RGB to s-Video Conversion

[PhilTheDoc]

I'm capturing from a Pace 4010 STB from the composite output via a SCART adapter. S-Video capture produces a horrible monochrome image. The STB outputs RGB and composite but obviously not s-video.The composite capture is OK, but a bit jerky on fast action sequences. To capture in s-video I therefore need a RGB to s-video converter. I can find these for £80 or so.

My question is - is it worth it? Will I notice much difference? Will the quality of the captured MPEG image improve significantly? All advice greatly appreciated - thanks!

[jsebright]

I have used a JSTech RGB to Svideo converter to get RGB from Tivo into Svideo to display on a projector. I always found that it worked really well and gave a great picture. The box I have had 1 scart input, and 2 outputs - one RGB, the other SVideo, so it was possible to watch the display on the TV via RGB or the projector via SVideo.

In your case, I would have a look at what is possible with SVideo by using a decent SVideo source (From a DVD player perhaps?) and see if you are happy with the picture. That will indicate what you can expect with a converter.

[Slice]

Hi there,

I use this from Maplin. Scart fom my NTL stb to it and s-vhs to my card.

Works very well!

[PhilTheDoc]

Thanks for the advice. Have either of you compared the composite with s-video capture options and noticed a significant difference?

[Slice]

Significant no... but again hard to tell, I see a sharper picture with it, but it's hard to measure.

I just re-read your post

but a bit jerky on fast action sequences

Be careful I don't think this is necessarily related to your capture cable/method. Could be another factor, decoder or codec maybe.

My own experience is as stated above, s-vhs does give a better pic than composite how much better for me is hard to tell!

[PhilTheDoc]

I got out my old DVD/VCR combo which has s-video out for DVD playing and captured it - it was somewhat crisper than composite (which I captured from the SCART output) but both s-video and composite were smoother and less jerky/smeary than the composite capture from the ntl STB.

I've only used the Intervideo decoders so far as they are the only ones installed on my system. Changing the VMR/overlay settings makes no difference, but changing interlace settings on the misc tab in config does, although everything other than encoder passthrough leaves video with no sound.

I really don't understand deinterlacing. All I want is a smooth image from the STB! It must be possible but I'm a bit stuck to know what to do next.