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Home: Video University Forums: Tech Q & A:
question about A/V input/output and VHS to DVD conversion

slickdaddy96
New User

Dec 26, 2005, 1:02 AM

Post #1 of 4 (920 views)
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question about A/V input/output and VHS to DVD conversion	Can't Post

I have a question that might be stupid, but I thought I would ask it anyway. I recently got a analog/digital converter device for USB. I am planning to transfer old VHS tapes using a VCR and Hi-8 tapes using an old analog camcorder. My problem is that the capture device has the 3-RCA inputs (yellow/white/red) and my VCR and camcorder only have the 2-RCA output (yellow/white). I know I can just buy a Y-cable to make the 1 audio output into 2, but is that the best route for the best quality sound, or should I buy a VCR that has the 3-RCA output instead? I know the 1 audio is suppose to be mono and the 2 audio is supposed to be stereo.

I pretty sure that the old VHS tapes were taped on a very old camcorder that probably recorded in mono I would think, and I am not sure whether the Hi-8 camcorder is mono or stereo recording.

I just want the best possible sound when I capture. Can someone please help me?

videobear
Veteran

Dec 27, 2005, 10:03 PM

Post #2 of 4 (865 views)
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Re: [slickdaddy96] question about A/V input/output and VHS to DVD conversion [In reply to]	Can't Post

Best audio would be if your playback deck or camcorder has stereo outputs. This is especially true if any of your tapes contain hi-fi stereo audio (on the VHS tapes) or PCM stereo audio (available on some 8mm tapes).

However, the difference between mono and stereo won't be much, since most camcorder mics aren't in a position to capture high quality audio anyway. So it'd be OK to just hook up to the left channel (white) of your playback device.

I'm more concerned that the digital output of your converter is via USB. This hints that the video output is in MPEG-1 format, which is OK for transmission over the web, or watching on a small inset screen on your computer. But if you intend to edit the video and export it back out to tape or DVD, and watch it on a television monitor, you need a device that will output DV video via a Firewire interface. See, for example, the line of ADVC converters by Canopus, http://www.canopus.com

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

slickdaddy96
New User

Dec 28, 2005, 6:56 PM

Post #3 of 4 (841 views)
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Re: [videobear] question about A/V input/output and VHS to DVD conversion [In reply to]	Can't Post

I figured that the mono would be fine since I don't believe any of the camcorders that the VHS tapes were recorded on actually had stereo microphones. This capture card will encode at MPEG 1, 2, or 4, so it won't be a problem to capture in MPEG2(DVD). I am using Ulead's MediaStudio to edit which is a pretty good piece of software. This device will also capture in the 720X480 resolution instead of some of the older USB capture devices that do not. I am using the Kworld "Xpert DVD Maker USB 2.0". After reading reviews about various capture devices (devices that were in my price range) I felt the best about this one.

videobear
Veteran

Dec 30, 2005, 10:49 AM

Post #4 of 4 (813 views)
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Re: [slickdaddy96] question about A/V input/output and VHS to DVD conversion [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sounds good. Native DV would be better, IMO, but visually you shouldn't see any difference as long as you can keep the MPEG-2 data rate up to 6 Mb/sec or better. Best of luck with your project!

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions