Question / Help V8 tape to digital quality loss.

[LauraUK]

Hi there, I have been trying to convert old V8 analog tapes using an easycap DC60 and OBS but I can't seem to find the right setting and the video comes out blurry. I did try capturing my screen using my webcam and I add the same issue. Has anyone used OBS for such purpose and could direct me towards the right settings. Also does the pc I do it on matters? Is there any requirements?
I am currently using a Toshiba Satellite NB10T-A-101. Do I need something more powerful?

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[koala]

It's an ancient analog 26 years old consumer tape format. What do you expect? A quick glance into the Wikipedia article about Video 8, a resolution of 400 lines for the Hi8 enhanced V8 tape is given. So your tapes have probably this or a lower resolution. Usually, with such enhancements the original resolution is doubled, so original V8 tape might perhaps have only 200 lines. With an aspect ratio of 4:3 this results in a digital resolution equivalent of 532x400 or 266x200.

A good strategy would probably be to record double the tape resolution and downscale to half of that (if you have Hi8, set capture card to 1064x800, with OBS downscale to 532x400 or if you have V8, set capture card to 532x400 and with OBS downscale to 266x200), so least picture information gets missing.

But it's still a tiny resolution. Upscaling this to modern full HD monitors makes it look blurry, yes. There isn't simply more detail present.