Filter to align slightly wavy VHS capture?

Are there any filters that do this? The videos are stable captures, but the edges of the frame will show some waving in parts. It's usually not noticeable in the actual picture until there's a straight object. I'm wondering if there is a filter that aligns the edges of each horizontal video line.

Now if I pass my SVHS vcr through my Panny E20 DVD recorder first, it's TBC creates a rock solid picture with no waves. Three problems. 1) The only ways to access this image are to output over s-video or burn a DVD. I don't like the idea of an added analog generation or the MPEG2 compression. 2) I have a number of PAL videos and the DVD recorder is NTSC only. 3) Won't help videos that are already captured.

Preferably would like a filter that works on Mac, possibly in FCP. 

I was just meaning that I'd prefer not to have to convert back to analog once the signal has been processed digitally by the DVD recorder. Not a big deal, I know, especially for my source material. And I guess it's no different than VCRs that use digital buffers for TBC. If a filter couldn't be found, I was actually considering buying an old European Panasonic DVD recorder. I'm just not sure which models carry this same type of TBC and I may have an issue with finder sellers that will ship them to the US. This might be my best option, so I'll be looking into it.

Shame there isn't a filter. Seems like it could be a pretty simple one. It would just need to examine where the picture edge of each line is and then nudge them into alignment. I'm not talking large amounts of adjustment. Much less than is needed for stabilization filters and such.

rnranimal said:

Shame there isn't a filter. Seems like it could be a pretty simple one. It would just need to examine where the picture edge of each line is and then nudge them into alignment. I'm not talking large amounts of adjustment. Much less than is needed for stabilization filters and such.

There is one but it turns out to not be so simple: just think of what happens any time there isn't a significant brightness difference between the edges of the image and the wavy black edges. The whole theory falls apart and you just get a jumbled mess worse than the original image. If you want to try it: Software TBC.

And if you really, really want to avoid an analog step when you buy a PAL Panasonic recorder you can get one with an HDMI output, and tack on the extra expense of an HDMI capture card.

http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/363480-1st-time-capture-of-Hi-8-and-miniDV-Need-a-gameplan!?p=2317970&viewfull=1#post2317970
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/319420-Who-uses-a-DVD-recorder-as-a-line-TBC-and-what-do-you-use/page7

But aside from cost, HDMI capturing has its own issues. One is that you're stuck with whatever brightness range the DVD recorder gives you: if the levels are clipped you can't recover anything like you might be able to with an analog capture card's controls.

Those are some good points. I'm going to check out that TBC software link, thanks.

An HDMI capture device alone might be within my budget. But then adding a modern multi-system DVD recorder with HDMI output, won't be. That would be a very interesting solution, though, if I could confirm there's such a recorder with a TBC as good or better than the older Panasonic models. But, as you state, it will open up a new can of worms. Not least of which is that my only desktop computer is an old Mac G4. Works great with the DV card, but I'm guessing not so much with capturing lossless from an HDMI card. Think I'll just have to live with the limitations of an extra analog conversion and DV capturing. Even a DV ouput on a DVD recorder would help me keep a fully digital path, but all models I've seen with DV are input-only.

My research has pretty much landed me on trying to acquire a European model Panasonic DMR-ES10. Price, even when adding overseas shipping looks to be within my budget, but it'll be a matter of finding a UK seller to ship one to the US. For inquires into other models (before I settled on this one), I was 1 out of 4 in sellers agreeing to ship to US.