this post was submitted on 10 Sep 2024
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Do you have any advice for digitizing VHS tapes? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 2 months ago by Kalcifer@sh.itjust.works to c/datahoarder@lemmy.ml
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I have a bunch of old VHS tapes that I want to digitize. I have never digitized VHS tapes before. I picked up a generic HDMI capture card, and a generic composite to HDMI converter. Using both of those, I was planning on hooking a VCR up to a computer running OBS. Overall, I'm rather ignorant of the process. The main questions that I currently have are as follows:

  • What are the best practices for reducing the risk of damaging the tapes?
  • Are there any good steps to take to maximize video quality?
  • Is a TBC required (can it be done in software after digitization)?
  • Should I clean the VCR after every tape?
  • Should I clean every tape before digitization?
  • Should I have a separate VCR for the specific purpose of cleaning tapes?

Please let me know if you have any extra advice or recommendations at all beyond what I have mentioned. Any information at all is a big help.

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[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (17 children)

Why a separate VCR for cleaning tapes? It's enough to clean the heads AFAIK.

Also, you should definitely not use default deinterlacing techniques for the video, especially not ones built into these generic dongles. Capture it interlaced, preferrably as losslessly as possible, then use deinterlacing software where you can fine-tune the settings if you need to.

No, TBC most likely cannot be done in software, unless the video features a prominent vertical bar (such as a black border). It depends on the quality you want to reach, look closely and decide if the jitter is acceptable.

Edit: TBC can obviously be done in software if you have the raw composite or head signal but that is not possible with the capture cards you have.

[–] Kalcifer@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago (13 children)

Why a separate VCR for cleaning tapes?

I was just thinking that the cleaning process might damage the VCR (as one is rummaging around in its internals [1]), so it'd be better to use a worse quality VCR for cleaning, and a good quality one for digitization.

References

  1. "How to Clean a Moldy VHS Tape". Dustin Kramer. YouTube. Published: 2016-04-24. Accessed: 2024-09-10T18:49Z. https://www.youtube.com/watch?.v=uVq0o2CzVKI

you should definitely not use default deinterlacing techniques for the video

What "default deinterlacing techniques" are you referring to?

you should [...] especially not [use deinterlacing techniques] built into these generic dongles

How do I find out that information for the 2 things that I purchased (mentioned in the post)? How would I even control that? Only the composite to HDMI converter has a single switch from 720p to 1080p. I don't see anything else that would control what interlacing technique is used.

Capture [the video] interlaced, preferrably as losslessly as possible

What method do you recommend to accomplish this?

use deinterlacing software where you can fine-tune the settings if you need to.

Is this possible in OBS?

TBC can obviously be done in software if you have the raw composite or head signal but that is not possible with the capture cards you have.

If I did want to capture the raw signal, do you have any methods and/or tools that you would recommend to accomplish this?

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech 2 points 2 months ago

If I did want to capture the raw signal

Never done this; see recommended techniques by the vhs-decode community.

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