Best way to digitize VHS tapes with minimal quality loss?

[GinoSaffron111]

I'm trying to digitize an entire box of VHS tapes, but I'd like to have as little quality loss as possible.

 

So far, I've converted ~8 hours using an Elgato cable, using horribly glitchy free software (Elgato's proprietary software didn't detect my cable), and it doesn't work properly with Windows 10, plus the quality is kinda trash (pink lines/flares permanently staining the image), but I'm not salty, considering I paid less than $100 for this cable.

 

I'm wondering what the best way is. I find it hard to imagine that these Elgato-esque cables (which are, in my opinion, overpriced junk) are the go-to solution for the generations of people who want to digitally store their VHS footage.

[bgibbz]

Take it to a service. I took a box to a service and for a reasonable price (don't remember exactly what it was) they were all converted flawlessly to dvds. 

[NumLock21]

They used to have those combo machines where it's a VHS and DVD player. Can't remember if the DVD side has a record function. If there was then all you have to do is play the VHS and hit record and it should just record it to the blank DVD disc.

[GinoSaffron111]

16 minutes ago, bgibbz said:

Take it to a service. I took a box to a service and for a reasonable price (don't remember exactly what it was) they were all converted flawlessly to dvds. 

While a "service" is something I'm definitely keeping in the cards as a possibility, I'd like to have it as a bit of a last-resort kinda thing, considering I have well over 100 hours of footage it may be an expensive option indeed. Plus there is the issue of DVD discs (see my reply to NumLock21 below)

8 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

They used to have those combo machines where it's a VHS and DVD player. Can't remember if the DVD side has a record function. If there was then all you have to do is play the VHS and hit record and it should just record it to the blank DVD disc.

Please let me know if you remember your own personal experience with them exactly what kind of machine you mean, so that I can look into it. As for DVD discs, while much more convenient and useful than VHS, for many reasons, my end-goal is to store them digitally, mainly on my home server/media centre, with the possibility of off-loading some in cloud-storage.

I'm no expert, please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't ripping the video from the DVD's add a second step of "conversion", so to speak, i.e. another step of quality loss? If yes, I hope that, with the goal of minimal quality loss, you can understand that converting from VHS to DVD will be a strong contending option, but certainly not my optimal choice, for the aforementioned reason.

 

Thanks for the replies, I'm really appreciating the time and the suggestions, this is quite important and dear to me.

[You_are_a_cunt]

I remember talking with my dad about a VCR he was servicing that had a USB port for tape to digital converting, so those apparently exist

Another way could probably be done using a smart tv that can record to internal or external storage from inputs. Not sure on the details though

[NumLock21]

16 minutes ago, GinoSaffron111 said:

While a "service" is something I'm definitely keeping in the cards as a possibility, I'd like to have it as a bit of a last-resort kinda thing, considering I have well over 100 hours of footage it may be an expensive option indeed. Plus there is the issue of DVD discs (see my reply to NumLock21 below)

Please let me know if you remember your own personal experience with them exactly what kind of machine you mean, so that I can look into it. As for DVD discs, while much more convenient and useful than VHS, for many reasons, my end-goal is to store them digitally, mainly on my home server/media centre, with the possibility of off-loading some in cloud-storage.

I'm no expert, please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't ripping the video from the DVD's add a second step of "conversion", so to speak, i.e. another step of quality loss? If yes, I hope that, with the goal of minimal quality loss, you can understand that converting from VHS to DVD will be a strong contending option, but certainly not my optimal choice, for the aforementioned reason.

 

Thanks for the replies, I'm really appreciating the time and the suggestions, this is quite important and dear to me.

I never did it myself, but I do remember seeing one of those machines a while back, like when DVD just came out, so maybe 10+ years ago. The machine are standalone players where you plug to your TV and not the computer. It records directly from VHS to DVD.

It looks some thing like this

[GoodBytes]

Like any old technology, getting high-end equipment during the peek years, will get you the best visual/audio experience.

So, if you want to maximize the image quality during your transfer, you want to get high-end VCR during the periods where VHS where massive. You'll have the best heads, internals and technology ensuring the best image quality. Of course, it will be costly, but if that is what you seek, this is what you need. Of course, I don't know much on this subject, so I would suggest to do your own research.

 

As VCRs are analogue, you need to use high quality video and audio cables. Short as well. You want everything on your side to keep the image and audio quality. Those can be pricey. Your standard RCA cables won't do. Then you need a recorder, like a PC input cards with RCA inputs (of course, a good one), and you have to find really good codecs. The problem you face, is that good input cards with analogue inputs don't really exists anymore... it is all digital these days. So finding a good old one is not really the problem, but rather drivers. You may need to acquire yourself an old version of Windows... like maybe Windows 2000 or XP just to get the hardware working.

 

Or much simpler, is use a DVD recorder. Those combo units are usually not good. At the time DVD were still costly technology, and people were seeking nothing more than a low price. So, usually, everything inside were cheap. Normally, if it was all digital, it won't really matter, but passing from analogue to digital, this is tricky, as analogue can degrade quality fast.

 

Professional stores that convert one format to another, as they do this as a business, and not a 1 time thing, they can acquire the high-end equipment, heck even studio grade equipment, invest in fixing them or restoring them if needs to be, maintain them, and do transfers. Of course, I said.. professional stores. Many just uses a combo system like pictured above, and call it a day. You'll definitely have a loss of quality.

[Donut417]

1 hour ago, GinoSaffron111 said:

I'm trying to digitize an entire box of VHS tapes, but I'd like to have as little quality loss as possible.

 

So far, I've converted ~8 hours using an Elgato cable, using horribly glitchy free software (Elgato's proprietary software didn't detect my cable), and it doesn't work properly with Windows 10, plus the quality is kinda trash (pink lines/flares permanently staining the image), but I'm not salty, considering I paid less than $100 for this cable.

 

I'm wondering what the best way is. I find it hard to imagine that these Elgato-esque cables (which are, in my opinion, overpriced junk) are the go-to solution for the generations of people who want to digitally store their VHS footage.

As long as they are not Copy Right protected films then I would see about a send out service.Yes Video is one, that Sam's Club uses. They seem to do pretty good. I think the only issue is, its not instant, you will have to mail the tapes off then wait for them to come in. I think it can take up to a month depending on how busy they are. 

[GinoSaffron111]

I think I'm going to try a service. A local business does them for $12/VHS, transferring them to a HDD I provide myself, which is quite pricey, considering I have at least 100 VHS tapes.

[.spider.]

2 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

 

As VCRs are analogue, you need to use high quality video and audio cables. Short as well. You want everything on your side to keep the image and audio quality. Those can be pricey. Your standard RCA cables won't do. 

Oh come on there are no differences between cables.

75Ohms wave impedance for composit video and everything is fine.

[GoodBytes]

30 minutes ago, GinoSaffron111 said:

I think I'm going to try a service. A local business does them for $12/VHS, transferring them to a HDD I provide myself, which is quite pricey, considering I have at least 100 VHS tapes.

Do 1 to try and out, and compare yourself. See if you are pleased. Else try somewhere else before bringing everything and not like the results

[GoodBytes]

23 minutes ago, .spider. said:

Oh come on there are no differences between cables.

75Ohms wave impedance for composit video and everything is fine.

Sorry, there is a difference. I have cables both standard and well shielded ones.

Sure, if you use a low-end VCR and record your stuff in EP, then yea, you'll probably not notice anything (let alone any image that is comprehendible to start with). But with good machine, good TV, watching original SP VHS movies, your cables grade difference will show. You'll notice a softer image and reduce color saturation with lower quality cables. We have done the test. This is not some sort of stupid Monster cable crap statements. Of course, I am not saying to get $500 cables either, there is a big diminishing return. But there is a difference between the $2 ones included in the box, and the more premium ones in the.. I don't know.. say... $15-20 ones (assuming you get actual value ones, and not the $2 ones being sold at $25 from your big box store, of course).

[.spider.]

8 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Sorry, there is a difference. 

In an ABX Test?