Quick Setup Guide

Read the Readme

This may sound all to common but basic full setup of the software side is all on the readme's and related documents it does not take more then an hour to read them all and install them all.

Debien/Mint/Ubuntu all work just fine

Quick Capture & Process Basics

DomesDayDuplicator or DdD

GUI is simple for the DdD it tells you how long it runs just make sure its in 10-bit packed mode.

Linux Application

Windows Application

CXADC Requires Linux Install (Stock 28mhz Mode)

Run though the readme and install all everything.

timeout 10s cat /dev/cxadc0 |pv > output.raw

Compress Capture Down (replace with name of choise)

flac --best --sample-rate=48000 --sign=unsigned --channels=1 --endian=little --bps=8 % --ogg -f <capturename>.u8 -o <capturename>.vhs

Quick WSL2 Use

Stock install location in Windows File Explorer: \\wsl$\Ubuntu-20.04\home\your user name here\vhs-decode

Move data into directory or capture into directory

Open your WSL2 terminal example Ubuntu 20.04

cd vhs-decode (Press Enter)

For DdD Use:

vhs-decode --debug -t 8 -tf VHS -p --recheck_phase YourTapeName.lds YourTapeName

Compress the .lds to FLAC with

ld-compress YourTapeName.lds

Ouput will be YourTapeName.ldf

For CXADC Use: (Edit based on your capture setup config)

vhs-decode --debug -t 8 -cxadc -tf VHS -p --recheck_phase YourTapeName6.u8 YourTapeName

Quickly Export to Video

gen_chroma_vid.sh YourTapeName

Resulting output is:

YourTapeName.mkv

Greater Details

Reference Diagrams

Note open image in anouther tab or download it to view full scale incase viewing issues.

Fine Adjustments

With VCR's assuming no major issues you have 2 main controls physical tape guides and digital tracking IC the tracking is normally manipulatable via knob on a pro deck and channel up/down on prosumer deck front's, or via remote if you have the remote, however if its physical guides not aligned you will need to ajust them untill the tape plays within spec.

An CRT is generally recommended as you can view tapes directly without any need for an time base corrector or digital processing however this is a manual observation method and consumer CRT's that are not manually calibrated, mostly cropped edges/bottom head switch area of the video so Sony/JVC PVM/BVM style monitors with there horizontal/vertical shift and under scan modes are preferable.

Reference Captures

Note!: With an 10-100uf capacitor in-line you should be-able to capture RF and conventional normal baseband i.e CVBS output at the same time.

Having a conventual capture for reference is very useful to understand the state of a tape and possible errors like tracking, so an one-run capture is better than staring into a CRT/Monitor over and over as well, if you don't have an integrated TBC then you may want to acquire a Panasonic DMR-ES10 or ES15 to act as one on external link passthrough mode (if no remote press eject then external link up/down) you can have a complete setup for around 50USD or less.

When the term ''tap point'' is used think RF output connection, an cable soldered at a test point or signal path point using cable like RG178 or RG316 to an BNC or SMA connector, or simply an BNC hook probe.

Middle wire is signal and the outer wrapping wire is ground coax is much loved as it provides basic RF shielding.

RF Tap points

On most VCRS you have these points next to each other or by the conventional video outputs if you so wish you only need video but while your there its worth installing a couple more BNC or SMA pigtails to signal points and the common ground point.

Test points normally will be called the following:

RF Y, RF C, RF Y+C, PB, V RF, V ENV, ENV, ENVELOPE, VIDEO ENVE, VIDEO ENVELOPE - Video RF

RF-Out, A-RF, HIFI RF - Audio RF

Dont forget about Ground - There is normally always a common ground point nearby or ground-shield that can be soldered to as a ground all RF needs an return path proper grounding matters!

Storage

Allocate 500GB to 2TB of storage 100MB/s Write Speed Safe Minimum.

For affordable local storage WD (Western Digital) make EasyStores/Elements lines Seagate makes Desktop/Backup lines

These are great mass storage drives, however do not use the included USB caddy and you may need simple Molex to sata adapters due to power pinning standards used on the drives, USB is not preferred for mass storage neither is keeping it some ware it can be physically knocked common sense and keeping critical equipment off USB is hand in hand as USB bus data is a shared system ware as sata to sata is direct and unaffected.

There is a "shucking" community around these drives due to the low cost per gigbyte new 14TB+ units should be server grade drives as some 8TB drives are now lower grade on the WD side

As for soild archvies the M-Disk format at 10-25 GBP/USD per 50/100GB disk is enough for FLAC compressed 45/60/90min (S)VHS-C tapes.

Cloud Services That are cost effective per month

Google Workspace Business Standard (Using Shared Drives Only) *10USD/m

Backblase Personal Backup Plan *7USD/m

However for samples & testing's feel free to store them on the Public Shared Drive please be sure to read and use the Submission Guidelines Naming System.

CX Card Setup

Follow CXADC & the CXADC Wiki and install driver after physically installing the CX card.

Open terminal inside the CXADC folder, and connect your input.

./leveladj sets the gain level best to start the tape a few seconds in to set the gain then rewind and begin capture.

16-bit unsigned scaled output is recommended over 8-bit as to make the most of the 10-bit ADC chip for initial captures, however for space saving 20msps 8-bit is an treading standard on the CX cards.

The modes you want to use is the following

14.3 MHz 16-bit (4fsc) - Stock Card

sudo echo 1 >/sys/module/cxadc/parameters/tenxfsc

sudo echo 1 >/sys/module/cxadc/parameters/tenbit

17.9 MHz 16-bit (5fsc) - Stock Card

sudo echo 2 >/sys/module/cxadc/parameters/tenxfsc

sudo echo 1 >/sys/module/cxadc/parameters/tenbit

20 Mhz 16bit - Modified 40Mhz Crystal Card

sudo echo 0 >/sys/module/cxadc/parameters/tenxfsc

sudo echo 1 >/sys/module/cxadc/parameters/tenbit

Optional but not optimal due to risk of dropped samples with fast enough hardware on the fly flac compressed captures are possible with the following commands, edit rates as required.

16-bit Mode

sudo sox -r 14318 -b 16 -c 1 -e unsigned -t raw /dev/cxadc0 -t raw - | flac --fast -16 --sample-rate=14318 --sign=unsigned --channels=1 --endian=little --bps=16 --blocksize=65535 --lax -f - -o .flac

8-bit Mode

sudo sox -r 28636 -b 8 -c 1 -e unsigned -t raw /dev/cxadc0 -t raw - | flac --fast -16 --sample-rate=28636 --sign=unsigned --channels=1 --endian=little --bps=8 --blocksize=65535 --lax -f - -o .flac

DomesDayDuplicator or DdD Setup

Allocate appropriate storage space for

Capture runtime is shown in the GUI application.

Software Control Options:

40 MHz 16-bit Signed Scaled

40 MHz 10-bit Packed Unsigned

10 Mhz 10-bit Packed Unsigned (4:1) for CD/HIFI capture

Raw data output file extension .lds

Compressed data output file extension .ldf