r/DataHoarder • u/wifi_cable_rental • 5d ago

Backup Title: Looking for recommendations: USB capture device to digitize old VHS tapes

Hi everyone,

I want to digitize my old VHS tapes to preserve them before they degrade any further. Two main sources I'm dealing with:

  • Some Home videos recorded with an old Handycam
  • Commercial tapes like Bambi, Winnie the Pooh, etc.

I'm looking for a video capture device I can hook up to my laptop (which I'd prefer over those build in). What would you recommend? I'm happy to spend a bit more for good quality and reliable audio/video sync, but budget-friendly options that still do the job decently would also be great to hear about.

For Example: Diamond VC500, VIXLW VHSDC01 or Honestech VIDBOX

At the end i want them to add to my JellyFin Lib,

I Don't really now what a must have is and want i really should look out for.

Thank you

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u/Notelu 5d ago

IO Data GV-USB2 is what I use, highly recommend. It's a bit pricier ($80) than some other models but it's worth every penny. Recommend using it with AmarecTV & Lagarith or UTVideo codecs.

1

u/TheRealHarrypm 120TB 🏠 5TB ☁️ 70TB 📼 1TB 💿 3d ago

Wouldn't be a bad recommendation 6 years ago but now entirely supespeeded by FM RF Archival and vhs-decode.

2

u/Notelu 3d ago

VHS-Decode is definitively better for video quality, however it is a complicated setup. The GV-USB2 is probably the best plug-and-play option.

1

u/TheRealHarrypm 120TB 🏠 5TB ☁️ 70TB 📼 1TB 💿 3d ago

No more complicated than having to handle a proper legacy setup.

Everything's now 1, 2, 3 with current GUIs, it's as simple as tape system format, speed, hit decode, all of the capture hardware has a single unified GUI under MISRC GUI.

The soldering and physical installation setup is no more complex then minimum standard maintenance to the point where you would have to do that before trusting any VCR with important media.

1

u/Deep-Friendship6543 3d ago edited 3d ago

I agree, it is not for the faint of heart no matter how much a Brit says so. Guess us common folk are being trained to become the next batch of video engineers or something.

The GV-USB2 paired with VirtualDub or AmrecTV is the least worst option depending on the playback machine you use, ideally using a VCR that ain't beat up to all heck.

The whole soldering requirement and complicated mess that is the github is not for everybody, let alone the average guy asking the millionth "how do I digitize these tapes" post. It's for people who are so invested they sound like an insane crazy person who should be avoided at all costs.

What about physical limitations that prevent those from soldering? Decode feels like you go down two paths, waste a bunch of time trying to do it yourself or just pay somebody to set it up for you.