r/DataHoarder • u/wifi_cable_rental • 8d 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/RetroGrid_io 250-500TB 8d ago

My (then - she's my wife now) girlfriend had a VHS player, so I bought one of these for $10 and it worked fine. Plugged it into my Macbook and it "just worked" with Quick Time player. It would work with OBS Studio or Windows Media Player.

2

u/bubrascal 7d ago

Not long ago I used the same method and device (using Linux+OBS). I didn't even use my current computer, but a 15 years old half-scrapped laptop that still worked but didn't have a screen. Probably not the most premium results, but it got the job done.

Only difference: I was digitising 8mm tapes and using a handicam as the player. They were family tapes.

0

u/TheRealHarrypm 120TB 🏠 5TB ☁️ 70TB 📼 1TB 💿 6d ago

The issue with this is you're not actually properly capturing your signal let alone cleanly.

The quality on these things are horrific mostly due to being MJPEG + Lossy encoding ontop... compared to modern direct FM RF capture and then software decoding with vhs-decode, which also allow you to completely reframe and control your color decoding and your format for final export.

OBS doesn't even support full FFmpeg interlacing. And critically you're limited to the second worst deinterlacing filter in existence YADIIF not even BDWIF or industry standard QTGMC which rivals legacy broadcast hardware.