dubbing/converting VHS to mini dv best quality

Question

dubbing/converting VHS to mini dv best quality

Hi Y'all

I am on a MacPro G5, I have FCP 5.1.4 ( w/Studio) I shoot on a Canon XL2(bought in the US). I live in Japan(this may make a difference if you recommend certain equipment not avail in Japan) The plus is that Japan is NTSC.

I am making a docu and have found some Japanese-made VHS tapes with archival footage from the early 90's that I need. I can't go to the company which produced them for master copies because the co. doesn't exist anymore. So...I have to transfer/digitize them myself and get the footage into FCP for editing.
There doesn't appear to be any copy guard as I have transfered it once with a low grade VCR--to my Canon xl2, which worked but seems to have had a tracking issue (or something) when I did it. There is some irregular banding on the bottom of some shots.

You can see it when the guy with the white headband is yelling towards the start of this trailer:
http://www.figure8productions.com/bosozokutrailer1large.html

I tried to go through a dubbing service but the company was nervous about copyright even though I have permission.

1. What is the best way to do this myself? Rent a pro VTR/VCR and connect it to my Canon again? Rent a minDV/VHS combo deck and dub them that way?

2. The tapes seem to have been shot 4:3, my footage is 16:9, should I be wary of this while dubbing or deal with it in post? I dubbed it originally and captured it as 16:9 but it is slightly stretched.

3. Is that silver band at the bottom really a tracking issue?

I'm sorry for the long post but it saves people going back and forth.

Thanks in advance!
Figure8

MacProG5, Mac OS X (10.4.11), FCP is my main application

Posted on Dec 8, 2008 3:26 AM

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Answer 1

Ken Evans

Level 2

294 points

Dec 8, 2008 4:05 AM in response to Figure8Productions

I would rent a decent Pro VCR with time base corrector and then hook that up to a pro DV deck via component analogue connectors.

I used to have a great JVC setup that did the job admirably consisting of a BR-DV6000 and a BR-S822E (Don't quote me on the VHS deck, I may have the numbers wrong but it would be the large form factor edit deck)

The artifacts on VHS are notorious and often can't be removed. I think this used to be referred to as 'flyback' (possibly an issue with the horizontal output electrics-Is it apparent on all playback machines?). It can however be easily cropped off with no real loss of quality to the overall shot. I really wouldn't worry about it!

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Answer 2

Dec 9, 2008 12:28 AM in response to Ken Evans

Thanks...I have only played the tapes on one VCR. On my screen in the xl2 it isn't there. So need a pro VCR with "time base corrector" which I have heard of but I havent heard of "component analogue connectors." If I rent will they likely come with the machines or do I have to get that separately?

Anyone else have thoughts?

Figure8

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Answer 3

Dec 9, 2008 2:34 AM in response to Figure8Productions

One thing I found out is that I might connect a Canopus ADVC directly with a pro VCR and capture directly to the MAC. Is that possible? Then I could skip going to miniDV and polish up through the digitization. Of course that is if I can rent one here in Tokyo. I only have two tapes to transfer for now so renting is best.
Also, will there be any issues with my video card? I couldnt connect a tv as a second monitor a year back, which makes wonder if i wont have more issues.
Graphics card is:
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT

I am posting this for conformation, sorry if it seems like I am thinking out-loud. However, this might benefit someone who runs across this.

Let me know, if there any pros out there who have done this method please. And if my set up will support any methods.
cheers
Figure8

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Answer 4

Dec 9, 2008 2:39 AM in response to Figure8Productions

component: your 3ccd camera basiclly records red green and blue seperatly,
composite : put's the signal out with all three colours grouped together,
component: keeps all three signals seperate:

it's a bit more complicated than that, but, you get the drift

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Answer 5

Dec 9, 2008 2:42 AM in response to Figure8Productions

canopus box would be perfect.

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Answer 6

Dec 10, 2008 6:33 AM in response to Ian-Hunter

Ok I will try to rent one post back afterwards.

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Answer 7

Dec 13, 2008 7:02 PM in response to Figure8Productions

*This is from another DV site FYI:*

The band at the bottom is part of the 'clock track' that is inherrent in VHS tapes (And not seen on your average TV sreen). You can enlarge your image by a few pixels to block it out. The bit of shearing near the top, is from Time Base slippage... bound to happen with old VHS stuff.

You can dub with a Time Base Corrector and possibly clean this up. The Canopus ADVC300 I think, has time base correction built in. Might try that. After the Canopus, you'll spend much more money for the proper gear. My suggestion is to find a good dubbing facility, show them your letter of permission for usage, an get them to dub it with Time Base Correction.

By the way, I'm not certain from your trailer, what the 'tradition' that you are describing is about. Is it boxing? Is it some sort of motorcycle racing/performance?

In terms of putting the 4:3 footage into the documentary - I'd Pillar Box it. This is standard procedure for documentary use of mixed media. You see this all the time. The other option is to enlarge it to fit the screen (Cropping top and bottom) but the image will degrade if you do this. May or may not be suitable - depends on the context of the images.

It might be important to remember that although Japan uses NTSC, the IRE black level set up is not the same as NTSC used in the US, but for some reason is the same as the PAL IRE levels we use here in Europe. Numbers here: 7.5 IRE Setup ,if you're interested.

Might be important if you're mixing sources?

I have a Sony SVP-5600 S-VHS professional deck with a built in time base corrector. I have never found any VHS type deck that will match the playback quality of this deck. Well, except for it's companion player/recorder deck, the SVO-5800. If you could find either deck to rent, I would recommend it. Other similar professional decks from JVC and Panasonic are also really, really good. I have them also. But, the Sony is the best, in my experience.

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