videography tips

converting analog video to digital:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzY1Vo1occc - using VirtualDub2 software
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk-n7IlrXI4 ObsStudio
- using OBS Studio to capture video
  - open Stats window (menu: Docks, tick Stats)
  - create a Profile and name it (menu: Profile: New)
  - create a new Scene collection and name it (menu: Scene : New)
  - set canvas: Settings: Video: base canvas 1410×1080; Output scaled resolution 1410×1080; Common FPS Values: 50 PAL
  - start source playing
  - connect video leads to capture device then to USB port
  - add a Source - + Video Capture Device, you can optionally name it, then choose the capture device from the drop down list and you video should display
    - go to Configure Video which will pop up the capture device driver settings interface
      - set Video Standard to PAL
      - set video input to S-Video or composite via Configure Crossbar button
      - if using Startech SVID2USB232 then the default levels are incorrect, you probably need to reduce contrast to 20
  - go to Settings:
    - Output: ignore Streaming settings; keep Output Mode to Simple; choose an output file folder; set Recording Quality to High Quality (that's all you need for analog video capture) so ignore Indistinguishable Quality or Lossless Quality; set Recording Format to mp4; set Encoder to Hardware (NVENC H.264) if you have an NVidia graphics card
  - Right click on the video capture item in the Source and select Transform and choose Stretch to Screen so it fills up the whole canvas
  - Right click on the video capture item in the Source and select Scale Filtering and choose Lanzos to give a smoother scroll
  - Right click on the video capture item in the Source and select Deinterlacing and choose Yadif 2x (to use both fields to render 50p from 25i)
  - record to file via Controls: Start Recording then hit Stop Recording
  - view the resultant file by going into Windows Explorer and open it in VLC Media Player or similar to verify it is good
  - Troubleshooting:
    - Dropped frames due to CPU load:
      - keep CPU stats < 80%
      - try using 960×720 instead of 1440×1080
      - use a computer made after year 2010
    - Dropping frames due to signal issues:
      - usually caused by worn out tapes
      - clean the VCR heads
      - might need timebase corrector (TBC) - some S-VHS decks have this built in
    - No audio capture:
      - check you cables
      - can be hard to troubleshoot
      - use an alternate audio source in OBS (go to Sources and + to add an audio capture device whih will then be combined with your video capture source)
    - Bad lip sync or audio sync drift
      - check you are not dropping frames
      - adjust audio sync offset in OBS in Audio Mixer, press the 3 dot icon and under Advanced Audio Properties, adjust the Sync Offset setting
    - Audio only coming from one side:
      - use a mono to stereo adapter if source only has a mono output cable
      - if video was recorded in mono to only one side then set MONO in audio properties in OBS in Audio Mixer, press the 3 dot icon and under Advanced Audio Properties, tick MONO
    - Video looks jittery or stuttering playback:
      - swap the field order: Right click on the video capture item in the Source and select Deinterlacing and choose Bottom Field First
for S video or RCA composite devices, you need an adapter which will capture BOTH interlaced fields and then you can create better quality 50/60p videos
- you will need a 4 pin S-video male-male cable as well
- you may also need a 3.5mm audio male to RCA audio cable for the audio component if your camera only has headphone jack out for audio out (S-video does not carry the audio!)
- examples:
  - StarTech USB 3.0 1080p HDMI, DVI, VGA, or Component Video Capture Device $AU324
  - I-O Data GV-USB2 $AU92 on Ebay but NTSC only
    - NB. driver requires turning off memory integrity in Windows Security in Windows 11 - once turned off you can't turn it on again unless driver updated with compatible version - see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/why-do-incompatible-drivers-prevent-using-memory-integrity-0b7ae567-74de-ee03-1030-9e6fe0d6f4b6
  - Startech SVID2USB232 $AU63 USB2.0 out; S video and RCA inputs only; Windows only;
    - in 2023, only compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, 11
    - http://www.startech.com/support to download device driver
    - the default levels are incorrect, you probably need to reduce contrast to 20
for MiniDV cassette Firewire camcorders:
- you need:
  - an Apple Firewire to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, plus,
  - an Apple Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter, plus,
  - a FireWire 400 to Fire 800 cable, plus,
  - a PC with a Thunderbolt 3 USB port, plus,
  - capture software such as:
    - HDVSplit
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GASIuX1mqwE - cables needed to connect to Firewire port on a DV camcorder - you can't use a simple Firewire to USB cable ! You need a Thunderbolt 3 USB port on your laptop!

recording sound

boom vs lav mic - which to use?