Getting a 'VHS' look

[MoleManX]

Here is an interesting question.

If anyone has ever seen some of the SNL digital shorts or Tim & Eric Awesome Show, then you may be familiar with certain segments that have a wonderful 90's look and appear to be shot on VHS. How could one replicate this with their DVX? The DVX replicates a 4:3 image like most VHS camcorders of the day but what else can I do both in post and in camera to get that grainy, washed out, and sometimes static-y image of old?

What about mimicking tape wear and tear where you can see the picture distort and scramble like over used VHS tapes often would ?

Here are some great (and hilarious) examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQQ4CARUZ-8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j415J-CV88&feature=related

 

[Justin Aguirre]

Use a VHS camera?

Check out craigslist and thrift stores, you should find one for very cheap.

 

[smpproductions]

if you really want a VHS look then shoot on VHS.

If you want to just mimic the look with your DVX then shoot 60i 4:3 flat. In post, pull your sat down, pull the whites up some....play around with settings until you get the look you want.

 

[ryan brown]

If you want to just mimic the look with your DVX then shoot 60i 4:3 flat. In post, pull your sat down, pull the whites up some....play around with settings until you get the look you want.

I second that... I'd do it all in post.

 

[jdmoviemaker]

use magic bullet or vitascene. They both can give you great vhs look options.

 

[BMFM FILMS]

If you have Motion, you can play with the settings to achieve that look.

 

[ProfessorU]

Use AfterEffects to distort the top/bottom of the image, in the style of the drifting horizontal hold/tracking problems. Adding the date and time to the footage always makes it look cheap, too. Overexpose everything by a stop or so.

You can experiment with the "random bar of noise" by creating a layer of noise in AE that is the picture width and maybe 5-10% of height, and slowly track up or down with it.