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Participant
July 3, 2008
Question

VHS-look plugin

  • July 3, 2008
  • 12 replies
  • 83294 views
Hi guys, I'm looking for a plugin that can give a VHS tape effect. The look of being recorded over 20 times - a bit jittery, slightly distorted, color bleed, etc. I have seen it done, just don't know what was used.
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    12 replies

    Participating Frequently
    June 14, 2012

    Nattress Big Box Of Tricks - TV Effects isnt bad.

    Best way I have done this is to actually use a VHS camera in production, and then digitize from a VHS deck through my capture card..

    Participating Frequently
    June 14, 2012

    Sorry, that is assuming you also have access to FCP  as well as PP for the Nattress TV Effects plug-ins.

    June 14, 2012

    Why is it that this thread is so polluted with people trying to make suggestions that are totally off the mark?  Why is it so hard to understand what is wanted when someone requests a "VHS-look-alike filter?"

    And isn't it implicitly understood that a person has to have access to something in order to use it?

    So much confusion over something so simple.  Must be something in the water supply.

    Participant
    June 14, 2012

    Try the free presets for Adobe Premiere Pro at this location: http://www.studio1productions.com/Articles/CinemaFX.htm

    Scott

    Participating Frequently
    June 15, 2012

    Hi Scott,

    did you get these presets to work and if so are you using CS6?

    thanks

    Darren

    Participant
    June 15, 2012

    I did install them and played around with them a bit, but I have not used them in a production yet. I am using CS6.

    June 11, 2012

    I have always wondered about such a filter as well.  The editing team for Tim & Eric from The Cartoon Network's Adult Swim know how to do it.

    Apparently, it is currently a trade secret that only high profile editing teams have access to.

    Convert your HD video to SD VHS just to achieve this effect?  So funny!  Once you downgrade computer media, there is no way to suitably upscale it back into HD.

    The "Damage" filter and FCP solutions mentioned create the effect of old-tyme film, but not that particular VHS effect.

    _Prizm4_Author
    Participant
    July 13, 2008
    Thanks for that link, Colin, I'll have to give that a shot.

    Simulating old technology is useful at some point or another. Be it vinyl records, distorted two-way radios, or old video tapes.
    Inspiring
    June 14, 2012

    In addition to the Damage plug-in that Colin mentioned, there's also Old TV in Video Essentials V by NewBlue, and Old TV in CoreMelt Complete V2 by CoreMelt (MacOS only), to name a few.

    If you're looking for other plug-ins, take a look at the plug-ins list here - http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/extend.displayTab4.html.

    the_wine_snob
    Inspiring
    July 12, 2008
    Colin,

    I'd be willing to bet that this particular footage will either appear as a PiP in a TV set, or will be a lead-in to establish TV/VHS in the past. At least I *hope* that is how it's being used.

    Hunt
    Colin Brougham
    Participating Frequently
    July 12, 2008
    While there are cheaper, more creative, and effective solutions like those mentioned above, Digieffects makes a plug-in set called " Damage" that will get you the look you're after. At $99, it'll hardly break the bank, either.

    Side note: why, after years of trying to get cleaner, sharper, higher-resolution video, are we suddenly enamored with video schmeg? Strange... :P
    Harm_Millaard
    Inspiring
    July 12, 2008
    Get a Mac and get FCP if you have money to burn or use the solution in #3.
    _Prizm4_Author
    Participant
    July 12, 2008
    I found out that Final Cut has it - the filter is called Bad TV.
    Participant
    July 6, 2008
    If you also have After Effects, AE has a few "video distortion" effects that might be what you want.
    Harm_Millaard
    Inspiring
    July 4, 2008
    Simple. Export to DV tape. Copy to VHS. Capture that through a ADVC and start editing.

    Use the oldest, most mis-aligned VHS recorder you can find, preferably with dirt clogged heads, use lousy cables, record on a tape that has been used numerous times, modify the quality on export to 1.0, and you will be good. Why would you want that?