Component or S-Video. Will I notice a big difference??

pjprod wrote on 8/10/2002, 9:20 AM
I will be converting VV3 footage to betacam SP. I am not sure if i should spend thousands of dollars on a converter that has component outs or can I save thousands of dollars on a converter like the Canopus that has s-video outs. Will I notice a big difference on Betacam SP using component or S-video??

Thanks,

Comments

GaryAshorn wrote on 8/10/2002, 5:17 PM
Well, it depends on what your final output intentions are. I edit on an all YUV component 4:2:2 system. I bring in all signals via component. I also bring in using Y/C. There is a difference in my final outputs between bringing them in component or Y/C. There is a BIG difference is mastering to a component system and and a Y/C deck on the final VHS copies. So why are you going to betacam SP? If for the better quality over a S-VHS deck then you need to ask yourself the business question of why? Component recording beats Y/C. How you get it there can not be made better after the fact. IE, Y/C in to Component will not equal Component in to component. Amount of difference? What are you going to do with the Betacam SP tape? Make VHS? Need more info to decide if it is worth it.

Gary Ashorn, PE
riredale wrote on 8/10/2002, 5:27 PM
Since DV is 4:1:1 anyway, I don't think there would be much improvement in going to component for the transfer to BetaSP. Don't know this for a fact, just a hunch. I defer to others who do these kinds of transfers and undoubtedly have more refined "hunches" than mine.
GaryAshorn wrote on 8/11/2002, 9:41 AM
With respect to the DV being 4:1:1 and going to Component value. YES it is worth it but you have to ask yourself why you are mastering to Betacam SP. I shoot and use all formats from clients who bring me their VHS to using Betacam SP and all forms of the DV 4:1:1 format. All are taken into my system by YUV. Edited and master back to Betacam SP or DVCPRO by way of YUV. Maintaining the quality at its highest form you can afford or meets the final objective is always what you are looking for. I have tested mastering the exact same program to say S-VHS by way of Y/C and to Betacam SP by way of YUV. The VHS copies are much better from the Betacams SP than the S-VHS. Mostly because of the master tape.

If you are editing in VV3 using all DV firewire input material and keeping everything the best you can, then the master tape you use is the link that controls the final copy quality. Master back to a DV deck by firewire is great since no D/A conversion is needed. That is component. Or master by either Y/C or YUV to Betacam SP and the YUV will have less problems with the reds and bleeding etc than the Y/C. But the original question is Betacam SP is the tape format to be used and whether using the Y/C or YUV will be a big difference. Unless you are using a broadcast monitor with at least 750 lines res. etc, you probably can not see it. If the Betacam SP tape is to then be used for making VHS tapes for standard TV, then you really won't see the difference. Like I said in the other post, what is the goal of using the Betacam SP tape for the material? Match the final goal with the project. But if you go with bringing it in with Y/C then make sure you use short cables, GOOD Quality cables, properly terminated terminals on the Betacam SP deck and use a WFM and VS on the signal to check for proper Broadcast specs. Put it on the tape the best you can get it there using the Y/C and you will be happy. I send my Betacam SP tapes to my DMR E20 for DVD copies using Y/C because it is all it can use and the DVD looks every bit as good as my master for all intents. It may be a little less in quaility versus if I could have used YUV input to the DVD but for all the goals it will be used for my DVD matches as close to the Betacam SP master as it can and is great and it was done using Y/C. So is it worth you spending the extra bucks for a one time project, probably not.

Gary Ashorn, PE