computer/secondary capture

Windows 11, Intel i7-13700K with integrated UHD- 770 iGPU, 64GB RAM, NVidia RTX 3060Ti graphics card, NVME C Drive, multiple HDDs for data and videos.

Capture Computer

Windows 10, Intel i5-750, SSD C Drive, 12GB RAM, ATI Radeon 4770 graphics card, 2 x HDDs for video capture

VCRs

I have a few: • 3 x VHS JVC HR-S5700AM SVHS VCR-good quality video, S-Video output, great controls and OSD • 1 x VHS Panasonic DMR EZ-48 VHS/DVD Combo. Has the Panasonic Diga stabilisation system, similar to the ES-15. S-Video and HDMI output, great all-in-one machine. • 1 x VHS Panasonic DMR ES-35V VHS/DVD combo. Has the Panasonic Diga stabilisation system, similar to the ES-15. Has S-Video Out. • Various VHS Composite VCRs that I use to play tapes that don’t play well in other VCRs. • 2 old VHS VCRs for rewinding and tape cleaning/mould removal. • 1 x Sanyo VTC-M30 “BetaCord” VCR.

Stabilisers

I don’t use a “proper” TBC. They cost too much money and it’s too risky finding a serviceable unit. Certain DVD recorders, because of their role of burning DVDs, have very good stabilising circuits. My primary stabiliser is the Pioneer DVR-645H in passthrough mode, where the video signal passes through and is stabilised before going to the digitiser for capture. For really bad/wobbly tapes, I use a Panasonic DMR-ES15 (in some limited scenarios, it can increase the brightness a little, so I avoid using it unless necessary). I have more info on stabilisers here. Another good stabilising option I use at times is a camcorder with an integrated TBC which passes- through the analogue video to DV. I have a Sony TRV-330 that does this.

Digitisers

My primary digitiser is the IOData GV-USB2. It’s a great digitiser that just works. There is an issue with the 2021/112 and 114 driver which is easily worked- around. I have detailed instructions for the GV here. Other digitisers: • Hauppauge USBLive2 (for “average/wonky” tapes, it needs a stabiliser before it in the workflow). • Startech USB3HDCAP (good SD video capture, can capture 480i/576i HDMI but needs a splitter for signals from the EZ-48). • Pinnacle USB-710: doesn’t work for me with Win 10 or 11 for analogue capture. Works well for DV transfer via USB using the stock Pinnacle driver.

Software and Workflow

VHS/Beta tapes (Analogue workflow)

• Windows 10 and 11. • Brightness/Contrast adjustment prior to capture: with Virtual Dub 2, using the Histogram. Setting the brightness and contrast correctly is a major contributor to a good-quality capture; too bright or too dark and you’ll lose detail and it doesn’t look good. • Capture: AmaRecTV. I don’t use Virtual Dub because the setup is too complex and it occasionally sends the audio out of sync over long captures. • Processing: AVISynth for deinterlacing and advanced video restoration, Virtual Dub 2 for opening the AVISynth scripts, further restoration (CCD filter and Colormill) and cropping/resizing, Magix Video Deluxe for video editing (with Neat Video noise reduction and Mercalli stabiliser plugins) and for easily splitting large captures into individual subject files for batch export. • Upscaling/export for YouTube and to MP4 viewing on my TV: Magix Video Deluxe.

Video8 and Hi8 Tapes

I play Video8 and Hi8 tapes on a Sony Digital 8 camcorder and capture the DV. The purists will recommend using the VHS tape workflow for these tapes. The Practicals will use the Digital Tapes (below) workflow. PAL DV is visually identical to the analogue workflow. NTSC DV is allegedly “ghastly”; I’ve never seen it and have never seen a comparison with an analogue capture of Video8 or Hi8.

Digital Tapes (Digital8, DV, HDV)

• Digital8 and DV Transfer: via FireWire or USB using Scenalyzer or WinDV • HDV Transfer: via FireWire using HDVSplit • After transfer, process the video as shown in the “Processing” dot point above.

Results

You can view my videos on my YouTube channels. Most of the 4:3 videos are captures from VHS tapes, as noted in the video Description. Rodent Flying Films AA Productions