VCR output quality ?(for VHS to DVD)

[Parangles]

If an 'S' video connection were rated at 100%, about what rating would the others have ?(a )Composite- mini jack, (b) Component- 3 rca type , and finally, (c) the dual RCA ,line out L&R of my old faithful.

I am thinking of using my old vcr with (c) for vhs to dvd. Or is it really worth my time to find a better VCR machine to convert some VHS cassettes to DVD ?
Thanks !

[Hi Ho]

Standard VHS tapes are natively composite. An S-Video out will only give you better picture quality if you have S-VHS tapes and an S-VHS player. The composite output will work fine.

Component is better than S-Video. Component is capable of HD signals and is capable of a better picture overall. DVD's are nativley component. The only VCR's that have a component output are D-VHS which record digitally and can record HD programming.

[Parangles]

For 'OUT', my VCR only has one pair of rca connections for audio, and one rca 'video'connector , plus the usual threaded coax cable connector ' out to tv'.
Can I use those ? How good or bad will the saved digital video be ? I'm not worried about sound- mono is fine .

[Hi Ho]

The RCA video connector is the composite output. It will work fine. The quality depends on how much compression, if any, that you use. It's best to capture uncompressed AVI for editing if you have enough hard drive space.

[Parangles]

Thanks ! There is no good place to go and get basic info on DVD.
Experience is the best teacher , along with help from so many at pcmech.
I'll just do it and see what it looks like.

Cheers,
Chris.

[Hi Ho]

Just for reference, here is a list of the types of video connectors in order of quality from lowest to highest.

Composite
S-Video
Component
VGA
DVI/HDMI

For more information on audio/video connections see THIS (http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=113495) guide.

[Parangles]

Thanks HiHo , I had read your excellent sticky, but had wanted to know if you or someone else could put a number on the difference in quality . ie: " Composite gives about X% better quality than Component " etc. I'll post here if/when I get it up and running with my 6 year old vcr.
Chris.

[Hi Ho]

It's hard to put a number on it but because composite (single RCA connector) mixes everytyhing into one wire it has the lowest quality. S-Video seperates the signal into chromanance (color) and luminance which increases the quality a bit. Component (3 RCA connectors) seperates the signal into one luminance and two color signals. VGA is basically the same as component but with a different connector. VGA and component are the best of the analog video connections. DVI and HDMI are both digital and are the best video connectors.

Of course, like I said above, you can't really improve on the source. If a VCR had a DVI output the quality could actually be worse due to the analog to digital conversion. Stepping the composite signal from a VHS tape up to an S-video or component signal wouldn't yield a better picture.

[Parangles]

" you can't really improve on the source "

HiHo, I think you mean : the output of tapes recorded on a VCR ( with eg. Composite) cannot be improved by playing them on a better VCR machine ,or recording from them with a VCR with a better connection/transfer method like Svideo. If yes-That is understandable.

But, won't a commercially produced, store bought tape produce a better DVD copy played through a VCR with a better connection than the 'Composite' that I have ?

Chris

[Hi Ho]

"you can't really improve on the source "

HiHo, I think you mean : the output of tapes recorded on a VCR ( with eg. Composite) cannot be improved by playing them on a better VCR machine ,or recording from them with a VCR with a better connection/transfer method like Svideo. If yes-That is understandable.

That's exactly what I meant.

But, won't a commercially produced, store bought tape produce a better DVD copy played through a VCR with a better connection than the 'Composite' that I have ?



No, it would not. The only way to get a better picture than composite from a VHS tape is if it's an S-VHS tapes. They are available but not very common.

[Parangles]

Ok. Be patient with me !
Here is a shot of the connections on the card that is on the way from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?image=15-100-103-01.JPG,15-100-103-02.JPG,15-100-103-03.JPG,15-100-103-04.JPG,15-100-103-07.jpg&CurImage=15-100-103-01.JPG&Description=Kworld%20VS-TV878RF%20PCI%20Interface%20TV%20Tuner,%20Video%20Capture%20Card,%20REMOTE%20-%20Retail

I'm still confused as to how best to connect. Why no mention of the threaded
coax that was used to connect and record VHS from cable box etc.in the past ?
These two wire cables (outer braided and inner core) carry video AND audio. Presumably the yellow, single RCA 'composite' output from the VCR also carries audio simultaneously ? So... use the threaded coax or the RCA ?

Cheers,
Chris.

[Hi Ho]

I guess I overlooked the main point of this thread. :o You want to know the best way to connect your VCR to the tuner card. I can tell you.

The coax output is the RF (radio frequency) output. It is actually the oldest connection type. It carries both audio and video signals. It would be the simplest way to connect your VCR and would probably work fine though composite offers slightly better video quality and much better sound quality.

The composite output (single yellow jack) does not carry audio. That's what the L/R (red/white) connectors are for. To connect the VCR in this way you would need to connect the video out (yellow) on the VCR to the video in on the tuner card. The sound would need to go to the sound card. For that you will need a cable like THIS (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F007%5F002%5F003%5F009&product%5Fid=42%2D2551).

[Parangles]

Done! I can solder up a connector like that from parts I have.
I'll let you know what quality I get next week.
Really appreciate your help !!!
Cheers,
Chris.