@mark-perry Nothing to worry about. VHS captures are interlaced, hence the horizontal jaggies, but if you play the video on the timeline after you have finished your capture, you won't see any of the interlacing, and any export or DVD won't have it either. My GV-USB2 capture stick shows the same jaggies.

"MXV-DVD quality" is fine; if your machine is up to it, crank up the quality to 100. If you get any ongoing dropped frames, bring the quality down in stages. My capture scored 4 dropped frames right at the start but no more after that.

I prefer (if using MEP) to capture direct to MPEG. That will mean you will have your master capture in a format that you can use/view in other programs. MXV is Magix-proprietary and cannot be used outside MEP/VPX. If you decide to move away from Magix in the future, you'll be #$%^&* with MXV.

Gid same finished dvd either computer or other a TV but the first capture you can see that line very clear but the source tape does not have it, similar with other videos I've done in the past with that kind of movement.

Sorry, I couldn't see the wood for the trees. Is the problem only shown in the third video, and is the first a different capture? That would indicate a tape or VCR glitch (sometimes if you record the same portion of tape twice, you get different results because of glitches).

I tried a couple of captures here with MEP and it doesn't have that half-way discontinuity.

Short of trying a different VCR or capture stick, for elimination purposes, you could try capturing with another program, for example the capture program that came with your stick. I use Virtual Dub 1.9.11 from here (bottom of the first post) or you could use OBS.

These are tests with this type of problem.

The first 2 are each capture in progress so everybody can see what's happening and for any suggestions to make it better.

The 3rd is both in the 1 dvd > mp4 (so to post here).

VCR rca to capture device then cable to USB socket. Laptop SSD drive 64 bit. (+ 132 gb space available). I usually find a 4 hr taping is roughly 20 30 GB so I'd say the there's plenty space to play with and fixes before the final DVD is created.

Is the capture in progress OK or should it be the same as the source?

The tapes are OK so unless the Magix software is the issue or the capture device. With difficult tapes I usually do them in parts when an error is found and replace them with the best recapture.

@AAProds

Hi

Assumimg you are referring to flickering line at the bottom of the capture window I would agree with @AAProds on the glitch source being the tape or VCR - it looks like one or more of these causes could be at play, in order or decreasing probability

1. a tracking issue - if the VCR is auto tracking only, and there is no manual adjustment either by mechanical means (knob) or in the VD+CRs settings, then there is little can be done about it, other than try another VCR
    
2. the tape edge is damaged/curling
    
3. a loss of magnetic flux (signal level) - however you should see missing lines randomly appearing for this one.
    
4. the tape heads are wearing or need cleaning.

John EB

@mark-perry OK, gotcha on what video is what. I was confused.

Step through the captured MXV to see if the line exists on the captured file or is only introduced by MEP when you export it in MP4.

If it is not there in the MXV, try an export to another format such as MPEG 2, WMV and HEVC.

If it is there in the MXV, try capturing the tape into MPEG 2 format, then exporting it in MP4.

@johnebaker John,

Assumimg you are referring to flickering line at the bottom of the capture window 

that is VCR head-switching noise and is present in all VHS captures except in very rare cases using super-flash $$$$$ VCRs.

The problem is the discontinuity in the video half way down the screen:

@AAProds

Hi Alwyn

Thanks for the heads up on location of the the horizontal displacement.

@mark-perry

Is the VCR a 2, 4 or 6 head player?

John EB

In this case an LG 6 head GC980W but I've got 2 others for other tapes when required.

Rule of thumb I usually turn off any picture enhancements on the VCRs otherwise IMO you'd have to tweak an enhanced picture.

On my DVD recorder no such problems exist but I wanted to use my Laptop as 1 tape had minor faults so rather than recorder again n again I thought I'd do a in-stages then to DVD.

@mark-perry

Hi

Do any other video tapes show the same horizontal displacement in the LG player?

John EB

@mark-perry

On my DVD recorder no such problems exist

I assume by this you mean you have copied the VHS to a DVD, then transferred that to your laptop.

Try capturing your tape with MEP from your DVD recorder (VHS playback only, of course, don't use the DVD side), then do an export. See if the line is there.

Out of interest, what model is your DVD recorder? You may be able to use an S-Video cable to get a better signal for capture.

DMR-BWT945GL only rca's, after failed attempts resorted to try MEP. Maybe I just capture best segments to DVD RW import segments to MEP then after fixes to DVD and wipe DVD RW for other such problems.

If DVD RWs can last '100' times reusing I'm all for it.

Anybody feel my hair pulling when MEP should just do the job but can't because the program or capture device. What's the recommended capture for this program there's a can of worms. OK it came with Homestech vhs-dvd (with just that function) years ago but with the driver it works with MEP but some sort of technical tantrums just won't accept a decent tape signal

John both examples different unrelated tapes but same result. tapes in excellent condition ideal storage conditions - in boxes & away from usual exposures. could do other vcrs but suspect same, will get home and confirm.

@mark-perry

OK it came with Homestech vhs-dvd (with just that function) years ago but with the driver it works with MEP but some sort of technical tantrums just won't accept a decent tape signal

Well, we haven't actually established that. As I asked earlier, play the MXV and see if the line is there. Answer that and we can proceed further.

I'll try tomorrow I think for memory it was in the timeline before burned.

this is a new taping and the project and the dvd have the same result. (Vidbox, tried Kaiserbass but same result)

2 different VCR's, changed RCA (fat size not thin cheap ones) and USB leads and a Kasierbass KB401-1B capture stick and no difference. both tapings. made sure the leads were on flat surface and not moving.

Kasierbass - RCAs to usb plug dongle connection / Device / extended usb cable to laptop not directly plugged to side of laptop. Vidbox - rca's to box device / usb out to laptop

sorry this clip is out-of-phase (as recorded back then) but you will also note the scene changes, the previous shot/next shot issues when you pause on the frame and playback of the scene the line in the centre is still there. compared to clean switches on my DVD Recorder.

@mark-perry Fair enough, it looks like MEP is creating the line (although I am surprised; I have done a lot of analogue capturing with MEP [earlier versions] and not noticed this).

Try capturing into "MPEG-DVD Quality", not MXV.

The only other thing to try is to use a different capture program. The VidBox and the Kasier will have capture programs.

Can you confirm this occurs with multiple tapes, or just this particular one?

mxv - dvd for latest video

mpeg - dvd

bit pixely i noticed in project and on its own in a another laptop player, upload grabbed it straight from file manager, still noticed the line and scene changes especially that very first change, not done dvd yet

@mark-perry I don't see any line in the MPEG capture. I'd suggest you try capturing the Roadshow intro again just to make sure the MPEG capture is OK, then use that for your project. In the MXV capture, the line is only fleeting, on some scene changes (which you could easily edit out without upsetting the story):

For the MPEG capture In the Recording Quality section, choose MPEG User Defined, click on the Configuration button and set the bitrate up to 9000kbps. That'll improve the capture quality. You could even try higher if you don't get any dropped frames.

it is there i think the low quality of the source doesn't help, try (like me) on a laptop screen

 same recording conditions and upload

I can see a couple of pixels where the line is, but only when I step through it frame by frame. It isn't noticeable when playing the video at normal speed, from what I can see.

same recording conditions

Crank up that MPEG capture bitrate. You'll get a better quality video.