Convert VHS to Digital - How To Convert Your VHS Tapes
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 พ.ค. 2024
- I will be sharing three solutions for converting your VHS tapes to a Digital format. All of the methods to require a PC but the end result will leave you amazed!
Here are the following devices I used in the video:
Option #1
- Diamond Multimedia VC500 One Touch VHS to Digital File = amzn.to/3HpdNfG
Option #2
- Elgato Video Capture - Digitize Video for Mac, PC or iPad = amzn.to/3J6nzUZ
Option #3
- YITROX AV Svideo HDMI to HDMI Converter Upscaler - amzn.to/3HikKxT
- Different YITROX Upscaler:
- Component to HDMI Converter Upscaler, YPbPr to HDMI = amzn.to/48LQWFL
- Supports all the resolutions, but does not have the S-Video Adapter
If the YITROX is sold out, you could try this:
Gefen CI GTV-COMPSVID-2-HDMIS - $258 - amzn.to/3kmxETX
- I made a video on this one you can watch it here: • VHS to Digital Convert...
- Corsair Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro = amzn.to/3XuKqO7
Other Elgato Devices:
- Elgato HD60 X External Capture Card = amzn.to/3D5FeZo
- Elgato HD60 S+, External Capture Card = amzn.to/3J64YIJ
- Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 Capture Card = amzn.to/3GK56uM
Other Upscalers:
- RCA to HDMI Converter = $11 - amzn.to/3Wb20pm (Works but depending on the VCR, I have seen discoloring)
- Component to HDMI = $19 - amzn.to/3WrNgCE
As an Amazon Affiliate I earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you
00:00 Introduction
00:31 Why Convert Your Memories
01:05 The Overview
01:49 Method 1 - VC500
03:01 Method 1 - Review
03:19 Method 2 - Elgato Video Capture
05:30 Video Compare - Method 1 & 2
06:46 Method 3 - Elgato HD60 Pro
08:09 Method 3 - Review
08:43 Final Thoughts - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Great breakdown of the various devices 👍 I have some family video to convert and your instructions were well done. Thank you 🙌
Great clear instructions, Thanks
Sweet video. Very helpful to see the differences of a few products. Wish I knew this years ago.
Glad it was helpful!
Fantastic you answered all the questions I had to ask, and more! Thank you very much for making this video!
Thank you Dino.. that makes my day!
I appreciate very much the clear graphics & text charts you made - good production values! Tip: next time keep the name & pic of the reviewed hardware on the screen a few seconds longer. Thanks again.
Great suggestion!
I just started a a digital conversion company and this helped me streamline it all amazing video great job
Glad it helped!
Thank you for extremely informative and helpful video. I had tried various methods with the gears that the camcorder came with but none that my computer would recognize the video input. I was going to get the Roxio VHS to DVD software package but ultimately decided on the Elgato (after watching your video).
Again, thank you, sir!
Thank you, Thank you! This was EXACLY what i wanted to see!
Glad it was helpful!
The native resolution of VHS is 640 x 480 pixels, not 320 x 240 pixels. Computer monitors use square pixels, so 640 x 480 digitized files will appear correctly (ie: undistorted) on these screens. TV sets use non-square pixels, so 720 x 480 digitized files will appear correctly (ie: undistorted) when played on a regular TV.
Incidentally, one of the most important considerations when digitizing videotapes is that the hardware must de-interlace the original signal. Without proper de-interlacing, the video will appear very "pixelated" whenever there is motion (or camera shake) in the recorded tape. If the hardware does NOT de-interlace the signal, there are two things you can do. First, you can use computer software to de-interlace the video after the fact. There are many apps that can do this (such as Handbrake) however, it can take hours to complete the process depending on what de-interlacing algorithm is used.
Alternately, you can play back the interlaced video using programs like VLC Media Player that include a menu option for de-interlacing on the fly. Works pretty well. However, I much prefer to get properly de-interlaced videos right off the bat from the capture device. The Elgato does a nice job of de-interlacing but it does "soften" the image a little bit. This can actually be an advantage because a "softened" video appears less NOISY, and old VHS tapes can certainly be pretty noisy (ie: grainy).
All great points. And I totally agree about the interlace comments. I like some of the upscalers as they with the capture card de-interlace the video at 60fps and you can see the difference.
You're right about needing ~480 pixels high.
No analog format has a native pixel resolution, but all video formats of a given standard have the same fixed number of scanlines. 525 for NTSC with about 480-486 having information. That's true for VHS, broadcast, laserdisc, etc. But there are no pixels. Resolution across a given scanline is a matter of bandwidth and the way they measure is by how many vertical lines can be resolved (these are lines drawn N-S).
Because the number of scanlines is always going to be the same when a given video format's resolution is stated the 480 is implicit. What they're talking about is that number of vertical lines that can be resolved *across* a scanline. You could fully capture the information in a VHS picture with somewhere in the 300-350 pixel across range, so a 320x480 picture would work pretty well but require everything viewing it to be pixel aspect ratio aware, so that it would display as a 4:3 picture properly.
That was a fairly common format on the Amiga, back in the '80s and '90s, because it was very video aware. Amigas natively didn't have square pixels. But PCs and Macs are square pixel machines. 720x480/720x486 files with non-square pixel aspect ratios don't always show properly on PCs or Macs if the codec doesn't embed appropriate meta information about aspect ratio or the viewer doesn't make assumptions and apply a transform just based on the container size. Capturing 640x480 is convenient overkill, has the right aspect ratio for viewing on the desktop, while 320x240 is throwing away a lot of information. De-interlacing needs to interpolate and frame blend both spatial and temporal information whether you're looking for the best 30fps result or 60fps result.
The Elgato worked great.
Thanks for the guide
Very informative and professional 👏 This very well may be the best VHS to Digital Conversion How To video of our time! Its so thorough and clear, its as if my Father is teaching me.
Wow. You have literally left me speechless and touched. I feel as if we have known each other our entire lives. This seriously means the world to me.
@@MiddleSiggyHomesteadThis is so wholesome
Great explanation for VSH to digital
I agree except I'm 73, so it's like my grandson is teaching me:)
Very informative video. What program is best for editing the video once it is downloaded to he PC?
Clear and concise, thoroughly informative video
Glad it was helpful! These are my first videos.. So that means a lot.. Thank you!
Thank you for this video. I was using the Hauppague PVR to digitize some VHS performance tapes, but that unit no longer works. I am not as educated as others on the various components needed to make the upscaling and conversion work on a video that lasts almost 3 hours. I get the upscaling converts the 480 res file to a 1080 file, so that is the first step? Then which Elgato unit to use to send the file to the computer? I am using a laptop to do this.
thanks! I need to do this for so many tapes
Amazing, Joe!
Thank you.. Stay tuned for more.. Having fun!
Super helpful...Thank you!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this excellent video!!
Thank you Daivd!
Thanks for the great instructional videos. I just ordered the Yitrox converter, Elgato HD60X and clean power supply. I have about 50 VHS, VHS-C and Mini-DV tapes recorded from 1993 thru 2010 that I'm excited to - gradually - convert to high quality digital videos that can be shared with others. Will let you know how they look after I get started.
Check out OBS Studio as the capture software..
@MiddleSiggyHomestead I had also downloaded OBS based on another video I watched about a different method using less capable converter/capture HW. I thought the Elgato capture utility download would be adequate, no?
Yes the Elgato hardware and software is great stuff.. and I did use the Elgato software, but I use OBS because I stream and because I am just so familiar with it. There is nothing wrong with the Elgato software.
super helpful! thanks a lot
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the info!
Hi, that final image is stretched though. Does the upscaler allow you to output in 4:3 aspect ratio?
Thanks for the video! I hope you don't mind a quick question. I purchased the Elgato HD60X (external) capture device and, on the box, it says NVDIA GeForce GTX 10xx is required. I will be using a mini-PC with Intel Corei7-13700H (13th gen) with integrated Iris Xe Graphics. Will my PC and the HD60X work OK for VHS conversion? I am still looking for an upscaler so I'm also interested if you (or any fans) have updated your recommendations.
I would just use OBS to record you can just add your capture device in OBS than record at any resolution, output any file format, crop and use a good deinterlace. I would capture lossless with OBS and than handbrake to compress the file for the best possible quality. For a free software it's surprisingly good and way better than the crappy software provided.
I agree OBS is a great free substitution. I have used it many times already.. Great feedback!
i could turn my VHS into 1080p using OBS? i havent used it yet, but will try thx
@@paulpolizzi3421 The best way is to rip in the original 480p then upscale using a software as Topaz AI Enhanced. The result is amazing.
Upscalling from 480p to 4k introduces artifacts.
You lost me at OBS😮
Really great video!
Thank you!
Thank you for your response, it was helpful
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome video! Just watched your upscaler video, very informative. Do you recommend certain VCR players? Thank you.
It depends on the type of tapes you have. If you were going to get one minimally I would get one labeled hi-definition with 4 heads. But if you had some of the newer high definition vhs tapes you would want to get one that could support the highest quality tape. Some of the higher end ones also have the S-video port and that might get you a better quality picture.
Very good and concise video, thanks much.
Do you think that a Magix’s Vegas Pro would do a better job of upscaling than a hardware solution?
That is a great question. I use Vegas for my editing. I will run some tests on the videos I have and find out. Might be a bit I have a bunch in the queue. I will post it as a video in the future. Thanks again.
Hello! This is a great video and I want you to know how much I appreciate you producing it! Do any of the capture methods allow you to break the recording into distinct segments or recording sessions? Thank you, David Lavimoniere
Dave the only one that gives you any ability to cut or trim the video is the Elgato software. But it only allows for a trim on the beginning and end.
You will really need some other video editing software. I use Sony Vegas. I have been thinking of researching others to share that don’t cost as much. I do think Microsoft’s movie maker has some basic functions and then some better for a fee. Hope that helps
I recently started capturing footage from my VHS tapes using a Diamond VC500 and OBS Studio. There's an excellent TH-cam video from Tim Ford which has detailed instructions on using OBS to capture videotapes. As for software to edit and cut segments without re-encoding, I recommend a free program called LosslessCut. It's easy to use but quick and clean cuts can only be done at keyframe locations so I specify a keyframe interval of 2 seconds in the OBS recording options menu for that purpose. The default keyframe interval of 0 in OBS is the "auto" mode which is around 8 seconds and not ideal for precise cuts.
Hi, thank you for your videos..ive learned so much. I did create the similar set up with upscaler and elgato hd60+ with OBS. I did a 5 minute test run with my vhs transfer.1440x1080p 60 fbs, mp4...after I completed and it transferred to my laptop...the video file was huge. 5 minutes = 1GB of a 6 hr tape! I lowered to 720x480 (1gb=9 minutes) then 680x480 etc. Obviously the OBS does not compress. What do you do with your files using this way? Do you use a compression software? Perhaps, I've completely set the parameters wrong. I'd appreciate any advice. I should say, I'm tech savvy but a little more than a beginner. Thank you
I am sorry new to this, so my questions is does converter capture at high def and use the upscaler for just a better play back in he? Do you have to use both to get hd out of the VHS on computer?
Thanks for the great videos! I've started the vhs conversion journey with the yitrox upscaler and hd60 pro. However, some doubts about getting the right settings in place remain...
Using OBS seems the way to go. But what would be the best choices resolution wise? Setting the yitrox to full 1080@60 output will distort the 4:3 PAL aspect ratio. Would it be better to go for one of the 4:3 outputs, or rescale afterwards in OBS to a 4:3 aspect ratio? Is there a reason to go for 60fps or 50, like 60 is 2x30 from ntsc and 50 is 2x25 from pal?
Nice video brother!
Thank you sir!
To absolutely maximise the quality of captures I would highly recommend using 75 ohm coaxial cables when possible for video connections (particularly composite and s-video, which is what you're limited to with VHS players) not the 'shoelace' ones typically supplied with most AV equipment. They eliminate a lot of the 'edge ringing' which people often assume to be intrinsic to analogue video signals.
That is very interesting.. Thank you for the information. I am going to have to redo some of my VHS tapes I will look into that before I do so..
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead You're very welcome. The difference is very easy to see if you compare the cable types with the picture from a DVD player (it provides a clearer reference than VHS) using its composite-out - it's not subtle. It will be somewhat less pronounced with s-video, but still quite noticeable. I've actually seen a player give a better picture with composite via 75 ohm coax than RGB (component) via a poor quality SCART (be thankful you never had to deal with these truly awful connectors in the US) ETA >> BTW, RCA-terminated SPDIF audio cables are the same thing, they carry a similar signal frequency (which is RF) to that of SD analogue video. You can even make your own pretty easily (and cheaply!). If you use RG59 RCA's, most are compression/crimp and don't even need soldering.
After making all of these videos I have found out a few things.. I also think I am going o have to buy a new VCR, because I am limited with the one I currently have, and it does not even have the coaxial connectors.. again thank you for the feedback.. Have a great day!
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead I might have been leading you up the garden path somewhat - S-VHS via dual coaxial would be perfect but of course one is restricted to the standard 4-pin cable and connector, barring some serious modding. Otherwise (and I might be teaching my gran to suck eggs) if your VHS player is a decent one you could just make sure you're using a good S-VHS cable that definitely has individually shielded cores. Keep keeping on!
You might want to look into the domesday duplicator for laser-disc project's vhs extension. Basically, you tap into the raw read head's analog signal and that gets recorded. The recorded signal is then decoded at a much higher resolution and quality than the video player's own circuitry is capable of.
Not sure if this channel got the right "clients" for this ;) But yeah, domesday is amazing. I'm still going the DV-A/D conversion route (+ TBC) and let QTGMC do its magic at the end. No crappy "A.I" upscaling.
I plan to finally try converting VHS and VHS-C casettes to DVD's using a Funai converter. Do you think that the setups shown in this video will give better quality than the Funai converter?
very helpful!
Good job - thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi, thank you for this informative video!!
I do experience some problems with method 3 (I ended up with the EasyCel upscaler + Elgato HD60x connecting with my macbook pro 2021): it seems like the Elgato capturing software is not recognizing the device (there is a blinking red light): any ideas how I can fix this? thank you !!
Thank you for this informative video. I recently got a VCR, with other accessories, to convert our old VHS tapes. Do you have any recommendations on a software that would upscale after we transfer the movie to the computer?
There are multiple ways to do that, off the top of my head any of the professional editing software can do it, like Adobe Premier, Sony Vegas, or others. Thanks for watching
Your videos are great! Could you do a video on converting hi8 to digital please.
I use a method similar to the 3rd option. I plug the VCR into a upscaler then from the upscaler to the original Elgato HD capture device through HDMI. I use OBS and run it at 720P 30FPS lossless quality. I then upload the footage to TH-cam and even though all the movies get claimed and no one else can watch them, the person who uploaded it can. Free server space for all my movies.
Nice. I like the idea around youtube. I personally use a plex server and share the home movies with family members that way
any ideas on how to upscale vid files to HD or 4k. thanks. loved your vids.
Stumbled onto your videos and subscribed. I have tons of older videos I would like to convert to digital. I had originally copied many videos to DVD using a DVD burner however the results are not near as good as I would like. Both VHS and Hi-8 formats. But I also have a ton of even older 8mm/Super8 film that needs converting as well. I've sorta been eyeing a company in AZ that will do this for you. They also have the ability to enhance the video quality to make these older videos look even better......at a price however.
I might have to try your methods for the newer(VHS/Hi8) stuff. I will admit however that over time the videos degrade on tape making the conversion possibly less than original.
I am working on my 8mm and super 8 film conversion you will have to check that out. Thanks for watching
Hi,
Very nice which is reason, for teh first time, that I ask a question: The Hi8 video look OK in teh eye-piece. Hooked to a TV they look a little fuzzy and quality of voise deterirated. Hooking with a Video Capture card the video quality is terrible, jumping all over, color distortion, poor audio. This is an inexpensive Video capture external unit. Will the more expensive video capture unit get me better result, or there is something else need to sync the laptop and teh camcorder? I followed all the set up as they showed it and tried to different SW. Thanks
For method #2, can you pause/move footage frame-by-frame for editing with Elgato?
I want to save my vhs tapes to digital on my computer and then make dvd copies from that. Per your recommendation I purchased the yitrox with added power supply. Should I connect my yitrox to my vcr then from yitrox to Elgato hd60 x then to my computer using the elgato software. Also what resolution do you recommend I set my yitrox to. I’ll be using 4:3
Enjoyed your video. Does option #3, or any of the options for that matter, address deinterlacing either through HW or SW? I've been capturing VHS/Hi8 using an I-O Data GV-USB2 and VirtualDub which outputs deinterlaced 59.94FPS AVI files from the 29.97FPS source...think they are 720x480 like the Hi8 tapes if memory serves. I've tried option #2 and think I get better results from the GV-USB2 and VirtualDub, but might be using the wrong settings on the Elgato. Would like to try option #3 as my process is beyond time consuming but, before I expend the time and resources, curious how deinterlacing is addressed, if at all. Does option #3 just drop the second field and keep the frame rate at 29.97FPS? Been playing around with StaxRip a bit too, but its a bit beyond my level of expertise. I also have a Canopus ADVC. Have you ever tried one and, if so, how does it compare to option #3?
M S When I use the Gefen or the Yitrox upscalers, they allow the Elgato HD60 to capture at 60FPS and de-interlace the image. Unfortunately I believe the Elgato Video Capture card USB device does not do so, and you would still need to use something like VirtualDub to correct the interlace.
Does a broken camcorder screen affect digitalisation? I have a sony handycam, tapes all working when viewing through the viewfinder, but the camcorder’s viewing screen had broken sometime ago, so the issue i have been running into is a black screen only when i open any video capture software, obs or any other does is the broken camcorder screen causing this issue? And do i now have to seek for a new camcorder ?
Does the the capture device store the video in memory, if so what is the limit for the length of the video or write it to the hard drive ?
I was wondering about your third option. If you upscale an output to 16 x 9 at 1080P, doesn’t it just stretch your image? It looks good, but everything seems stretched out. Is it not possible to output and upscaled 4 x 3 file with the Elgato software or OBS? I know 4 x 3 is less attractive but it is native and the images and people in the video will look proportional.
Do either of the usb options fix the audio sync problem? On a long capture, the audio gets increasingly out of sync with the video with all of the devices I have tried so far.
My problem is that my videos have mold. I have about 50 tapes. I tried putting one in the vhs and it jammed. And I dont have the time nor the capacity to do this myself. Can you recommend a professional service that can clean and convert to digital? One idea I had is to see if it is possible to move the vhs tape to an old time movie reel and then project on the walls.
Maybe I missed this but where is the video stored? A Memory card? my laptop? If it's a card what size do I get? An suggestions?
Question: I want to convert my VHS tapes to a thumb drive to connect to my tv for family viewing and to share. Which software lets me do that?
Great job on the VHS to digital conversion. The Elgato clearly provided the best quality result; however, it upscaled and stretched the original 4:3 image to 16x9 at 1080p. I'd like to see the 1080p squeezed back to the 4:3 aspect ratio. That, I think, would provide more of an apples to apples comparison and provide more of a visual improvement. I digitized my old 8mm films at 1080p while keeping the original 4:3(ish) film aspect ratio in a 16x9 window (fame). I then edited them in DaVinci Resolve and rendered them at 3840 x 2160 (super scaled to 4k) while keeping the movie image at a 4:3 aspect ratio inside of a 4k 16x9 window. I'm curious to see your 720p 4:3 result upscaled to 4k in a 16x9 frame via DaVinci Resolve or render your 720p version in DaVinci and do an upscale in Topaz Video AI. They both would keep the the aspect ratios correct, 16x9, without altering the original 4:3 image. Just a thought. Again, great job on you tutorial. Thanks!
Thanks Bob, I am glad you enjoyed the video. Sounds like you have a fun project on your side also
Thanks so much for this! I have a Mac, and have found that many of the video capture devices are spec'd for PCs. Do you have a recommendation on the best HW/SW to convert VHS tapes to digital files on a Mac?
OBS studio is supposed to work with a MAC and you can use the external Elgato capture device and maybe go that way. I am not a MAC guy but I think that path should work
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead Thanks. I'll check it out.
I have successfully transferred VHS & Betta tapes to didgital files,burn to DVDs using LG HDD recorder,can use pause function to cut-out unwanted material on tape.Your methode is much cheaper & improves video images better,thanks for your clip
IvoMac, Thank you for watching and the comments.
Good morning, do you think adding a time base corrector will help with the digitizing process? Or is it just overkill because of the multiple connections?
Thanks
Depends on how bothered you are about perfection, but to be honest it sounds excessive for simple projects.
Thank you for posting this video,
The hd60 pro seems to be out of production. Will the 4k60 pro work just as well for transferring old home movies?
Yes the 4K version is just a better version of the HD60 which only supports 1080p. The 4K obviously supports up to 4k
I'm surprised an all-in-one device doesn't exist that takes the vhs and records directly onto a usb without needing playback on a screen
It does exist, but I don't know how good it is. I haven't researched it.
The strategy is to have everyone buy this method first, so companies make as much money as possible.
Most people back in the day used combo units to record to DVD or HDD which can be copied to PC.
Having a screen is better as it lets you know of any issues there will be from the original source e.g. bad tracking or interference.
Hello,
Thank you for your video.
I would just like to ask for your opinion. I converted my old VHS tapes using an easycap and OBS software, but the final result has an acceptable image quality, but it appears "grainy" with low definition. The captured image looks much better than after recording. Is there anything I can do to improve this?
It depends on why it is grainy. Could be the VCR is not a 4 head unit or high res version. Or it could be the tape / VCR was dirty. Or it might have been the software was over sharpening the video to try and make it not blurry or softened.. try seeing if there are different settings around soften or sharp, also did it convert interlaced? With the upscalers and a better capture card it would generally come across non interlaced and at 60fps and it looked much better
Hi - What would you use to copy from a DV media - JVC GR - D23 DV camcorder to laptop? Thanks....
Or, can I start the VCR playing and let it play a bit b4 hitting the record button on the Degato ?? As mentioned below, I'm just trying to get out the blank or unfocused parts of the video before transferring in onto a dvd, Thank u again
Yes you can do that. The software I use on the PC is OBS Studio for the capturing
You earned a new sub, nice explanation and compare of both devices, is this method better than VHS to DVD from a VCR/DVD combo? (in image quality) i want the best video quality possible for my family videos :)
Also I was wondering about using an MCable with an AVTOHDMI device, the AVTOHDMI takes composite and outputs digital image, so the Mcable can take that image and upscale it to 4k and video processing that enhances video quality.
So I have found the using the upscaler or even the Elgato UDB device is a better way then the VHS to DVD, mainly because I believe the MPEG4 encoding is a better encoder than the DVD MPEG2 encoding. The better of the two is using the Yitrox Upscaler, and the Elgato HD60 Capture Card. If you wanted even better upscaling and more options the Gefen device is even better than the Yitrox. Check out my upscaler video : th-cam.com/video/9vyugJsLDpk/w-d-xo.html and the Gefen review video : th-cam.com/video/ZCURqv-pkHk/w-d-xo.html
Hello, nice video. I bought the Yitrox upscaler. Which video software works with this? I can't figure it out. Thank you.
So remember this is just a digital converter, not a capture card, so you need a capture card that can take the output from the upscaler, into something like the Elgato, I then use OBS Studio, although Elgato also has its own software you get with their hardware
Your video was incredibly easy to understand and helpful! Thanks!
One question: I am a MacBook user and I would like to go with the highest end transfer possible from VHS. Do you know if the Elgato HD60 Pro works on Mac OS or do you have any suggestions for a similar product that works with Mac OS?
Thanks again!
The HD60 is an internal card, so no, but Elgato had an external version HD60X and there might be a 4K version now because the HD60’s are now a little older. I have a good friend that uses the HD60X with his MAC
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead thanks! I managed to grab a new Gefen online and am going to look into the Elgato HD60X. Another unit a friend highly suggested to me was called a Blackmagic Intensity Pro or a Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle... are you familiar with either of those?
I am not, but cost wise they seem to be about the same as the Elgato..
I have a tv/vhs combo. Can I use this to convert my vhs tapes? It only has audio/video (white-yellow) inputs.
Great video! I Have actually copied a lot of my old videos and video 8 tapes to my PC a few years ago using a pretty cheap bit of kit I bought on Amazon. The results were ok considering. However seeing that software has come on a lot since then I'm thinking of doing them all again. The top quality product looks great but how do I use it without a tower to fit it in? What device will I need to house it with a laptop? Cheers.
You are exactly where I have been for the last few months, which is what started all of this.. So good luck with your project.. :)
If I were to do it again (and I just might) with a laptop, I would go with 1)The Elgato Video Capture device I shared in the video. or 2)The Elgato HD60 X External Capture Card which will work with a laptop. Plus an upscaler... (Right now I am leaning towards the "YITROX AV Svideo HDMI to HDMI Converter Upscaler") also listed above... This would be my choice if I did not already have the Elgato internal capture card. If you give me a few weeks I am reviewing a stack of upscalers that are reasonably priced, and I should have a video out as soon as I can. (There are links to all of this in the Description). Be aware I have had some issues with the different upscalers, so waiting for the video might be a good idea before you make the investment. There is too much to share in this comment.
I believe a friend of mine has the Elgato HD60x, I will see if I can borrow it and make a video.
Thank you for the comment.. have a great day!
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead thanks for the reply! I Just cant see how I can use the Elgato HD60 Pro with a laptop? How does it plug in etc? You mentioned an external device in the video?
You need the HD60X the internal one I have is the HD60. I spoke with a friend of mine who has the HD60X and he said it works like a pass through, meaning you would plug in the upscaler into it and then it plugs into your PC with a USB to control the capture part. That is what I got from my friend. I will see if I can get some better pictures because the images on the Elgato web site are not great
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead Ironic that 'the images on the Elgato web site are not great'.
Composite video capturing? Hmmm, bad idea.. Use SVHS y/c signal wherever possible. Edges will be sharper and colour less shifted.
I would but considering these tapes are from the 80’s and they are standard VHS I am sort of stuck. But thanks for the idea.
Looking to get elgato hd60 external plus upscaler. Does this allow me to recor videos?
Hi!! Thank you so much for your videos I am learning a lot! I have about 45 Hi8 home video tapes I am trying to convert...I have a Sony CCD-TRV43 Video Camcorder that has a video/audio input jacks (1 yellow, 1 black). Can the Elgato HD60pro and Yitrox Upscaler be used to convert my Hi8 video tapes? I've tried a few different video capture cords from amazon, one being the cheaper Elgato one - I used Quicktime and their software to view and record with it and it was making my videos bluury, quite dark and had that pink line discoloration on the top half (even thought the video on the camcorder was clear, no pink line). Ideally I'd like to convert these to videos on my external hard drive and also make them into dvds. Sorry for the long text - appreciate any advice you can give me...thank you so much
Victorias, yes you should be able to use the Yitrox and Elgato capture card.. the Yellow is the video, and the 1 black is a mono audio out, so you might want to buy a Y splitter and make the black go into the White and Red so you don't get just one side for audio. By chance does your Hi8 video recorder have a Firewire port? it looks like an oversize mini usb port, I know some Hi8 support digital output, and if you had that, that would be a better way to go as the digital signal is used and not an analog one.. I have not made that video but I am thinking about it because many people has asked. hope this helps.
Can you use the vc500 with obs with the same results as the elgato ?
This is a decent overview. But with option #3, why did you upscale a 4:3 image to 16:9, stretching it horizontally in the process? Certainly, you don't intend it to be viewed like that. How do you then correct for the error afterward? By scaling down to 4:3 again and throwing some of the data away? But if you do that, you're effectively blurring it twice.
Thank you for the compliment. The short answer on stretching is I did not think it looked that bad (I am just a little chubby in the video 😁 because of the stretch) and it was the sample I had at the time I edited the video. That was my very first video for TH-cam and I just forced myself to get it out, so I cut a few corners.. I don’t think I would ever go back, although I could. I think I would just recapture and not have the software stretch.
Again thanks for the feedback.
Personally I really hate seeing the incorrect aspect ratio. It is always very obvious to me and annoying. I’m sure the video would look best out of the three options if it was corrected.
@Tyler Hickernell message was received.. check out my latest video on film conversions.. I think I got it right in that one :)
Thank You for Watching!
Thank you
Thank you!!! For watching ;)
I do not like stretching the image that way. I use the Elgato device and follow the instructions of another TH-cam creator to use OBS capture software. I include interlacing at 60 fps for smoother motion. I prefer to preserve the 4x3 aspect ratio to avoid distorting the image.
Smart I actually do the same just did not put all of that in my videos
what about if you have a laptop that only takes USB type C? It's a MacBook laptop from 2022. Can I still use elegato and VC500?
I have the first cheap option you showed. It works fine aside from a few loading glitches, but when I watch them on tv, it is very pixelated and one in particular is choppy. I know these weren't made for big screen TV but what else could it be aside from very old VHS? One is from 1991.
That is the big problem. When you think about the resolution difference from the old VHS tapes compared to a modern digital signal it is a huge difference
I run Mac mini so no way to add a card do you have a suggestion on which usb capture device would be best to use at the top end I would like to get the best quality I can
@Creg P, You have a few options:
Option 1) The Elgato Video Capture USB device does support a Mac, so that is one path.. This will capture the videos in 720x480 and they look great. (Depending on the original tape :) )
Option 2) The Path I went down, and you could look at is using an upscaler, and then using the Elgato HD60X which is an external inline product. Then use OBS or the Elgato Capture software to store the video in 720p or 1080p. This personally is what I have done, but instead of the external HD60X I am using the internal HD60...
For an upscaler, I would go with:
- RCA to HDMI Converter, Wenter 1080P AV to HDMI Converter - $15 - amzn.to/3JZjNgT
- YITROX AV Svideo HDMI to HDMI Converter Upscaler - $37 - amzn.to/3lc5LOr
Appreciate the videos and peoples comments. I'm Capturing video from VHS tapes using my Samsung DVD-V8600 dual DVD and VHS player (which plays S-VHS tapes, and has both S-Video out and Component out...) I'm still uncertain what is recommended for getting the best reasonable results. I'm mostly doing this to preserve the content for the future... I have both a Windows 10 laptop and Macbook Pro 2017 (with Final Cut Pro), so I can use either... Is S-Video out the best? And plug it into what? Should I use an upscaler or not? And what software? Again, thinking of the best reasonable results. I'm willing to spend a reasonable amount if needed... Thanks!
Chris, watch my video on the upscalers.. what you will end up as a recommendation for your situation is the Yitrox upscaler, which does support the S-Video cable, and yes you want to use that if you can. Then a good capture card. I would recommend any of the Elgato brands, I have been having a lot of luck with them. For a Laptop look at the HD60X
When I record to laptop the image is choppy and jumpy. It’s hard to watch. Audio is fine. Will the newer products you reviewed fix this?
Maybe I'm just having a stange day here, but...I watched, liked, subscribed for two videos and now I can't find either one. May I suggest numbering your videos? All the videos are good, but I really just want to find the two that are pretty much for beginners. Want to enhance the VHS but now cannot find that video. Keep up the excellent work but please, is there a better way to index these? thank you! Would have sworn you had something on the pinnacle dazzle video capture but can't find it.
Joe nothing on the pinnacle dazzle from me.
Hi @MiddleSiggyHomestead , I tried that already, but no matter what, I just keep on getting the sound, and what's with the deal of Video S cable, can you tell me how to help get picture on my Honestech 3.0 and how to use the Video S cable for my laptop or even a VCR if that helps brings in the picture?
So the S cable breaks out all the different analog channels into their own wire this cuts down on the conversion issues and helps with a cleaner picture. If your sound issue if the line noise from the power source try buying a bench power supply they are very clean and cost about $35 or so.
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead Thanks
I hope you can give me a little insight: What's better: upscaling while capturing (like in your video) OR capturing and then use a software to upscale it? Thank you! Your video was informative and organized!
I liked the result of upscaling during, it fixes the interlace by doubling the frame rate and smoothing the picture. The other way I would have to wait for the video to capture, then provess the upscale with software, and then I am at the same point. Skip the step
Thank you so much for your reply! Helps me with my decision-making.@@MiddleSiggyHomestead
they say elgato is obsolete now dec 2023, ? , what is modern capture cards etc i could use today ? i have a black magic intesity shuttle.. do i need to pair this with a decent video card in my home pc ? or any video card work ? i am transferring many old svhs tapes ot ditigal.
Look at the Elgato 4K cards
When I have almost hiend card Sapphire RX 6800 (16GB vram ) and hiend processor AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (16 core), is it possible to use this hardware instead of Elgato HD60 Pro?
Any options that will work on a Mac that doesn’t have audio sync issues? I would like to have it in mp4 format in the end so it can be viewed on pc, mac, or tv.
I don’t use a MAC so I can’t speak to that directly, but I stick by my Yitrox upscaler and any of the Elgato capture devices internal or external. And then use OBS for the capture software I believe it has a MAC version
Can you edit with the Elgato ? We have a lot of blank spaces on our vhs recordings we would like to edit out. Thank you
No the Elgato is the capture card. I use OBS for the actual capturing, and other software to edit and parse then the videos
Thanks for the info. But I still have my great Magnavox DVD/VHS player/recorder to convert some of my very old VHS tapes. Most of the VHS movie stuff I have is already in digital renditions, so I don't mess around doing them. My old personal home videos are very easy to convert VHS to DVD with this Player/Recorder.
Take care.
Thank you for watching..
I enjoy your videos and have a question using the YITROX AV Svideo HDMI to HDMI Converter Upscaler. Can this be used without the Elgato internal or external capture card. I tried it without and my iMovie, OBS, and DaVinci programs didn't detect a signal. I even try it straight to a TV thru a HDMI cable and still there was no signal. I assumed the unit was defective, so I returned it and I'm awaiting a replacement. Now, I'm thinking maybe the Upscaler only works with an additional capture device. Is that correct? Thanks.
Sounds like a defective unit... Let me know how the replacement works.. I did have a few upscalers that just did not work at all when I did my testing...
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead Thanks for reply. I did receive a second unit, it failed to work, too, with the same problem. So, I ordered the Elgato Video Capture unit you featured. That works fine though the Elgato software, as you showed. But, it seems on the Mac, OBS doesn't not recognize the Elgato Video Capture. I guess I have to spring for the more expense external Elgato HD60X to use OBS. So it goes. Thanks, again.
That is interesting, I don't own a Mac, so thanks for sharing..
I finally settled on a Elgato Video Capture unit. It's not the highest resolution, but it does fit my needs. I'm using it for my current series of Thundercats videos. Take care , and thanks.@@MiddleSiggyHomestead
I have been searching for solutions using a Mac running Ventura. Do you know if any of these options are compatible? Thank you so much!
I know you can use the Elgato USB device on a MAC, and I know you could get an upscaler, and a capture device and do it that way.
The vcr that I have doesn’t have the 3 prong system it has a scart lead do you know if I was to buy a scart adaptor this would work?
Yes it is my understanding that the scart is just a different connection type but you can use a converter to get the same sort of outputs needed
So if I am using a laptop with a VHs player and the Elgato Video Capture Device, can I use an upscaler? How does that work. I am just getting started converting tubs or tapes.
If you are using the USB Elgato Video Capture device, then no you would not use the upscaler.
What the upscaler does, is it interpolates the analog signal from your VHS player to a high resolution (but not always higher quality) video. This allows the native 320x240 resolution to get interpolated (or enlarged by guessing what goes in the empty spaces) and produces a higher resolution video.
This higher resolution video can then be stored as a 720p or 1080p video.
The device to capture the higher resolution video would be something like the:
- Corsair Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro (if you have a PC)
or the
- Elgato HD60 X External Capture Card (if you are using a laptop)
Both of these require a HDMI video source. The Upscaler is what converts the Audio Video RCA analog signal into a HDMI digital signal.
I will be putting out an upscaler video in the near future.. so watch for that.
Hope that helps.
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead Thanks so much. Very informative videos.
Liked and subscribed and comment
When using these methods, is there a way to output the finished product to a DVD-R for use with a DVD player/TV ?
So yes.. you can always convert the MP4 to a MPEG2 using DVD software. Most all the modern DVD creating software will convert the video for you and burn it to a DVD. the MP4 might end up being a better quality video.
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead Thank you !
This might sound odd, but looking carefully at the “Elgato 720x480 VC500 720x480” video comparison 05:35 minutes in and on, pausing the video and taking a careful look, the VC500 actually captures a sharper image. Just run the video and pause it at random and compare the two pictures, looking carefully, section-by-section, the VC500 video is sharper with a slightly better color also. I hope this doesn’t sound too odd to you but were the videos mixed-up before they were aired? The VC500 does have a visible sharper image. Please give me some feedback. - Norman
Norm, the videos were not mixed up, and yes it does a pretty good job.. but the one thing to look at is because the VC500 encodes with MPEG-2 it seems to create ghosting when the camera moves around, where the Elgato does not seem to have that effect. I believe that is because of the Codec more than the hardware. Unfortunately the MP4 encoding on the VC500 is not that great.. I have been asked to post longer samples of the videos, I will try and create something today and you can do some more comparisons.
Norm.. Also keep in mind, I did not mess with any of the brightness / contrast settings during my captures, I always took the defaults. That way you could see what the raw picture would look like. Most of the software has the ability to adjust color / brightness / contrast and you can always clean things up afterwards
so if I have a 2020 MacBook 16 inch I basically have to go with eh el gato correct?
great video, thanks. so i can turn my VHS PAL into 1080p?
In short yes. Wait for this weekend I am editing the upscale video now. You will want to see that before you dive in.
Thank you for watching !!
@@MiddleSiggyHomestead ok ill hang until i see your video thx
320x240 is not the VHS resolution.
Both Ealcheapo and Elcrapo USB devices are as the name suggests.
Is Elcrapo paying you?
The final method distorts the picture to incorrect aspect ratio.
Bst option is to just convert to DV, or take an interest in the RF archiving.
What brands/models will convert VHS to USB MP4 files for PC computers? The VHS to USB converter should come with a video editor software also
Wayne - The Elgato Video Capture device will save as a MP4, and its editing is limited. I made a deep dive video on it here:
th-cam.com/video/l38l4cXqiPM/w-d-xo.html