Problem in VHS to Mini-DV Transfer at DVinfo.net

Ron Caruso · October 13th, 2004, 02:26 PM

I'm trying to record footage from a standard VHS tape onto my Sharp Mini-DV recorder via the analog inputs on the camera. I'm editing in Adobe Premiere 6.02 and was previously unable to properly capture the analog VHS directly through my firewire card. I resorted to this VHS to Mini DV method and the clips imported into the Premiere timeline with no problem.

I thought this dubbing method would be a relatively transparent process. However, no matter what VHS deck I would use or what pre-recorded VHS tape I would use, I would get a marked dynamic color phase shifting when it was recorded onto the Mini DV camera. This was most pronounced on outdoor shots with green grass that went from green to slighly reddish and then back again and so on. In desperation, I converted the footage to black and white which did away with the visual color shifting. This helped, but you could still discern some residual flickering where the phasing was taking place.

Any ideas as to what my be causing this? A problem with the camera, or just the recording technque I'm using. Thanks in advance for your help!

Ron

Jeff Donald · October 13th, 2004, 03:17 PM

The phase shift is caused by Macrovision, a type of anti-copying protection recorded on the VHS tape.

Ron Caruso · October 13th, 2004, 03:28 PM

Thanks Jeff for your prompt reply to my problem.

However, this footage was not commercially recorded, but was recorded on a typical old VHS home camcorder on standard blank department store variety TDK tape, so I don't think it would be Macrovision encoded, unless I missed something here.

Any other thoughts as to why I might be getting this color phasing?

Thanks again for your help!

Ron

Jeff Donald · October 13th, 2004, 03:32 PM

How old is the VHS tape? Was it recorded under fluorescent lights, or with Auto White Balance (AWB)?

Ron Caruso · October 13th, 2004, 04:30 PM

Jeff, the tape was shot outdoors last month on an old Panasonic VHS camcorder on Maxell tape (thought it was TDK originally). Since the person shooting it was non-technically oriented, I can assume it was set on Auto White Balance.

Interestingly enough, when I play the VHS tape directly into a TV, none of this color phasing is evident. I've tried other VHS tapes and other VHS players and still get the color phasing problem when I transfer to Mini DV on the Sharp camcorder.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,
Ron

Arnaldo Paixao · October 14th, 2004, 02:30 AM

Try using another MiniDV camcorder.

Best regards,
Arnaldo

October 13th, 2004, 02:26 PM	#1
Ron Caruso New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ridgefield, CT Posts: 9	Problem in VHS to Mini-DV Transfer I'm trying to record footage from a standard VHS tape onto my Sharp Mini-DV recorder via the analog inputs on the camera. I'm editing in Adobe Premiere 6.02 and was previously unable to properly capture the analog VHS directly through my firewire card. I resorted to this VHS to Mini DV method and the clips imported into the Premiere timeline with no problem. I thought this dubbing method would be a relatively transparent process. However, no matter what VHS deck I would use or what pre-recorded VHS tape I would use, I would get a marked dynamic color phase shifting when it was recorded onto the Mini DV camera. This was most pronounced on outdoor shots with green grass that went from green to slighly reddish and then back again and so on. In desperation, I converted the footage to black and white which did away with the visual color shifting. This helped, but you could still discern some residual flickering where the phasing was taking place. Any ideas as to what my be causing this? A problem with the camera, or just the recording technque I'm using. Thanks in advance for your help! Ron

October 13th, 2004, 03:17 PM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The phase shift is caused by Macrovision, a type of anti-copying protection recorded on the VHS tape. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 13th, 2004, 03:32 PM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	How old is the VHS tape? Was it recorded under fluorescent lights, or with Auto White Balance (AWB)? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 13th, 2004, 03:28 PM	#3
Ron Caruso New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ridgefield, CT Posts: 9	Thanks Jeff for your prompt reply to my problem. However, this footage was not commercially recorded, but was recorded on a typical old VHS home camcorder on standard blank department store variety TDK tape, so I don't think it would be Macrovision encoded, unless I missed something here. Any other thoughts as to why I might be getting this color phasing? Thanks again for your help! Ron

October 13th, 2004, 04:30 PM	#5
Ron Caruso New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ridgefield, CT Posts: 9	Jeff, the tape was shot outdoors last month on an old Panasonic VHS camcorder on Maxell tape (thought it was TDK originally). Since the person shooting it was non-technically oriented, I can assume it was set on Auto White Balance. Interestingly enough, when I play the VHS tape directly into a TV, none of this color phasing is evident. I've tried other VHS tapes and other VHS players and still get the color phasing problem when I transfer to Mini DV on the Sharp camcorder. Hope this helps. Thanks, Ron

October 14th, 2004, 02:30 AM	#6
Arnaldo Paixao Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vimeiro - Portugal Posts: 255	Try using another MiniDV camcorder. Best regards, Arnaldo