VHS Capture

Speling_champ wrote on 4/4/2017, 3:59 PM

I need to capture some VHS footage. I have a Dazzle that can capture to Pinnacle Studio. From what I understand, even with the limits of VHS quality, I can get better results than with the Dazzle. I connected my Sony SLV-R1000 via S-Video (through a Hotronics AR31) to my Sony DHR-1000, and connected that to my PC via firewire. If I playback a tape in the DHR-1000 (miniDV) I can capture in Vegas. While the VHS signal will pass through the DHR-1000 and display on a monitor, the pass through will not go over firewire.

I have a VGA switcher with S-Video and RCA input; I could send that out to a Hall Research SC-VHD-HDMI VGA to HDMI converter, but I don't think Vegas will capture that. The BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle has the inputs I need, but again, I don't think Vegas will capture the Shuttle's USB3 signal (and I had a really bad experience with the Shuttle; hopes and dreams: sigh). I am not trying to spend lots of money, but it seems like there should be a better solution than the $40 Dazzle/WinTV level gear. I don't need to capture to Vegas, and I would prefer a USB3 solution over firewire. How have you successfully captured VHS?

Comments

Musicvid wrote on 4/4/2017, 4:33 PM

DV To DV over FireWire is the only way to do it right because it's digital door-to-door -- no conversion.

You may need to download legacy windows 1394 drivers to get Vegas Capture to recognize the cam.

Speling_champ wrote on 4/4/2017, 4:45 PM

Thanks for the response. Vegas recognizes the Sony DHR-1000 miniDV deck and captures/controls the playback. I am trying to capture VHS. My deck does not pass through, to Vegas, the signal from my VCR.

Cornico wrote on 4/4/2017, 4:49 PM

While the VHS signal will pass through the DHR-1000 and display on a monitor, the pass through will not go over firewire.

In the past (long ago) I had two workarounds for this problem.

1. During capturing into the DV cam put in an empty DV tape and register to tape, than I also had signal on the firewire.

2. Register only to tape and play the tape later to capture trough firewire from the DV camera.

JJKizak wrote on 4/4/2017, 6:40 PM

I use the old ADVC 300 unit for VHS/SVHS

JJK

JackW wrote on 4/4/2017, 7:04 PM

I use an old Digital8 camcorder I bought for a few dollars on eBay. VHS deck to camcorder via SVHS cable, pass through camcorder to computer via firewire.

Former user wrote on 4/4/2017, 7:06 PM

Not all cameras pass-through. I have a Digital 8 which did not no matter what I tried. If you have the Blackmagic, that would be your best quality. Use the Blackmagic software to capture and then edit in Vegas.

Musicvid wrote on 4/4/2017, 9:38 PM

@JackW,

+1.

If you do not need tbc, as the AVDC300 provides, any of the old Canon ZR miniDV series does digital pass through. I've seen them as low as $15at Goodwill.