Minidv to S-VHS Recording at DVinfo.net

November 27th, 2001, 10:23 AM

I cannot affort those nice dual decks that have the minidv/svhs combos. I was wondering if I could get the same results if I purchase an S-VHS hifi deck. Although these decks(that I know of) dont have the firewire connection however many of them have the s-video connection.

Could I have favourable results using one of these decks or would I have to shell out $1400 plus to get those combo decks.
P.s. I plan on using the out on my xl1s into the s-vhs vcr.

Chris Hurd · November 27th, 2001, 11:13 AM

I'm in the same boat.

Just ordered a JVC HR-S9800 Super VHS deck; should arrive tomorrow and I'll let you know how it is. Paid $380 at B&H.

Joe Redifer · November 28th, 2001, 02:30 AM

Recording from miniDV to S-VHS works great. You don't need a combo deck, but it does add convenience. Just be sure to use a good S-Video cable. Just remember that no matter what, S-VHS cannot match the picture quality if DV. Your recordings using a combo deck would look identical.

Be aware of one evil that has been included in many recent S-VHS decks, though: Super VHS-ET. What this does is record the S-VHS signal on a standard VHS tape. The results are OK. You're better off using a real S-VHS tape. I say S-VHS-ET is evil because of what happened to me: A friend shot some footage of a trade show on a rented 8mm camcorder. He didn't have time to transfer the tapes to VHS. So he sent me the 8mm tapes for me to convert. No problem. I went out and bought a couple of good VHS tapes and did the process. I checked the tapes to make sure that they were recorded well and sounded good. I sent the tapes back to him (all the way to Florida) and suddenly he is telling me that he can't watch them because there is sound but no picture! I acidentally had the S-VHS-ET mode turned on when the recordings were made. There was no way his normal VHS machine could read the S-VHS signal. I'm not sure if even Quasi (queasy)-S-VHS VCRs, which play back S-VHS recordings at normal VHS resolutions can read S-VHS-ET tapes since the actual tape casing is physically different than an S-VHS tape.

Adrian Douglas · November 28th, 2001, 07:21 AM

Ive been using the PAL version of the JVC HR-S9800 Super VHS deck for about 12months and it works a treat. I've recorded straight from my XL1 and also from the breakout box of my DV500 and it looks pretty good, but remember what Joe said and make sure the S-VHS-ET is switched off

Michael Rosenberger · November 29th, 2001, 07:59 AM

Anyone find a fair priced SVHS deck with audio level controls? Used to be standard on many of the commercial decks. I noticed the new dual decks don't even give you audio level controls. I know you can buy a mixer or board, but I still like control at the deck.

November 27th, 2001, 10:23 AM	#1
aonikoyi Posts: n/a	Minidv to S-VHS Recording I cannot affort those nice dual decks that have the minidv/svhs combos. I was wondering if I could get the same results if I purchase an S-VHS hifi deck. Although these decks(that I know of) dont have the firewire connection however many of them have the s-video connection. Could I have favourable results using one of these decks or would I have to shell out $1400 plus to get those combo decks. P.s. I plan on using the out on my xl1s into the s-vhs vcr.

November 27th, 2001, 11:13 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	I'm in the same boat. Just ordered a JVC HR-S9800 Super VHS deck; should arrive tomorrow and I'll let you know how it is. Paid $380 at B&H. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

November 28th, 2001, 07:21 AM	#4
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Ive been using the PAL version of the JVC HR-S9800 Super VHS deck for about 12months and it works a treat. I've recorded straight from my XL1 and also from the breakout box of my DV500 and it looks pretty good, but remember what Joe said and make sure the S-VHS-ET is switched off __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

November 29th, 2001, 07:59 AM	#5
Michael Rosenberger Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Surprise, Arizona Posts: 143	Volume Control... Anyone find a fair priced SVHS deck with audio level controls? Used to be standard on many of the commercial decks. I noticed the new dual decks don't even give you audio level controls. I know you can buy a mixer or board, but I still like control at the deck. __________________ Michael Rosenberger Sure I'll shoot your wedding, for two million dollars.

November 28th, 2001, 02:30 AM	#3
Joe Redifer Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 290	Recording from miniDV to S-VHS works great. You don't need a combo deck, but it does add convenience. Just be sure to use a good S-Video cable. Just remember that no matter what, S-VHS cannot match the picture quality if DV. Your recordings using a combo deck would look identical. Be aware of one evil that has been included in many recent S-VHS decks, though: Super VHS-ET. What this does is record the S-VHS signal on a standard VHS tape. The results are OK. You're better off using a real S-VHS tape. I say S-VHS-ET is evil because of what happened to me: A friend shot some footage of a trade show on a rented 8mm camcorder. He didn't have time to transfer the tapes to VHS. So he sent me the 8mm tapes for me to convert. No problem. I went out and bought a couple of good VHS tapes and did the process. I checked the tapes to make sure that they were recorded well and sounded good. I sent the tapes back to him (all the way to Florida) and suddenly he is telling me that he can't watch them because there is sound but no picture! I acidentally had the S-VHS-ET mode turned on when the recordings were made. There was no way his normal VHS machine could read the S-VHS signal. I'm not sure if even Quasi (queasy)-S-VHS VCRs, which play back S-VHS recordings at normal VHS resolutions can read S-VHS-ET tapes since the actual tape casing is physically different than an S-VHS tape.