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daniel_0158
Participant
June 4, 2025
Answered

Poor Quality VHS Capture Export

  • June 4, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 802 views

I have been transferring family VHS tapes to digital using my two Mac computers with El Gato and Diamond Video capture cards and the footage looks great while transferring, but the exported files look terrible when the camera moves (pixelated motion). I am using vcrs with a built in TBC, and are inline with DVD recorders with TBC/DNR. I'm still fairly new to Premier Pro, does anyone know of any settings that can help with the motion pixelation? Thank you!

Correct answer Kyle Kramb

Here is a very detailed breakdown answering the question as to best ways to digitize vhs - not exactly your question but maybe the answer you didn't want:

 

The way in which you digitize your tapes is going to depend on the tape format and the quality you wish to achieve. As with most things, you get what you pay for, and the higher the quality you desire the more you're going to go down a rabbit hole of information.

This post will cover the common formats you're likely to deal with: VHS, VHSC, HI8, Video8, Digital8, and miniDV.


https://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/j4rwk1/the_how_do_i_digitizetransfercapture_video_tapes/

4 replies

Kyle Kramb
Kyle KrambCorrect answer
Inspiring
June 4, 2025

Here is a very detailed breakdown answering the question as to best ways to digitize vhs - not exactly your question but maybe the answer you didn't want:

 

The way in which you digitize your tapes is going to depend on the tape format and the quality you wish to achieve. As with most things, you get what you pay for, and the higher the quality you desire the more you're going to go down a rabbit hole of information.

This post will cover the common formats you're likely to deal with: VHS, VHSC, HI8, Video8, Digital8, and miniDV.


https://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/j4rwk1/the_how_do_i_digitizetransfercapture_video_tapes/

______________As happy as a clam in butter sauce!
    JonesVid
    Community Expert
    JonesVidCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 4, 2025

    Media Info Tool detects this footage as 29.97fps. See attached text file.

    It also says its progressive as commented already - but looks interlaced

    Agree there is something not right with your hardware capture setup as de-interlacing is not working properly.

    Why not try capture as interlaced and de-interlace in Premiere as a test.

     

    If you are looking to capture a lot of older analogue video also look into Software Tools like Topaz Video Ai to to do

    de-interlacing and clean up footage a bit.

    M
    mark_7127
    Known Participant
    June 4, 2025

    Interesting what Media Info Tool detects. Premiere Pro file properties detects (and imports as) a different frame rate.

    M
    mark_7127
    Known Participant
    June 4, 2025

    Your sample clip has a frame rate of 29.89 instead of 29.97. It is also not interlace, so not sure how you are deinterlacing or what your sequence setting is.

    Kyle Kramb
    Kyle Kramb
    Inspiring
    June 4, 2025

    I'm going the guess it's a hardware issue. there are tons of articles out there with big words explaining how to capture old vhs video into modern editing systems - most recomend more than just a VCR and capture card.

    ______________As happy as a clam in butter sauce!
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