DVX100B Composite-In Loss?

[endlessmug]

I'm transferring some VHS tapes to miniDV using my DVX100B's composite-in. Everything is working flawlessly, but there appears to be a slight quality loss with this process. I can make out slight jiggly horizontal lines that subtly obscure the frame when I connect my VCR to my DVX. Using the same cable, outputted to a TV screen I do not see these lines. Unfortunately, the S-Video and component video of my VHS / DVD player combo are only for DVD-exclusive out.

Does anyone know what may be causing these lines?

[Jordan_S]

Have you attempted skipping the dv tape and capturing to your computer? (VCR to DVX to computer's capture program?)

[endlessmug]

I have, but I own 15 years of home video and hundreds of hours of footage. It would take over 4 terabytes to hold that footage. The reason I am transferring to miniDV is to have an archival copy and to save on costs. In the future, I will of course transfer these to a hard drive when that amount of space is cheaper.

Years ago I had taken the time to transfer these using a device that went straight to MPEG2. Obviously the image was degraded through this, but at least they were transfered. They sat on a Western Digital terabyte hard drive. A few weeks ago that drive fell off a table by accident and died. This spawned my new transfer method.

The loss with the DVX is not too bad, now that I look at it. The image is what is important.

[Jordan_S]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't DVD the safest storage media? DV tapes require movement once a year and all hard drives fail. It would be a massive undertaking at a bit under 4 discs per hour (no re-compression) but it already is a massive project, from what you've described. Plus, DVDs are cheap.

[endlessmug]

My understanding is that optical media is the worst archival format. Also, that would require MPEG conversation, which crushes the image.

[Joshua Provost]

You are right, MPEG-2 is a bad format for archiving... if you plan on editing later. If it's for viewing only, then it's not so bad. MPEG-2 is a delievry format, after all.

It's not surprising you see things on the DVX you don't see on TV. TV's filter out a lot of detail. I'll bet if you play your capture back out to TV, whatever lines you are seeing will not show up. Try it out.

You could also capture DV files, and then burn those to Data DVD's to archive (if you can fit them), so you have an optical backup to the tape.

[Jordan_S]

You could also capture DV files, and then burn those to Data DVD's to archive

This is what I was suggesting in post #4. I back up all my footage like this. Burn at 2x and let the software verify a successful burn.

Regarding longevity, it seems the consensus is at least 30 years, if precautions (http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20040407020458data_trunc_sys.shtml) are taken.