This was tremendously helpful. thank you so much for such an in-depth look at this product. I was ready to pull the trigger and buy one, but I will continue in my quest to find a better product now.
Thank you for this great presentation. I was concerned about the 'Signal Loss Detection' feature on the menu. You answered that question for me. I do film and video production professionally (for the past 40 years) and don't have time to make sure that the unit is going to stay 'recording' when it hits or detects a bad place or signal loss in the tape. Our computer editing systems use to have this feature of digitizing or recording footage from old tapes but the editing system (software) companies have upgraded to newer versions that have taken away this feature and have left me stuck and forced to purchase yet again one more piece of equipment. I was going to purchase the Elgato but the quality I am seeing is not even close to this newer version of the ClearClick 3.0. Anyway, I am buying this tomorrow. Thank you!
Ideally, there should be an all-in-one device that has both a VHS deck and a monitor, that can convert the VHS to digital without the need for connecting to external devices, like now obsolete VHS cameras and recorders etc.
I agree whole-heartedly that such a device should exist. But apparently the people in charge would rather sell a handful to professional transfer services rather than to consumers. Which is why I have a room full of VHS machines and camcorders just to enable to have a few working ones at any given time. Thanks for watching.
I really wanted to love this device. It had everything i wanted, and beyond VHS captures, I thought I could use it as a live capture from a camcorder for retro feeling recordings. But that glitching was present on the final recording, not just the device playback. I went frame by frame in Premiere, and it seems to grab a frame from about a half second prior before resuming. I could play with different USB drives or s video, but I think I will return mine too.
Thank you so much for your feedback. I am relieved to hear it was not just me. I was deeply disappointed. Still haven't found an analog capture device that works flawlessly without needing a computer.
@@WaybackRewind Thanks for your well-explained and detailed video. So the glitching only appears in the screen device, not in the file (When you play it on your computer)? The maximum capacity of the USB drive is 512 GB? If you don't recommend this device, What's your opinion about the Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus? Is better than the Clear Click video? Thanks a lot, greetings from Argentina!😄
I bought the clear click 2.0 about a year ago.the video was glitching.but when using the s video adapter they sent me for free it solved the problem. The only gripe i have us the screen image is darker than the camcorder screen other wise it works great
This is a 100% 4:3 device despite the 16:9 screen. It will stretch out the image on the screen, but the recording will remain 4:3. There is no option to change the appearance on the screen. The use of a 16:9 screen was a poor design choice. I guess they did that to make it appear more modern but distorts the image during playback. Thanks for watching.
@@WaybackRewind Thanks for the information. I have a DVD recorder that I use to do VHS to DVD but it's about 11 years old and since they don't seem to make them anymore I've been looking for an alternative for some time. Think I'll invest in this device.
@@GhostbustersFan77 yes the VHS to DVD recorders were great, until they weren't. I bought 5 of them and none work anymore. They were all cheaply made and don't last.
@@WaybackRewind Tell me about it. Mine is a VHS DVD recorder combination and the VHS half hasn't worked in five or six years. I'm lucky the DVD recorder still works to be honest.
question, I have the clear click 3.0 and have used it for many projects, VCR, hi8mm and mini dv. recently I'm trying to put a DVD+R in my Mac mini (m2) and convert but I cannot pick it up on my clear click. ive tried many connectors , av (red yellow white) to hdmi, hdmi to hdmi, any ideas on what I could be doing wrong? NOTE Im using the OUT hdmi connection on the back of my monitor. maybe the hdmi is not the way to go, I have other connectors but no other kind of inputs except hdmi on my monitor (its a LILLIPUT), any ideas would be helpful thnx
Hdmi can bring tricky as they are usually not bi-directional. It's either set up as an input or output. Monitors are input, and computers are output. Clearclick 3.0 hdmi is only set up as an output. You can not feed a signal into it that way. More likely than not, your miniMac does not have any analog outputs. If I were you, I would skip the clearclick altogether. That DVD+R is already digital. I'd find a way to rip it directly into the computer. That would result in the best possible conversion. If the dvd is finalized, it should play in any computer and just copy the file. Let me know if that works. Thanks for watching.
I want to convert my old VHS tapes from a VHS player. The plugs I must connect are the Audio / Video cable instead of the S-video cable? What is the maximum capacity of the SD card this device supports? If I choose the USB connection, can I connect an external HD drive (1 Tb)? Thanks a lot! Greetings from Argentina!
I just got the ClearClick V3.0 and started messing with it. I tested with SVideo and for some reason the MP4 file has weird vertical, almost lattice texture to it overlaying the video. You can really see it on bright colors. I ended up switching back to AV but otherwise am pretty happy with the results. I’ve had the first 5 years of my kids lives on mini DV tapes, of stuff they’ve never even seen.
@TheyBenefit No. Video purists will not like this device. I returned mine if that tells you anything. I am still searching for a stand-alone device that I like. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for the very informative video. I've been mulling over for over a year now if I should buy this. I have a collection of old VHS tapes with holiday shows and such I'd hate to lose, but my tapes are already starting to go esp. in sound levels, so I really want to preserve as much as I can before it's too late. And this device seems like the best and most affordable option for me. Even with the flaws you pointed out. I think I will go ahead and try it out, If I'm not satisfied I'll return mine too. Quick question though, do you know how much video you can save on a 512 card? How many hours? Also, After you save video onto a USB drive, can you then plug that drive directly into a smart TV and play back your saved videos from that, or does it have to be transferred to a PC and then put on a DVD or some other medium first? Thank you.
@tristkiss the resulting files will be about 2 Gb per hour so a 512 Gb should hold a healthy 256 hours. Or 128 VHS tapes recorded at the fasted speed. Maximum file size coincidently is 4GB.
@tristkiss as for direct playback on a smart TV I wouldn't count on it. Most can display photos with no issues, but there are so many variables for video I doubt it would work if you just plug in a flash drive. That said there are media players and even video game systems that probably would play the drive directly. And maybe high end TVs could do it. My last two cars supposedly could play movies directly from a flash drive but they were super picky about which files they would actually play without rhyme or reason.
@@WaybackRewind Hi, so does that mean each file can't be more than 4GB=2hrs of video? I don't think anything I want saved is longer than an hour or so each, so that shouldn't be an issue.
@@WaybackRewind Okay, well as long as I can save the video digitally in some form, I'll figure out the best way to play back on my TV at some point. 🙂 Thank you again!
@tristkiss Yes, 4 GB filesize is an artifact of a 32 bit bus architecture and cannot be changed. Modern 64 bit computers can easily deal with larger files but the 4GB "coincidently" equals what a VHS tape could hold at max speed. I say coincidently but I'm sure they picked a sampling rate to make that happen. What is more likely is that you get a blank spot on your tape and it shuts off. The biggest complain is you have to baby sit it. You can't just walk away and come back in 2 hours to a neat file.
Mr. WAYBACK REWIND, as I mentioned several times on BRANDON'S CAMERA COLLECTION page, I just purchased the CLEARCLICK HD 4K ULTIMATE BOX EDITION; (I should preface this by saying that I use mine to shoot videos from my camcorders and I don't use it as a VCR) - several things - The HD 4K version does not have a S-Video port. It just has an A/V/ port, HDMI port and a Micro SD slot. It automatically converts video into MP4 files and I've found that in the settings it gives you options for either 4:3 OR 16:9 format and it's best to keep it as an 'AUTOMATIC DETECTION' setting because if you chose the 4:3 format, it will render green bars on each side of your video. It also give you an option of choosing a Codec of either H265 or H264 and I found it best to stay in the Codec of H265 for better quality. It also has an internal battery installed and it comes with a USB charger for that battery. By reading some of your comments below, you are correct about the cables required because I have a Hitachi digital8 camcorder and a SONY DIGITAL8 camcorder and the A/V, RCA cables needed are totally different for each camcorder and I had no idea until I attempted to hook them up respectively, so, if you decide to do a review on the CLEARCLICK HD 4K ULTIMATE BOX EDITION I would be interested on your take on it. - J.D. Watkins, artistic director of PHOENIX PRODUCTIONS.
Thank you for the insight. I have not used the 4K version but it sounds to have additional features that are lacking in the 3.0. As I have to buy my own hardware I only review things I personally want to own. I haven't committed to this unit, but it sounds promising. Thanks for watching.
Have really enjoyed your series. I tend to agree with your Pros and Cons but mostly your Cons. You said everything about the 3.0 that is the same as the 2.0. Last year I took a chance and bought the "Diamond One Touch Video Capture" version which is the exact same a the Clear Click 2.0. I assume that the same company made both versions because without the names painted on the devices, you are looking at exactly the same thing. I bought it to record my grandson's sports events through my mini DV tape camera. The whole set up worked great until I went to work on the files on my editor. I set my camera for 16:9 widescreen (as I most always do when filming) and set the recorder to "auto" size. Now, I'm not quite sure what "auto size" means because the files came out looking fairly nice but not any differently than the other setting and there was no fixing the file size in post. They weren't 16:9 and the files couldn't even be stretched properly to suit my needs. Then I though I'd "HDMI out" the captured files to another capture device to see if the software could do some corrections but it didn't really work and when you HDMI out, you have the play and progress image line at the bottom of the screen and that also gets captured. There's no way to turn it off. The captured files are really clear for a souped up H264 Mp4 but the full image you get on the little screen doesn't match when it goes on the big screen. This device is okay for someone who wants an easy way to capture VHS family videos but beware of the funny file sizes. On another note, just thought I'd mention (for stilts and giggles) that I hooked up my miniDV camera to my old EasyCap dongle and software and it recorded 16:9 just fine and the files were workable. Not very portable though. lol.
Thank you for the feedback. I never used the 2.0, so I was approaching this as a newbie. The clear click device is probably okay for a casual user but it's definitely not a pro-level device. Thanks for watching.
The Atomos Ninja V is pretty much what all professionals use. It doesn't have analog inputs so you need an analog to HDMI converter. Might be overkill for amateur tape conversion but most likely far more reliable. www.atomos.com/products/ninja-v
I use this exact ClearClick 3.0 Digital Converter and have been since last April. I do an extremely high volume of all kinds of videotapes from simply VHS up to commercial BetacamSp for my clients. . I don't see any of these problems that you are seeing. It could be your source camera that you are coming from. I will actually be purchasing 3 or 4 more of the ClearClick 3.0 converters just because of their quality. I also own the Elgato computer transfer device which I had been dealing with all kinds of problems there. Anyway, just my 2 cents.
I'm glad it worked for you. Maybe I just got a bad one, but if you google glitching and Clearclick, I'm not the only one. I just found there to be too many issues, especially the 16:9 screen when it records 4:3, which makes no sense to me. Thanks for watching.
nice video, informative . can you tell me what unit you would recommend that wont have glitches? i have lots of 8mm family videos and a sony 8mm player, and i want to put all my home videos on a thumb drive and give it to my kids
I am still looking fir a unit that doesnt glutch and have other issues. The Blackmatgic Intensity Shuttle seems highly rated but I don't have any first hand experience. I will let you know and do a review if I find a better unit. Thanks for watching.
My s video cable doesn’t stay in the clear click. I have been using the device with my vx2100 with the av cables but i now wanna use my other camcorder with s video but the s video cable will not stay in the clear click. Am I using the wrong cable or is there anything i can do to bypass the s video port and use the yellow instead ( I already tried a s video to yellow av )
I would try a different S video cable and see if it has a better fit. Yes you can just use the yellow video. In the clearclick you have to change the setting. S video is supposed to have better quality but I honestly never saw much difference. I've seen some pretty bogus adapters like s-video to audio/video which can't possibly work because s-video doesn't have audio.
It does have a built-in speaker but it's not really intended to be a stand alone player. The speaker is more just to let you know there is sound present. Thanks for watching.
So like i hope i dont sound crazy but i bought the clearclick 2.0 like 2 years ago and i dont use it cause when i move in the recorded video the clearclick seems to add the absolutely nauseating choppy flickering on it
That is a great question. If you want maximum control over the transfer, then the AV to Digital converter and computer software is the best method, (part 3 and part 4 of my series). Clear click is probably easiest but it's not exactly the best. Thanks for watching.
If you have already recorded the videos on DVDs, I recommend getting a DVD player for your computer and transferring them that way. I use this one, it costs $30 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BC44T8K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I did return it. The glitching was on the screen and also on the HDMI output. The actual micro SD card file was okay so it could have still been useful. But I expected more at that price point. I’m still deciding on a replacement. Thanks for watching.
As mentioned in the video, most small cameras will not have the RCA connectors to use the cables that come with the ClearClick. You need the 3.5mm to RCA cables. Your camera should have come with one or you can purchase one for your make of camera. I think there might be more than one type so make sure it's for your brand of camera. Thanks for watching.
it's only a converter at the end of the day not a unit for watching them on but merely for showing the transfer live.. the unit could have more functions i admit and mine came with the buttons thw wrong way around which was very annoying
I could have lived with its limitations but the inability to output a clean HDMI signal was the deal breaker for me. I had higher expectations at that price point. Thanks for watching.
Originally, I thought the output to the SD card was clean, but I saw flaws in that as well. The whole unit under performed to my expectations, and I returned it. So no, I couldn't live with it. Thanks for watching.
Does this output a frame rate of 30fps? Or does it even say?? I have another FPV recorder I use to record from my canon GL1 but it has issues. But that one does output 60fps so I have the option of slow motion. Just curious about this before I grab one of these
@BigA1 It doesn't really even say what the output frame rate is. I have no idea if they have a European version or if it adapts automatically. If I had to guess, I would say no. But hopefully, there is a version that adapts to 25 fps.
No. But it does not get encoded onto the file, but there is no option to turn that off. It would make a better video player if you could. Thanks for watching.
Thr major differences between 2.0 and 3.0 are the user interface, screen size, and built-in battery. I don't think there is much if any difference in the captured quality. Thanks for watching.
I agree, I bought the same thing and noticed that the quality is about 25% worse 😠than the original one and the voice is the same. It crackles as if the voice is not good. it is very easy to use, but you lose the quality of the image and the quality of the voice, which pisses me off 😡😠 Would you recommend any other product that maintains image and voice quality and is a good quality copy. Let me know pls
The biggest problem is deinterlacing and there is no simple answer to best way to deinterlace. Once you get that figured out you can upscale to HD and use and HD recorder. I will make a video showing the best possible method to convert analog.
The software is very similar, but the major difference is the packaging. The 3.0 comes with a larger screen, but that also is a drawback, in my opinion. The screen is not a touch screen, and the buttons as used on this unit are not as intuitive as the 2.0 unit to me. Also, it's a 16:9 aspect ratio for no good reason. This unit does not support 16:9 video in any way, shape, or form, and there is no way to adjust it. So all videos played back will be stretched on the screen. It will appear normally played on an external screen, though. Also the 3.0 has an internal battery and the 2.0 does not. That is a nice feature. Other than that I'm not sure it's worth the increase in price. It does pretty much exactly the same thing as the 2.0. Thanks for watching.
It's not the S-video that is proprietary but the audio/video cable on some models. Although proprietary they are very common. They only used a few types and are easy to find. Other models use the standard 3.5 mm jack and are even more readily available. It all just depends. Thanks for watching.
The 60 interlaced fields at 60i become 30 progressive frames at 30p just by smashing the two fields together. This is called field combination and is the least sophisticated and lowest quality way. But also the easiest way to do it. Also will lead to artifacts like combing if there is motion because the fields were taken at different points in time. Analog TVs by their nature displayed the images without artifacts. To do that on a digitial screen is not trivial. Inexpensive boxes like this cannot do a really good job. You need processing power of a computer to literally fill in the gaps to make 60 progressive frames. The information simply isn't there from the source.
So yes, then is what you’re saying, that both fields are interlaced as progressive 30 frames together, and not just one field or the other with this device. I’m not asking how it works. I’m asking if this is what happens with this device.
@@damianmartintvvideo I don't know how else to explain it to you. How it works and what happens are the same thing. It takes 60 fields which are missing every other line and combines them to 30 frames with all lines present. 60i = 30p. To get 60p requires a whole different level of processing which is not present here. Each individual field is missing every other line which has to be filled in somehow. There are various methods none of which are used in this device. Better results can be achieved by deinterlacing the video separately but that requires a different device.
The devices captures at a rate of 2 GB per hour so a 120 min tape could fit on a 4 GB card, potentially in a single file even. I'd be nervous to capture that much in a single file to be honest, because if it glitches, you might lose the entire file and have wasted 2 hours. Thanks for watching.
I think I didn't explain that clearly. I mean that one hour of video fits in 2 GB. I did not mean to imply that as a bit rate. The overall look and feel of this device is not very professional. I would look elsewhere. Thanks for watching.
USB had nothing to do with the internal operation of the device. It is flawed internally, and glitching appears on the built-in screen. Thanks for watching.
No. Despite its 16:9 display it only records in 4:3 and stretches the image. That was one of my biggest complaints. It makes no sense for a standard definition 4:3 only device to have a 16:9 screen. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for another great video! I was hopeful for this but there is no way I will put money into this one now. I bought the elgato and am using that currently but looking for any new things you may recommend on your videos. Thank you for great content 😃
Thank you. I had high expectations based on the reviews I had read. I was sadly disappointed. Looking for a higher quality replacement. Thanks for watching.
It has a built in rechargeable battery and charges whenever its plugged in. I didnt really time it but I assume it wod work for an hour or two. Thanks for watching.
If you mean which of the 6 methods is my favorite? It depends on what I'm starting with. But generally I like the DV transfer, (part 2), has the least compression and artifacts.
Why in the world would the makers decide to not allow for a proper aspect ratio appearance and NOT STRETCH the video on the screen. Deal breaker once again from ClearClick. Coming on, guys!
As far as I can tell The audio and video were in synchronization. But I only did short clips. They tend to drift over much longer clips so your mileage may vary. Thanks for watching.
This was tremendously helpful. thank you so much for such an in-depth look at this product. I was ready to pull the trigger and buy one, but I will continue in my quest to find a better product now.
Thanks for watching
Really honest, and fun, defusing hype in other reviews
I really wanted to love this, but it felt amateurish and lacking in options. I haven't really found one I like yet.
Thanks for watching.
Thank you for this great presentation. I was concerned about the 'Signal Loss Detection' feature on the menu. You answered that question for me. I do film and video production professionally (for the past 40 years) and don't have time to make sure that the unit is going to stay 'recording' when it hits or detects a bad place or signal loss in the tape. Our computer editing systems use to have this feature of digitizing or recording footage from old tapes but the editing system (software) companies have upgraded to newer versions that have taken away this feature and have left me stuck and forced to purchase yet again one more piece of equipment. I was going to purchase the Elgato but the quality I am seeing is not even close to this newer version of the ClearClick 3.0. Anyway, I am buying this tomorrow. Thank you!
Glad I was able to help you. I do this more as a hobby because I find the technology interesting. Thanks for watching.
Ideally, there should be an all-in-one device that has both a VHS deck and a monitor, that can convert the VHS to digital without the need for connecting to external devices, like now obsolete VHS cameras and recorders etc.
I agree whole-heartedly that such a device should exist. But apparently the people in charge would rather sell a handful to professional transfer services rather than to consumers. Which is why I have a room full of VHS machines and camcorders just to enable to have a few working ones at any given time.
Thanks for watching.
I really wanted to love this device. It had everything i wanted, and beyond VHS captures, I thought I could use it as a live capture from a camcorder for retro feeling recordings. But that glitching was present on the final recording, not just the device playback. I went frame by frame in Premiere, and it seems to grab a frame from about a half second prior before resuming. I could play with different USB drives or s video, but I think I will return mine too.
Thank you so much for your feedback. I am relieved to hear it was not just me. I was deeply disappointed. Still haven't found an analog capture device that works flawlessly without needing a computer.
@@WaybackRewind Thanks for your well-explained and detailed video. So the glitching only appears in the screen device, not in the file (When you play it on your computer)? The maximum capacity of the USB drive is 512 GB?
If you don't recommend this device, What's your opinion about the Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus? Is better than the Clear Click video?
Thanks a lot, greetings from Argentina!😄
I bought the clear click 2.0 about a year ago.the video was glitching.but when using the s video adapter they sent me for free it solved the problem. The only gripe i have us the screen image is darker than the camcorder screen other wise it works great
How does it handle aspect ratio? VHS recordings usually have a 4:3 ratio while today it's 16:9. Does it stretch out the recording?
This is a 100% 4:3 device despite the 16:9 screen. It will stretch out the image on the screen, but the recording will remain 4:3. There is no option to change the appearance on the screen. The use of a 16:9 screen was a poor design choice. I guess they did that to make it appear more modern but distorts the image during playback.
Thanks for watching.
@@WaybackRewind Thanks for the information. I have a DVD recorder that I use to do VHS to DVD but it's about 11 years old and since they don't seem to make them anymore I've been looking for an alternative for some time. Think I'll invest in this device.
@@GhostbustersFan77 yes the VHS to DVD recorders were great, until they weren't. I bought 5 of them and none work anymore. They were all cheaply made and don't last.
@@WaybackRewind Tell me about it. Mine is a VHS DVD recorder combination and the VHS half hasn't worked in five or six years. I'm lucky the DVD recorder still works to be honest.
I Ended up Returning the ClearClick. I couldn't accept the jittery screen.
question, I have the clear click 3.0 and have used it for many projects, VCR, hi8mm and mini dv.
recently I'm trying to put a DVD+R in my Mac mini (m2) and convert but I cannot pick it up on my clear click.
ive tried many connectors , av (red yellow white) to hdmi, hdmi to hdmi, any ideas on what I could be doing wrong?
NOTE Im using the OUT hdmi connection on the back of my monitor. maybe the hdmi is not the way to go, I have other connectors but no other kind of inputs except hdmi on my monitor (its a LILLIPUT), any ideas would be helpful thnx
Hdmi can bring tricky as they are usually not bi-directional. It's either set up as an input or output. Monitors are input, and computers are output. Clearclick 3.0 hdmi is only set up as an output. You can not feed a signal into it that way.
More likely than not, your miniMac does not have any analog outputs.
If I were you, I would skip the clearclick altogether. That DVD+R is already digital. I'd find a way to rip it directly into the computer. That would result in the best possible conversion. If the dvd is finalized, it should play in any computer and just copy the file. Let me know if that works. Thanks for watching.
It’s very useful to see your review, however.. the music in the background is annoying..
Sorry if it's too loud. In my later videos I don't use the music. For now you can mute and turn on captions. Thanks for watching.
I want to convert my old VHS tapes from a VHS player. The plugs I must connect are the Audio / Video cable instead of the S-video cable?
What is the maximum capacity of the SD card this device supports?
If I choose the USB connection, can I connect an external HD drive (1 Tb)?
Thanks a lot!
Greetings from Argentina!
I just got the ClearClick V3.0 and started messing with it. I tested with SVideo and for some reason the MP4 file has weird vertical, almost lattice texture to it overlaying the video. You can really see it on bright colors.
I ended up switching back to AV but otherwise am pretty happy with the results.
I’ve had the first 5 years of my kids lives on mini DV tapes, of stuff they’ve never even seen.
I've never heard of the vertical lattice texture issue before. I wonder if that isn't unique to your camera or cable? Either way thanks for watching.
It could possibly be moire.
@415Foote possibly, yes.
However it is done, I strongly advise everyone to convert the tapes while you still can.
Thanks for watching.
Is this worth getting as a gift? We're kinda video purists
@TheyBenefit No. Video purists will not like this device. I returned mine if that tells you anything. I am still searching for a stand-alone device that I like.
Thanks for watching.
Thank you for the very informative video. I've been mulling over for over a year now if I should buy this. I have a collection of old VHS tapes with holiday shows and such I'd hate to lose, but my tapes are already starting to go esp. in sound levels, so I really want to preserve as much as I can before it's too late. And this device seems like the best and most affordable option for me. Even with the flaws you pointed out. I think I will go ahead and try it out, If I'm not satisfied I'll return mine too. Quick question though, do you know how much video you can save on a 512 card? How many hours? Also, After you save video onto a USB drive, can you then plug that drive directly into a smart TV and play back your saved videos from that, or does it have to be transferred to a PC and then put on a DVD or some other medium first? Thank you.
@tristkiss the resulting files will be about 2 Gb per hour so a 512 Gb should hold a healthy 256 hours. Or 128 VHS tapes recorded at the fasted speed. Maximum file size coincidently is 4GB.
@tristkiss as for direct playback on a smart TV I wouldn't count on it. Most can display photos with no issues, but there are so many variables for video I doubt it would work if you just plug in a flash drive. That said there are media players and even video game systems that probably would play the drive directly. And maybe high end TVs could do it. My last two cars supposedly could play movies directly from a flash drive but they were super picky about which files they would actually play without rhyme or reason.
@@WaybackRewind Hi, so does that mean each file can't be more than 4GB=2hrs of video? I don't think anything I want saved is longer than an hour or so each, so that shouldn't be an issue.
@@WaybackRewind Okay, well as long as I can save the video digitally in some form, I'll figure out the best way to play back on my TV at some point. 🙂 Thank you again!
@tristkiss Yes, 4 GB filesize is an artifact of a 32 bit bus architecture and cannot be changed. Modern 64 bit computers can easily deal with larger files but the 4GB "coincidently" equals what a VHS tape could hold at max speed. I say coincidently but I'm sure they picked a sampling rate to make that happen. What is more likely is that you get a blank spot on your tape and it shuts off. The biggest complain is you have to baby sit it. You can't just walk away and come back in 2 hours to a neat file.
👍🏽
Mr. WAYBACK REWIND, as I mentioned several times on BRANDON'S CAMERA COLLECTION page, I just purchased the CLEARCLICK HD 4K ULTIMATE BOX EDITION; (I should preface this by saying that I use mine to shoot videos from my camcorders and I don't use it as a VCR) - several things - The HD 4K version does not have a S-Video port. It just has an A/V/ port, HDMI port and a Micro SD slot. It automatically converts video into MP4 files and I've found that in the settings it gives you options for either 4:3 OR 16:9 format and it's best to keep it as an 'AUTOMATIC DETECTION' setting because if you chose the 4:3 format, it will render green bars on each side of your video. It also give you an option of choosing a Codec of either H265 or H264 and I found it best to stay in the Codec of H265 for better quality. It also has an internal battery installed and it comes with a USB charger for that battery. By reading some of your comments below, you are correct about the cables required because I have a Hitachi digital8 camcorder and a SONY DIGITAL8 camcorder and the A/V, RCA cables needed are totally different for each camcorder and I had no idea until I attempted to hook them up respectively, so, if you decide to do a review on the CLEARCLICK HD 4K ULTIMATE BOX EDITION I would be interested on your take on it. - J.D. Watkins, artistic director of PHOENIX PRODUCTIONS.
Thank you for the insight. I have not used the 4K version but it sounds to have additional features that are lacking in the 3.0.
As I have to buy my own hardware I only review things I personally want to own. I haven't committed to this unit, but it sounds promising.
Thanks for watching.
I totally understand.
Have really enjoyed your series. I tend to agree with your Pros and Cons but mostly your Cons. You said everything about the 3.0 that is the same as the 2.0. Last year I took a chance and bought the "Diamond One Touch Video Capture" version which is the exact same a the Clear Click 2.0. I assume that the same company made both versions because without the names painted on the devices, you are looking at exactly the same thing. I bought it to record my grandson's sports events through my mini DV tape camera. The whole set up worked great until I went to work on the files on my editor. I set my camera for 16:9 widescreen (as I most always do when filming) and set the recorder to "auto" size. Now, I'm not quite sure what "auto size" means because the files came out looking fairly nice but not any differently than the other setting and there was no fixing the file size in post. They weren't 16:9 and the files couldn't even be stretched properly to suit my needs. Then I though I'd "HDMI out" the captured files to another capture device to see if the software could do some corrections but it didn't really work and when you HDMI out, you have the play and progress image line at the bottom of the screen and that also gets captured. There's no way to turn it off. The captured files are really clear for a souped up H264 Mp4 but the full image you get on the little screen doesn't match when it goes on the big screen. This device is okay for someone who wants an easy way to capture VHS family videos but beware of the funny file sizes.
On another note, just thought I'd mention (for stilts and giggles) that I hooked up my miniDV camera to my old EasyCap dongle and software and it recorded 16:9 just fine and the files were workable. Not very portable though. lol.
Thank you for the feedback. I never used the 2.0, so I was approaching this as a newbie. The clear click device is probably okay for a casual user but it's definitely not a pro-level device. Thanks for watching.
Wondering what would be a more professional option? Not trying to get the clear click
The Atomos Ninja V is pretty much what all professionals use. It doesn't have analog inputs so you need an analog to HDMI converter. Might be overkill for amateur tape conversion but most likely far more reliable.
www.atomos.com/products/ninja-v
There should be a dedicated button on the unit for aspect ratio. Geez!
👍🏾 agreed
I use this exact ClearClick 3.0 Digital Converter and have been since last April. I do an extremely high volume of all kinds of videotapes from simply VHS up to commercial BetacamSp for my clients. . I don't see any of these problems that you are seeing. It could be your source camera that you are coming from. I will actually be purchasing 3 or 4 more of the ClearClick 3.0 converters just because of their quality. I also own the Elgato computer transfer device which I had been dealing with all kinds of problems there. Anyway, just my 2 cents.
I'm glad it worked for you. Maybe I just got a bad one, but if you google glitching and Clearclick, I'm not the only one. I just found there to be too many issues, especially the 16:9 screen when it records 4:3, which makes no sense to me. Thanks for watching.
nice video, informative . can you tell me what unit you would recommend that wont have glitches? i have lots of 8mm family videos and a sony 8mm player, and i want to put all my home videos on a thumb drive and give it to my kids
I am still looking fir a unit that doesnt glutch and have other issues. The Blackmatgic Intensity Shuttle seems highly rated but I don't have any first hand experience. I will let you know and do a review if I find a better unit. Thanks for watching.
My s video cable doesn’t stay in the clear click. I have been using the device with my vx2100 with the av cables but i now wanna use my other camcorder with s video but the s video cable will not stay in the clear click. Am I using the wrong cable or is there anything i can do to bypass the s video port and use the yellow instead ( I already tried a s video to yellow av )
I would try a different S video cable and see if it has a better fit. Yes you can just use the yellow video. In the clearclick you have to change the setting. S video is supposed to have better quality but I honestly never saw much difference.
I've seen some pretty bogus adapters like s-video to audio/video which can't possibly work because s-video doesn't have audio.
Does the device have a speaker?
It does have a built-in speaker but it's not really intended to be a stand alone player. The speaker is more just to let you know there is sound present.
Thanks for watching.
So like i hope i dont sound crazy but i bought the clearclick 2.0 like 2 years ago and i dont use it cause when i move in the recorded video the clearclick seems to add the absolutely nauseating choppy flickering on it
Well I'm still in search of a stand-alone hardware solution I like. None of the standalone boxes are satisfactory to me.
Thanks for watching
Hi. Thanks for great video! what kind of the transfer video you recommend instead?
That is a great question. If you want maximum control over the transfer, then the AV to Digital converter and computer software is the best method, (part 3 and part 4 of my series). Clear click is probably easiest but it's not exactly the best. Thanks for watching.
may i ask if the sound and video stay in sync on long videos?
Unfortunately I do not know as I only did short captures before I returned it.
Please help me with how to transfer video and photos from Canon DC201 Dvd Camcorder to computer
If you have already recorded the videos on DVDs, I recommend getting a DVD player for your computer and transferring them that way. I use this one, it costs $30 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BC44T8K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hi did you return it with a replacement and is theglitching only on playback on device and on tv not on actual micro sd card thx.
I did return it. The glitching was on the screen and also on the HDMI output. The actual micro SD card file was okay so it could have still been useful. But I expected more at that price point. I’m still deciding on a replacement. Thanks for watching.
How would I be able to attach the clearclick to my camera? it’s small like yours in the video
As mentioned in the video, most small cameras will not have the RCA connectors to use the cables that come with the ClearClick. You need the 3.5mm to RCA cables. Your camera should have come with one or you can purchase one for your make of camera. I think there might be more than one type so make sure it's for your brand of camera. Thanks for watching.
it's only a converter at the end of the day not a unit for watching them on but merely for showing the transfer live.. the unit could have more functions i admit and mine came with the buttons thw wrong way around which was very annoying
I could have lived with its limitations but the inability to output a clean HDMI signal was the deal breaker for me. I had higher expectations at that price point. Thanks for watching.
But could you live with the recorded quality on the SD (or USB) card?
Originally, I thought the output to the SD card was clean, but I saw flaws in that as well. The whole unit under performed to my expectations, and I returned it. So no, I couldn't live with it.
Thanks for watching.
The caoture quakily looks good
😊 thanks
Does this output a frame rate of 30fps? Or does it even say?? I have another FPV recorder I use to record from my canon GL1 but it has issues. But that one does output 60fps so I have the option of slow motion. Just curious about this before I grab one of these
30 fps is the only choice. Thanks for watching.
Does that mean it would be no good for UK 25fps ? PS I use the same Sony camera you have.
@BigA1 It doesn't really even say what the output frame rate is. I have no idea if they have a European version or if it adapts automatically. If I had to guess, I would say no. But hopefully, there is a version that adapts to 25 fps.
Can you remove the OSD (top band)?
No. But it does not get encoded onto the file, but there is no option to turn that off. It would make a better video player if you could.
Thanks for watching.
Do you think the 3.0 looks better than the 2.0?
Thr major differences between 2.0 and 3.0 are the user interface, screen size, and built-in battery. I don't think there is much if any difference in the captured quality.
Thanks for watching.
I agree, I bought the same thing and noticed that the quality is about 25% worse 😠than the original one and the voice is the same. It crackles as if the voice is not good. it is very easy to use, but you lose the quality of the image and the quality of the voice, which pisses me off 😡😠 Would you recommend any other product that maintains image and voice quality and is a good quality copy. Let me know pls
The biggest problem is deinterlacing and there is no simple answer to best way to deinterlace. Once you get that figured out you can upscale to HD and use and HD recorder. I will make a video showing the best possible method to convert analog.
From what I read, the 3.0 allows editing which the 2.0 does not. I need it for my home movies before they are gone. They are on vhs tapes.
If I had VHS tapes to convert my preferred method is in Part1, a VHS to DVD recorder. I wasn't a big fan of the Clear Click.
Thanks for watching.
What's the difference between the 3.0 and the 2.0 devices?
The software is very similar, but the major difference is the packaging. The 3.0 comes with a larger screen, but that also is a drawback, in my opinion. The screen is not a touch screen, and the buttons as used on this unit are not as intuitive as the 2.0 unit to me. Also, it's a 16:9 aspect ratio for no good reason. This unit does not support 16:9 video in any way, shape, or form, and there is no way to adjust it. So all videos played back will be stretched on the screen. It will appear normally played on an external screen, though. Also the 3.0 has an internal battery and the 2.0 does not. That is a nice feature.
Other than that I'm not sure it's worth the increase in price. It does pretty much exactly the same thing as the 2.0.
Thanks for watching.
@WaybackRewind Thanks for your video and reply. This is definitely helpful. 💯🤙🏼
The Sony Digital 8 camcorder you have uses a standard S-Video cable, not proprietary. Can get them readily.
It's not the S-video that is proprietary but the audio/video cable on some models. Although proprietary they are very common. They only used a few types and are easy to find. Other models use the standard 3.5 mm jack and are even more readily available. It all just depends. Thanks for watching.
Thanks!!!!!! Huge help!
That's great to hear, thanks for watching!
Does this interlace the different fields a video to 60i or 60p?
The 60 interlaced fields at 60i become 30 progressive frames at 30p just by smashing the two fields together. This is called field combination and is the least sophisticated and lowest quality way. But also the easiest way to do it. Also will lead to artifacts like combing if there is motion because the fields were taken at different points in time. Analog TVs by their nature displayed the images without artifacts. To do that on a digitial screen is not trivial. Inexpensive boxes like this cannot do a really good job. You need processing power of a computer to literally fill in the gaps to make 60 progressive frames. The information simply isn't there from the source.
So yes, then is what you’re saying, that both fields are interlaced as progressive 30 frames together, and not just one field or the other with this device. I’m not asking how it works. I’m asking if this is what happens with this device.
@@damianmartintvvideo I don't know how else to explain it to you. How it works and what happens are the same thing. It takes 60 fields which are missing every other line and combines them to 30 frames with all lines present. 60i = 30p.
To get 60p requires a whole different level of processing which is not present here. Each individual field is missing every other line which has to be filled in somehow. There are various methods none of which are used in this device.
Better results can be achieved by deinterlacing the video separately but that requires a different device.
@@WaybackRewind I got it dude
@damianmartintvvideo ok great, thanks for watching.
What size of micro SD card would I need on a 120min. VHS CONVERSION?
The devices captures at a rate of 2 GB per hour so a 120 min tape could fit on a 4 GB card, potentially in a single file even. I'd be nervous to capture that much in a single file to be honest, because if it glitches, you might lose the entire file and have wasted 2 hours. Thanks for watching.
@@WaybackRewind2gb per hour is a extremely low bit rate. Is there a more professional unit coming out ?
I think I didn't explain that clearly. I mean that one hour of video fits in 2 GB. I did not mean to imply that as a bit rate.
The overall look and feel of this device is not very professional. I would look elsewhere. Thanks for watching.
@reticulan5 But it is a low bit rate and it's not adjustable. Since it's designed only to capture standard definition, it might be good enough.
The glitching screen use a 3.0 or higher speed for usb
USB had nothing to do with the internal operation of the device. It is flawed internally, and glitching appears on the built-in screen. Thanks for watching.
can it record 16:9 maybe?
No. Despite its 16:9 display it only records in 4:3 and stretches the image. That was one of my biggest complaints. It makes no sense for a standard definition 4:3 only device to have a 16:9 screen.
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for another great video! I was hopeful for this but there is no way I will put money into this one now. I bought the elgato and am using that currently but looking for any new things you may recommend on your videos. Thank you for great content 😃
Thank you. I had high expectations based on the reviews I had read. I was sadly disappointed. Looking for a higher quality replacement. Thanks for watching.
How long is the battery life?
It has a built in rechargeable battery and charges whenever its plugged in. I didnt really time it but I assume it wod work for an hour or two. Thanks for watching.
Which one is your favorite?
If you mean which of the 6 methods is my favorite? It depends on what I'm starting with. But generally I like the DV transfer, (part 2), has the least compression and artifacts.
Why in the world would the makers decide to not allow for a proper aspect ratio appearance and NOT STRETCH the video on the screen. Deal breaker once again from ClearClick. Coming on, guys!
The only rationale I heard was that customers perferred the 16:9 screen. But who enjoys watching stretched 4:3 on 16:9? Not me.
Send it back! They need to make a proper product before they release it. ZERO STARS.
Put a faster sd card in there 3.0
Thanks for the tip
China I bet made it and they just don't care about glitches. IMO
I agree with you.
Thanks for watching
Unacceptable product.
Felt unfinished to me.
Does it live stream?
No. It only records to a memory card. For live streaming you need something that converts to USB.
Hello, is the audio & video synchronization correct with this gadget's finished results in the recorded file? Thank you
As far as I can tell The audio and video were in synchronization. But I only did short clips. They tend to drift over much longer clips so your mileage may vary. Thanks for watching.
@@WaybackRewind YEP. Ok Thanks