Starters Advice Needed

[Darwin4Ever]

Hi,

I'm new to Video Grabbing and would like to use the OBS Studio (Windows) to digitalize my VHS-tapes.

Firstly I would like to know if OBS Studio only has MKV as the supported output-format or is mpeg 1/2/4 as well ?

I know, somehow it's not really a topic for this forum (sorry for that), but nevertheless, as I'm a novice in the matter, concerning the hardware I would like to have advice about what I have in mind :

Instead of an all-in-one grabber, I would like to have a (more flexible and reusable) setup like this :
1) a RGB (Component) to HDMI converter or a Composite to HDMI converter, depending upon the VCR-recorder used either one connected to
2) a HDMI to USB video grabber (compatible with OBS Studio)

Would this work ?
What might be issues ?
Which specifications should I check (are important) to assure Converter-Grabber compatibility and Grabber-OBS compatibility ?
Any suggestions very much welcome !

Thank you

 

[koala]

About output format: install OBS and explore its output options. You find them in Settings > Output > Recording Format
There are several ones available in addition to mkv.

About capture hardware: It's possible to first convert to hdmi, then capture hdmi. However, this is more expensive since you need to buy 2 devices. And if there are issues, you might have problems with troubleshooting since you never know if the issues are with the analog converter or the hdmi converter. More flexibility also means more flexibility in having all kinds of issues and errors.

The all-in-one converters are so cheap, in my opinion it's valid to buy the cheapest one that fits your specification (cables and plugs have to match your VCR device), and if they're not compatible, buy the next cheapest one that fits your specification, and you probably didn't pay much more than with 2 distinct capture devices.

However, if you plan to use the hdmi capture device beyond vhs digitizing, for example for grabbing game console content, 2 different devices might be a valid approach. But compare prices - an all-in-one device might be just the same price as an analog-to-hdmi device, and in this case I would definitely buy an all-in-one device to avoid friction between 2 chained capture devices.

 

[Darwin4Ever]

Thank you very much for your reply !

As you wrote, being able to use the HDMI-grabber beyond vhs digitizing is one of the reasons and I can then always use the same grabber in OBS.

I also have been reading that many all-in-one are not recognized by third-party software and only work with the (often minimal) software delivered with the grabber. I wanted to avoid that too.

I only don't know what the possible frictions are ( Converter-Grabber and Grabber-OBS)
I'm trying to do it right from the first time

 

[koala]

As far as I know, all current capture devices are providing their data with the same interface as a webcam, so they're all running with Windows default webcam drivers. You don't need any 3rd party software. You plug it in, Windows installs its drivers, device is ready to use. Old devices engineered 10-20 years ago might have used proprietary drivers, but not current ones. Developing drivers where there are already existing ones with Windows is just too expensive. If you carefully inspect the product specs, you find out if the device relies on proprietary drivers or on default OS drivers. For example, if a device is advertised for all present and past Windows versions and for Mac-OS as well, may be even Linux is mentioned, it's a hint it's using the standardized webcam interface and runs with OS drivers.

What you get as software for the device is some alibi app that's reading this (and any other webcam) device, as proof this device is working. These are not really high functionality apps. OBS and every other professional software that's able to import webcam video is better suited.

 

[Darwin4Ever]

Thank you, the drivers tip is very helpful.

Just a pity that in reviews, specifications and product descriptions, almost no attention is dedicated to the audio-part of grabbing. At most if there is a delay. Some specify that they don't output stereo. Seems to be the next problem as well as the audio sampling-depth.