does anyone know of any application that will overlay multiple vhs reads to create a higher quality vhs to digital conversion? i think this might be what "remastering" involves but i'm not sure. my understanding is that with vhs tape media each read of the source could produce different data at each pixel, so overlaying several reads should make the best new copy. can someone tell me if this makes sense and if so what software might be available to do this? i do have a capture card for getting the analog signal to the pc. thanks!
I've been thinking about it all night too.. I can't see any way to multi pass a vhs tape and get it to even run at exactly the same speed twice let alone overlay/compare the frames.. At best guess all you will achieve is more noise and splutter. I rip vhs tapes straight to a dvd using a dvd recorder on high quality (or whatever will fit the length of the tape) then sharpen or soften or whatever it needs. Damage can be edited frame by frame to take the worst out without too much disturbance.. Most look as good as the original tape with no more messing. there is some horribly expensive processing software out there.. but I have never found the need for any of it.. vhs tapes still look good on a well set up machine, and a decent dvd recorder will make a nice copy with no apparent loss of quality.. The old rule about analog sources holds true.. put garbage in-get garbage out.. clean heads and a properly aligned vhs machine will produce pictures as good as dvd..
the quality of a straight vhs rip was my main concern. i just remember the vhs days and messing with tracking etc being a real pain. sometimes there was picture noise, sometimes not. so i thought there must be a better way of getting the data of the tape other than a single pass. but based on what varnull is saying i may just try to find a good vcr and see how it works. i will also check out that restoration site and update this thread if i find anything of great interest. thanks!
