Vibrant color, digital acquisition of VHS

Forums are full of people who can't capture from SECAM VHS tapes to their PC, and another group complains that SECAM is worthless, the signals are crappy.
So it would be good to interpose a video filter between the VCR and the capture system, most often on a USB stick. There were models to copy DVDs and VHS tapes that restored the balance between black and white and blocked all the interference caused by the various anti-copy systems implemented in France. I had built such a module out of foresight, but I never bought any tapes or DVDs commercially. I tested it, and it works well. I could provide the article regarding this setup, as well as a small audio/video amplifier of your choice in PDF format. The filter incorporates a microcontroller, so I'm not sure if the magazine could still provide links. However, you will need to tell me how to post the PDF, as the web is not my cup of tea.
I also want to clarify that I personally have this VHS copying problem, and with the Pinnacle 510 USB, which crashes more than it works, I threw it away. I tested what you can only find commercially, on USB sticks, from SilverCrest and Terratec Grabby, without success, so I currently have nothing to test my solution that suddenly came to mind while organizing my gear.

Hello, as I’m still connected to this discussion, I want to point out that when I had a VCR that only worked in SECAM, I bought a SECAM to PAL converter box with a scart plug on each end that allowed me to watch the tapes in color on a PAL television. I then used this box to edit on an analog editing table to record again on VHS, but this time in color.

"Donkeys change their minds, but fools never do."
Please remember to mark your message as "resolved" if it is the case.

Hello! I bought a Terratec Grabster AV 350 MX. I confirm that you can capture a poor quality color VHS Secam tape with this product.
However, it wasn't without difficulty. I'm still using XP SP3, with 4 GB of RAM and an Intel Quad-Core processor.
It seems that their installation software is faulty, as we find two folders in Program Files; Terratec and another in common files that contain the drivers, plus a German msi in Windows\Installer. The basic software Magix Easy Video immediately suggests buying a suitable version, also, you can't go back on the choice panel.
In short, for three days, nothing worked, either I had the image but no sound, or a black screen that turns green with sound. Then when it worked, I had an audio delay that was impossible to fix, since it is not linear (the sound is in sync at the end of the capture).
The trick; after trying to hear if the sound is present by leaving the box checked (listen to audio during capture??), you need to uncheck this box, as I suppose that the audio delay comes from there. Moreover, after a while, you hear choppy noises that do not affect the final audio (except for a delay).
There are also other anomalies with their system; when I start Firefox, it calls for the internet connection, then nothing, you have to connect separately. Cleaning programs like Regseeker and Mrublaster are blocked, etc. Or the requested program takes 10 minutes to load.
I also lost my Realtek HDAudio sound drivers.
At the beginning, if the USB box remains connected to the PC, I couldn't start anymore, blocking after the Microsoft image. Now that it works, it also takes 10 minutes to boot. So, I made a PC image with Grabster and Magix that I'll use when I want to do captures.
You also need to make sure that DirectX is up to date and properly installed (which is practically impossible).
After numerous reinstallations and cleanups, I had made a report folder to send to Terratec, surprise, the VHS Secam capture through the Scart plug works well (but the PC is slow).

Hi Coco beginner,
Have you solved your problem?
Because I'm having exactly the same issues...
Thanks
Bye

Hello, by the way I don't know the software, I only trust "Dazzle DVD Recorder". You need to set the button to Pal and check your wires and plugs.

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"Donkeys change their minds, not fools."
Please remember to mark your message as "resolved" if that's the case.

Put it on PAL if the tapes are in PAL, otherwise SECAM... ;-)
The tapes that are problematic must be very old, what is described is typical of magnetic tape aging, the first information to degrade is the color. To maximize the chances of recovering it, give the VCR heads a thorough cleaning.

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I call a spade a spade...

Your tapes are limited, and the slightest signal loss causes the color to fade; on TV, it works because it's direct.
However, the signal degrades during processing by SOS video tapes.
As I mentioned in my first reply: cleaning the heads can restore the signal (confirmed by Hombourgeois) and also try another player.
Buying a better box, the Dazzle brand gives better results than those USB converter types like yours...
https://www.cdiscount.com/pdt2/0/0/1/1/700x700/82303001001/rw/dazzle-video-creator-platinum.jpg
You can find them at D***y

--
I call a spade a spade...