Hi-
I am trying to convert all my old analog VHS-C to Digital.
I purchased a Mits HS-HD2000U S-VHS player for this task based on some recomndations I read here.
I am connecting to a Happauge WinTV HVR 1800 via S-Video.
I have the DNR&TBC feature on.
The tapes look great on when connected to a TV via S-Video.
But the captures look awful.
I am capturing using 12 MBit/Sec CBR.
I get a lot of video noise on the bottom of the picture, and the PQ is grainy, fuzzy, not all what I was hoping for.
Is there a better video capture card I could be using?
Can you recommend one?
thanks

A better card will not help the issue. The card will capture what it sees... and it sees a lot of noise because it's there. The lower resolution of VHS simply makes it less noticeable. You can try capturing in a lower resolution or filters in an editor. Even try lowering the capture bit rate. There are cards with filters built in such as the Canopus line of cards, but they're kind of expensive and what you need to know is that most of these filter accomplish their task by BLURRING the picture so the noise blends in a bit better. What ever your method, at the end of the day the name of the game will remain: HIDE what you can.

Consider buying a Canopus box to convert anlaog to digital.

The noise at the bottom is most likely head switching noise; which is common. I almost always get it from VHS tapes and from Hi8 tapes. I always get it on the bottom four scan lines. Some people crop it in an editor, I do not advise this. I use to just add a black bar to cover it; until I did some tests; it will not show up on a TV and DVD's because of the overscan, thus the "safe Areas" in editors.



Rich