Best Setup for High Quality VHS Transfer

modernmoments · Jan 15, 2012, 09:24 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to get the highest quality VHS to digital format. I know a lot of people recommend Elgato, but the resolution is only marginal. What is the best equipment to buy?

I was thinking maybe a BlackMagic and Grex for transfer. I can do the editing on Final Cut Pro. Any suggestions? I've searched around the forum, but no one's really mentioned getting the highest quality - most are concerned with just the transfer.

handsome pete · Jan 15, 2012, 10:43 PM

I think the quality difference between those converters will be negligible. You're stuck with a 620x480 resolution.

Paratel · Jan 20, 2012, 12:54 PM

High Quality VHS, well there an oxymoron...

boch82 · Jan 20, 2012, 01:42 PM

I dont think the capture hardware will make much of a difference. I think you need to get a "high-end" vhs deck that has component outputs and feed that through a Time Base Corrector (TBC). This will allow for extra control of the signal being sent to the computer. After which you can make additional adjustments with in the editing software.

DisMyMac · Jan 20, 2012, 08:07 PM

One tip if you go with Elgato- check the brightness/contrast in Preferences before recording. It's a pain to start the tape over, but you'll see the difference in quality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by handsome pete

I think the quality difference between those converters will be negligible. You're stuck with a 620x480 resolution.

That's the result, but the tape output is even less: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS#Video_recording

Just make sure the VCR is 4-head, stereo, and at least has s-video (component is probably overkill, but don't use composite).

Jan 15, 2012, 09:24 PM	#1
modernmoments macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2012	Best Setup for High Quality VHS Transfer Hi everyone, I'm looking to get the highest quality VHS to digital format. I know a lot of people recommend Elgato, but the resolution is only marginal. What is the best equipment to buy? I was thinking maybe a BlackMagic and Grex for transfer. I can do the editing on Final Cut Pro. Any suggestions? I've searched around the forum, but no one's really mentioned getting the highest quality - most are concerned with just the transfer.
	0

Jan 20, 2012, 12:54 PM	#3
Paratel macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Somewhere in the US	High Quality VHS, well there an oxymoron... __________________ 2.66 Quad MacPro, 8GB Ram, 4 TB HDDs, 2 - 20inch Cinema Displays, TV, TV2, TV3iPhone 5, iPad 2 64gb
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Jan 15, 2012, 10:43 PM	#2
handsome pete macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2008	I think the quality difference between those converters will be negligible. You're stuck with a 620x480 resolution.
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Jan 20, 2012, 01:42 PM	#4
boch82 macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2008	I dont think the capture hardware will make much of a difference. I think you need to get a "high-end" vhs deck that has component outputs and feed that through a Time Base Corrector (TBC). This will allow for extra control of the signal being sent to the computer. After which you can make additional adjustments with in the editing software.
	0


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