Transfering Analog to digital « Videomaker Community Forums

nobody
Member

Using a Dazzle Digital Video Creator 80 I have downloaded some analog camcorder shots. I'm very surprised at how much of the quality has been lost in the transfer. I (to the best of my knowledge) have set the Dazzel on "Best" which I'm assuming is the highest quality transfer possible. My question is, can I improve the quality of the transfer? What if I purchased a new DV camcorder and transfered camcorder to camcorder, would that improve the quality?

Posted 8 years ago #
browner
Member

The product you mentioned is a low end capture card that transfers video via the USB port to the computer. These specifications are off the website:

Format: NTSC Only
Compression: Proprietary
Maximum resolution: 320 x 240
Maximum frame rate: 30 frames per second

The maximum resolution is half what it needs to be for full resolution NTSC video (720 X 480). So your best is not very good. The reason it is so bad is because 720 x 480 won't pass thru a USB connection.

To answer your last question, a direct digital to digital copy (via firewire cable) has no video degradation. If you have a digital camcorder, and a firewire card in your computer, you can edit, and transfer it back to the camcorder with very little loss in image quality. You can get a digital camcorder for about $350 on sale, and a generic firewire card can be had for $35 online. Add an older copy of Premier that you can get on Ebay cheap and you are in business.

Posted 8 years ago #
mrvideo
Member

Tagging on to Ron's reply, I routinely capture analogue (VHS and Hi8) to a Sony camcorder and then on to my PC for editing. I see no loss in quality in doing so.

David Hurdon

Posted 8 years ago #
Larry Rood
Member

Are you saying that you use a Sony DV camcorder as a pass through to transfer analog video to a PC?

Posted 8 years ago #
mrvideo
Member

That is correct, Larry. Both my D-8 and miniDV models handle AV-DV conversion, either to tape or on pass through direct to PC capture. If to tape, time code is established and if passed through it isn't, but I've worked with both without issues.

David Hurdon
http://www.contentshop.tv

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

David,
I also have a Sony mini-DV (TRV900). I tried to do the pass thru and capture with no luck. I had VHS outputs to my Sony camera inputs. Then a firewire from the Sony to my PC running the Vegas 4.0 capture utility. I have a signal on my Sony until I plug in the Firewire....then nothing. I have been capturing to tape first but what a pain. What did you do that I didn't?
Thanks

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Hi,

Check your instructions Chris. I have a D8 camera (Sony) and I have done the pass-thru but it has been a while. I think on mine there is a setting somewhere in the menu that you have to turn on for it to work.

Mitch, if your analog camera is a Hi8 or 8mm I would highly recommend getting a Digital 8 camera because you can simply pop in your Hi8 or 8mm tapes and plug the camera into your computer and transfer to digital without quality loss.

Hope that helps!

Greg

Posted 8 years ago #
mrvideo
Member

I would bet on the AV-DV setting needing to be changed in the menu. It's the only thing I did that you haven't mentioned. "Normal" is DV-AV out and you want AV-DV in.

David Hurdon

Posted 8 years ago #
jimbodeanny
Member

If you guys want an affordable solution to converting analog footage to DV, then here's one.

Although with some cameras you have the ability to "pass through" and convert your analog footage to digital, I don't prefer to do it this way. Reason being, it adds more wear and tear to your camera, using the heads and gears.

This may not be a big issue to you if you're only doing this once, but if not, here's an alternative:

--Get a standalone analog to DV converter

There are many converters out there that will do this. I personally recommend checking out Canopus' line of products. They carry an large line of products that specialize in this, each having their own unique features. I myself use the Canopus ADVC-100. It works GREAT. It captures/exports both analog and DV video. All it is, is simply a small box that attaches via a firewire port on your computer. On the back there are all the outputs you need (s-video, composite, IEEE, etc) and on the front are the inputs (s-video, composite, IEEE, etc). You can even connect to DV devices at once and/or use the device to connect to an external monitor while editing (I myself do this). Since the ADVC-100 connects via firewire, your computer reconizes it as if it were a camcorder/recorder. With that, you don't need to install any drivers and all NLEs support it. When capturing analog, you simple connect your analog source (VCR, cam, etc) and capture it using your NLE to capture. The converter transfers the analog video to DV so when you capture video, you are capturing it in the same format as if you had a camcorder connected via firewire. This means ANY NLE can capture your analog video and there's not need to worry about quality (as it is HQ DV video). I have ALWAYS had wonderful experiences using Canopus' products and I highly recommend going to http://www.canopus.com and looking at their products. They offer a very affordable alternative to using a camcorder. I bought my ADVC-100 new for about $240.

If you have any questions, you can email me

Good luck

-Jim

Posted 8 years ago #
mrvideo
Member

Jim, my Sony camcorders will pass through AV-DV two ways: record to tape, then capture,or just play through and capture. In the latter case there is no involvement of recording or play heads so no wear and tear.
Chris, my original D-8 does a lot of my pass-through conversion (from VHS and Hi8), with a settings change from DV-AV out to AV-DV in. And while it will play every Hi8 I've fed it(all of them from other people) it will not output all of them for capture. Sony acknowledges this but doesn't explain why. When I've had that problem I've copied from the cam to VHS, then captured that via pass through.

David Hurdon

Posted 8 years ago #
cdsinfla
Member

I can't find anything in the menu about DV-AV. The DV port reads DV IN/OUT. I am able to capture using DV. I can also connect a VHS to the inputs & get an video/audio signal. But as soon as I plug in the firewire, the inputs stop. Is there a Sony number I can call for support? I think I will look on ebay for a used Canopus converter. It sounds like a winner if I can't do a pass-thru. I'd hate to copy all of the VHS tape to DV tape first. The wear & tear thing bugs me too.
Thanks for the input,
Chris

Posted 8 years ago #
mrvideo
Member

There's certainly nothing wrong with the Canopus unit, and it does keep your camera clear of the process, but I'm surprised there is no menu item. I just checked my D-8 menu, set to VTR. The item is the last of the menus on the first "page" that displays in VTR mode. A/V-DV in is either on or off. When it's off the transfer works.

David Hurdon

Posted 8 years ago #