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VHS into FCP – pulling my hair out!
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[mortimer heathcliff] “4) Walter mentioned the Canopus products, i looked them up and they seem to promise what the Pinnacle box was supposed to do, just curious if any of you have used the Canopus method? the ADVC55 just says it converts to “DV” but they don’t say what codec or file type it converts to. the ADVC110 and 300 are also available with a few more bells and whistles and enhancing options. “
That’s what they convert to. DV. As in the DV codec. You just feed S-Video from your VHS machine (or composite) and you get DV via Firewire to your machine. It’s quite simple. and it works. We have used a very similar box, a very old Sony converter that’s essentially the exact same thing as the Canopus brand. It’s not available anymore so the Canopus is what I recommend to folks.
We use both that Sony box and on occassion we’ll use the AJA Io LA because we have it here, but that’s not necessary.
In every case we make sure to switch to Non Controllable device. The picture quality is just fine.
If all you need to do is make dubs, you could always connect the VHS machine directly to DVD Recorder which I’ve also done for home movies.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Read my Blog!
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I concur you definitely need a TBC. VHS and any other analog tape formats have inherent time base instability. The Black Magic card probably has no time base correction, expecting a time base corrected signal at the input. Dubbing to Beta without a TBC doesn’t fix the problem because you’re only recording the errors to the Beta tape. A couple of years ago I bought a used time base corrector off Ebay from a reputable broker for about $100. Be sure to get one that has Frame Synchronization capability and does not expect a sync signal from the deck.
Lee Berger
http://www.leebergermedia.com -
Hi Lee,
Every device able to digitize analog video is basically a TBC.
If you have a look to the control panel of a BM you will find the same buttons: Blacks, Video, Phase, Chroma and Chroma Offset (More or less).
The BM have even a BlackBurst OUT to get in sync a video desk. Unfortunately the average VHS have no Genlock options.
Walter says that some times they do it with the AJA LH. With the BM can be done the same.
I would start by getting a VHS player with no tracking problems.
Rafael -
Hi Rafael,
I’m still intrigued by this idea, and would love it if it would work on my system with the decks i already have, but it doesn’t seem to…but you (and others here) have been quite a bit more informative and responsive than the folks at BlackMagic. So far so good with my Canopus (Grass Valley) box…but i just wish i hadn’t had to shell out $280 right now! : (
thanks again!
mh
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Thanks Rafael,
I checked with Black Magic today and was told that their devices do not incorporate a TBC. Not all A to D converters handle time base errors. The presence of proc amp controls and black burst do not necessarily indicate a TBC function either. Some of the AJA products such as Io do incorporate a TBC.Lee
Lee Berger
http://www.leebergermedia.com -
Hi Lee,
Thanks for your answer. What you point is very interesting.
Some times we have to do a real research to understand the machines we are working with.
Some information should be more easily available.
Cheers,
rafael
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