Super VHS

VHS transfer Issues

We transfer VHS tapes using three different machines, the Panasonic AG5210, the Sony SVO-9500MD, and the Samsung SV5000W.  For general transfers we use the Panasonic, for SVHS tapes (Super VHS) use the Sony, and for international format tapes use the Samsung. Transfer VHS to AVI

  1. Make sure the cables are plugged into the back of the correct VHS player.  The other end of the cables should always be plugged into the Canopus.
  2. Make sure the firewire is plugged into the Canopus and that the Canopus is on.
  3. When the Canopus is turned on, SAM should immediately detect a new device and want to open Vegas capture.
  4. Open Vegas.
  5. Select capture video in Vegas
  6. Select 'DV'
  7. Go to preferences and select mange disk space.
  8. Create a folder for the VHS transfer on the X drive (this drive is local to SAM).

Transfer VHS to DVD

  1. Make sure the cables are plugged into the back of the correct VHS player.  The other end of the cables should always be plugged into the Canopus.
  2. Make sure the firewire is NOT plugged into the Canopus.
  3. Turn on the Canopus.
  4. Turn on the Hitachi DVD recorder.
  5. Find the input channel.
  6. Record the VHS tape to the DVD recorder's HDD.
  7. Trim, chapter, etc on the DVD recorder and then copy to a DVD.

Why is there a few lines of noise at the bottom of the captured picture?

The distortion a few lines up from the bottom is called "head switching" which occurs in most helical scan analog videotape formats. It varies in distance (number of lines up) from the bottom and from format to format and machine to machine within a format.

As you apparently know, most TVs crop out at least 5% (often more) of ALL sides of the picture which should also mask the color edging on the left.

Solution:

The only solution to the lines of noise is to mask the noisy areas with a black mask.  Don't crop as this will degrade the picture quality.

When using the Sony player the the tape plays too fast or does other weird things!

Use the Panasonic as some standard VHS tapes do not seem to like being played in the SVHS player.

When using the Samsung SV5000W little meteors on the screen

These are caused by a grounding issue with the VCR.  Usually some twisting of the VCR will clear those up!