Quick Setup Guide
This may sound all too common but the basic full setup of the software side is all on the readme's it does not take more than an hour to go over the readme as all and setup the software its fairly copy-paste read copy-paste.
For non-Linux users we are now recommending Linux Mint Mate Edition on or with an 500-2TB SSD either SATA or NVME for users familiar with windows only here is a simple install guide from a usability and documentation perspective is the same as Ubuntu with better stability and its intended as a fluid as possible windows user switch over environment
(If you have an DomesDayDuplicator you don't need to care about Linux past WSL2 or a Virtual Machine and 3-4 commands for the most part, if you have 2 duplicators you can do 100% plug & play virtual machine based workflow for Video RF and HiFi RF)
A "directory" is simply a folder in the system.
cd To enter into an directory
cd .. To go back an directory
In WSL2 & most Linux install use cases open an terminal and paste cd vhs-decode is the only non decode software command needed to remember after setup as this enters into the directory rest is as simple as copy paste edit commands and drag and drop file handling you just need a text editor to edit your commands for copy paste.
Its recommend to use the standardised naming guide.
GUI is simple for the DdD it tells you how long it runs just to make sure it's in 10-bit packed mode.
Capture runtime limiting and capture time with storage space available is shown in the GUI application.
More Information / How To Aquire? / How to Fabricate & Flash?
Compressed data output file extension .ldf
40 MHz 16-bit Signed Scaled Output is .raw (Recommended Mode To Use For HiFI Currently)
40 MHz 10-bit Packed Unsigned Output is .lds (Recommended Mode To Use)
10 Mhz 10-bit Packed Unsigned (4:1) for CD/HIFI capture Output is .cds
(replace with the name you wish to use with your media capture)
Run ld-compress <capturename>.lds in Linux/WSL2 with your .lds file in the vhs-decode directory.
For windows there is compression scrips with .bat files drag and drop to compress files.
Note! Requires a hardware installation of Linux on a desktop or laptop with external PCIE abilities.
Follow CXADC & the CXADC Wiki and install the driver after physically installing the CX card.
Open the terminal inside the CXADC folder, and connect your input.
We recommend Linux Mint on or with an 500-2TB SSD either SATA or NVME for users familiar with windows only here is a simple install guide
Any standard decent office PC from the last 14 years should be powerful enough to capture, decoding will run on anything.
(Windows driver support will hopefully be implemented after GUI development is finished)
Run through the readme and install all everything.
./leveladj sets the gain level best to start the tape a few seconds in to set the gain then rewind and begin full capture.
In technicality, the 16-bit unsigned scaled output is recommended over 8-bit to make the most of the 10-bit ADC chip for initial captures, however for space-saving 20msps 8-bit is a treading standard on the CX Cards and works just fine in current practice for standard VHS/Betamax and even less is required for HiFi signals around 10msps so an RTLSDR can be used for that.
This has a full list of commands for each sample rate note do not use 35mhz 8-bit as it's just upsampling wasting space.
Stock install location in Windows File Explorer:
\\wsl$\Ubuntu-20.04\home\your user name here\vhs-decode
Move data into the directory or capture it in the 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
Output 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
python3 tbc-video-export.py YourTapeName
The resulting output is:
YourTapeName.mkv
With VCRs assuming no major issues you have 2 main controls physical tape guides and digital tracking IC the tracking is normally manipulatable via a knob on a pro deck and channel up/down on prosumer deck fronts, or via remote if you have the remote, however, if its physical guides not aligned you will need to adjust them until the tape plays within spec.
A CRT is generally recommended as you can view tapes directly without any need for any digital processing/stabilisation however this is a manual observation method and consumer CRTs with under scan modes are a recommended minimum as most consumer units have 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, but any old later Sony Trinitron, for example, should work.
Note!: With a 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 a 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 signal output connection point, a cable soldered at a test point or signal path point using a cable like RG316 or RG178 to a BNC or SMA connector, or simply a BNC hook probe.
The middle wire is signal and the outer wrapping wire is ground coax is much loved as it provides basic RF shielding and is not only cheap but universally available worldwide.
On most VCRs you have test points next to each other or by the conventional video outputs, if you're going to modify your consumer/prosumer VCR its worth installing a couple more BNC or SMA pigtails to signal points and the common ground point, for SCART only decks this is an opportunity to add CVBS in/out etc.
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
Don't 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 a return path proper grounding matters!
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 a simple Molex to SATA power adapter due to power pinning standards used on the drives to use on desktops, USB caddies are not preferred for mass storage nor 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, however, if using USB don't use the included adapter as that makes the drive crippled in terms of being able to use it in a desktop it after the fact without copying or deleting all the data off.
There is a "shucking" community around these drives due to the low cost per gigabyte new 14TB+ units should be server-grade drives as some 8TB drives are now lower grade on the WD side.
Google Workspace Business Standard (Using Shared Drives Only) *10USD/m
Backblase Personal Backup Plan *7USD/m
However, for testing and examples or issues you encounter feel free to store them on the Public Shared Drive please be sure to read and use the Submission Guidelines Naming System.
Currently, we only have M-Disk as a solid archive format widely alliable using the standard Blu-Ray format 25GB SL, 50GB DL, 100GB TL (and DVD 4.7GB) these disks are not affected by humidity/thermals/radiation and magnetic forces if stored in a crush-proof environment these disks will last better then factory stamped non-dye disks decades if not upto "1000" years when the polycarbonate plastics start de-bond.
Once written all modern DVD/BluRay readers/writers & players support this format which is just a slightly higher power mode to burn (2x mode only), if stored as normal video but for RF data it will only be readable with a reader on a PC/Mac.
Amazon US / Amazon UK has a constant supply.
Note! open the image in another tab or download it to view full scale in case of viewing issues.
- FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
- Diagram Breakdowns
- Visual-Comparisons
- VCR Reports / RF Tap Examples
- Download & Contribute Data
- Speed Testing
- Capture Setup Guide
- MISRC
- CX Cards & CXADC
- CX Cards - Clockgen Mod
- DdD - Domesday Duplicator
- RTL-SDR
- Hardware Installation Guide
- Finding RF Tap Locations
- Amplifier Setup Guide
- The Tap List Example VCR's
- Visual VBI Data Guide
- Closed Captioning
- Teletext
- WSS Wide - Screen Signalling
- VITC Timecode
- VITS Signals
- XDS Data (PBS)
- Video ID IEC 61880
- Auto Audio Align
- Vapoursynth TBC Median Stacking Guide
- Ruxpin-Decode & TV Teddy Tapes
- Tony's GNU Radio For Dummies Guide
- Tony's GNU Radio Scripts
- DomesDay Duplicator Utilities
- ld-decode Utilities