Well I had been trying to perfect this since 2011 and only until about a month have I finally settled on something. Anyways I’ve devised two methods. One method I basically use for most of my tapes while the other is only for a certain group of tapes.
Method one: 2008 Dazzle used through 2008 Pinnacle Studios. Quality isn’t too bad but in some instances could be higher. For the most part Im happy with it.
Method two: 2016 Dazzle for video and 2008 VIDBOX USB Capture for audio all connected to Cyberlink PowerDirector 13. I used the 2008 VIDBOX device for better audio results since the 2016 Dazzle device, as well as the current Roxio capture device which I’ve also tested, gives off some annoying static which stands out heavily if played too loudly.
Using this method, I run everything through a separate program, in this case PowerDirector, since 2016 Pinnacle Studios does not give me the option to run two devices simultaneously unlike 2008 Pinnacle Studios. Further more I don’t run the two devices through 2008 Pinnacle Studios since the video comes out slightly stretched horizontally losing a small fraction on the right side when switched to the 2016 Dazzle (2008 Dazzle video is projected correctly). The video is projected correctly in PowerDirector.
Quality wise method two is actually a bit better than method one. However, one thing I noticed is method two does have some slight color flickering at the top which method one does not have. However I mentioned earlier that I only use method two for a certain group of tapes, most of which are black and white, so the flickering is not noticeable in those cases.
Further more I’ve also discovered that having more than one VCR on hand doesn’t hurt either. Most of the tapes Ive been capturing I do on a 2003 Panasonic VCR in the living room. However just last week I was doing a tape on that VCR and the tape had an annoying audio crackle throughout. I then captured it again using the 1999 General Electric VCR in my bedroom and it came out a lot better. Further more at my other place I also have a 2004 Sony VCR which I used to do a lot of capturing on. I always keep head cleaners on hand too. Just yesterday I found a new one for $10 in a record store and bought it. Never hurts to have more than one.
Anyways hope any of this helps.