4K restoration on Star Wars — Page 81

IDK why, but for some reason it seems amazing how long the VHS format lasted (from the 70s to around 2006). My family didn't have a DVD player until about 2005.

DuracellEnergizer said:

^A VCR not even a full three years old dies just like that? Damn, SilverWook must be right about how cheap last-generation VCRs were made. All the VCRs I ever owned (minus the three VCR/DVD combos I have/had) were bought second hand, and the one I held onto the longest lasted from 2002 all the way to 2007/2008. 

 If a VCR is light enough to be held up comfortably with one hand, it's probably cheapo. The other trick is to peek past the cassette door, and see if there's more plastic parts than metal.

I was amazed that ION playback only VHS deck with the USB output was so well constructed, and actually a bit heavy. I was tempted to pick one up, except it's mono sound.

Danfun128 said:

IDK why, but for some reason it seems amazing how long the VHS format lasted (from the 70s to around 2006). My family didn't have a DVD player until about 2005.

The digital tv switchover was probably the last nail in the coffin. Part of the format's popularity was the ability to record anything you wanted off of tv, and keep that recording. Now people fret over their DVR running out of space.

It's amazing to me how much control over that people have willingly relinquished in the past decade. And now Hollywood keeps Blu Ray recorders far away from American consumers.

We had to tape every episode of MST3K as well. ;)

Danfun128 said:

IDK why, but for some reason it seems amazing how long the VHS format lasted (from the 70s to around 2006). My family didn't have a DVD player until about 2005.

 I got a VCR in 1994 and it still works, it is an ''Emerson'' brand but we never switched to DVD, basically the computer is a DVD player anyways so there was no need to buy a stand alone for the TV.

Staples office supply stills sells typewriters actually. Some writers such as Harlan Ellison still favor them.

That clip you linked to in the last page looked really awesome! It was a bit compressed, and my computer couldn't handle it, but you can see that you have a good looking print there!

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Anyway, I still have a VCR myself, though I'm trying to convert every VHS I have (recorded) to DVD. The only problem is that I noticed all my conversions to DVD I did until now have audio and video problems, mostly because it's a PAL VCR to SCART, to SCART/composite, to composite, to grabber set :\

I wouldn't mind if I wasn't afraid of making my VHS worn out every time I play/convert them...

Wouldn't the process go by better if you had a high end vhs player, a TBC, an old pentium 4 computer with a good ATI All-In-Wonder chip...

The more detail you can get from vhs images, the better, especially if that vhs is the only source of something ever.

Danfun128 said:

Wouldn't the process go by better if you had a high end vhs player, a TBC, an old pentium 4 computer with a good ATI All-In-Wonder chip...

The more detail you can get from vhs images, the better, especially if that vhs is the only source of something ever.

I never heard of TBC but, after some research, I understand it corrects distortions. Unfortunately, that's not the worst it happens: when I'm converting a VHS to PC, sometimes reds become temporaly orange, or sound becomes too low. I found out that if I turn a bit the composite cables, I can fix/worsen the problem. My only conclusion is that my VCR still works great, and the needed SCART to composite passage is the real problem.

TV's Frink said:

Ronster said:

What you need to bear in mind is that there really is little or no point having a 32" 4k resolution screen.

It's only when you get to larger screen sizes such as 50" / 65" / 80" / 103" / Edge Blended projection / Large Video walls and LED walls that 4k resolution comes in to play and really does add a noticeable difference.

I've just recently (as in the last few weeks) realized that I will be in the market for a new tv soon.  Up until now, I hadn't even bothered thinking too much about 4k as a practical thing, but now I'm thinking....hmmmm.

So let's split the difference between the 32" and 50" sizes you mentioned above.   Here's a Vizio 43" for $600.

http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-M43-C1-43-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B00T63YUTE/ref=sr_1_1?s=tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1432392483&sr=1-1

A comparable Vizio 42" 1080p set is only $150 less.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JJNA10I/ref=psdc_6459737011_t1_B00T63YUTE

I'm not being my usual snarky self, but asking honestly - wouldn't it make sense at such a small price difference to go with the 4k set?

 It wouldn't, because I doubt I'd see any difference. As I said, my TV is 48" and I watch it at a distance of about 2m. Seeing almost no difference between 720p vs 1080p picture, how am I supposed to appreciate 4k at the same size? Don't tell me I should buy a bigger TV, because I wouldn't: 48" it's the perfect match for my living room, thus making a bigger TV uncomfortable.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-restore/1567-vcr-buying-guide.html

edit: Also http://www.digitalfaq.com/guides/video/capture-playback-hardware.htm

In hindsight I find it amusing that the topic is supposed to be about the reliance 4k transfer of the star wars films, and now we're talking about the restoration of something with a lot less resolution.

Thanks for the link, but as I said, the problem it's just that the composites disturb the signal, the VCR works fine. Besides, I can't afford to buy a new one, so I'm ok with just fixing that problem. I just wish I knew how :\

edit: I read your edit, but it doesn't suggest how to fix my problem.

Anyway, somehow VHSs are cooler than 4k TVs :D

Danfun128 said:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-restore/1567-vcr-buying-guide.html

edit: Also http://www.digitalfaq.com/guides/video/capture-playback-hardware.htm

 Those are good synopses.  Choosing one of the VHS machines that are known to be good at restoring old tapes makes a world of difference.  And that little AV Toolbox TBC is also an essential.