signal converter; s-video to video at DVinfo.net

Julie Meitz · May 16th, 2004, 02:38 PM

does anyone know of a *real* s-video to video converter for a reasonable price...or pricey price, whatever?

and i'm not talking about your typical radio shack $19 converter...a unit that converts properly.

thanx & peace-olah, juLiE

Boyd Ostroff · May 16th, 2004, 04:19 PM

Is there really such a thing? You are always going to lose quality when going from S to RCA. Does an "active" converter do a better job than a passive cable? I don't know. I have a couple little adaptors with a male S video plug and female RCA jack, they were included with other stuff I've bought like my PowerBook. I also have two things that would fit the "pricey" option. First is a VCR that has both S and RCA inputs and outputs. The second is a DVD recorder with the same. There are various other media converters out there that would also fill the "pricey" bill. These are expensive and most are really geared towards converting between 1394 and the various analog flavors.

Julie Meitz · May 16th, 2004, 06:46 PM

thanx a lot Boyd for the info, appreciate :)

re: link, pricey is real pricey! sheez...and i'm not a starving artist, but...

well, maybe i'll go the vcr route...

and yes, "lose quality", yes'em, know, but...

it seems to be a 'but' day ;)

peace-olah, juLiE

Bill Pryor · May 17th, 2004, 10:33 AM

Most DV decks have an S-input, and so do many Betacam SP decks and even the old Hi-8 decks. If you want to convert to DV, then all you have to do is play the tape from the S deck to the DV deck. Most any dub house can do this for you. Or, as the above post said, just take the RCA output of the S deck.

Julie Meitz · May 17th, 2004, 12:04 PM

thanx Bill, another good suggestion, will do! :)

p.s. i actually did a test of my own similar to what you and Boyd recommended (due to a Steve McDonald posting of similar solution), which was based on 2 sony D8 camcorders and a firewire link (outputing from pc to tv) - the colors were on the money, but i use 1 of my camcorders for live feed while VJ-ing, so i can't use this method...i'll either look for a cheap hi-8 or get a dv or vcr deck w/s-video.

peace-olah, juLiE

Mike Rehmus · May 17th, 2004, 05:44 PM

An inexpensive converter would be to get a distribution amplifier that will accept S-Video and output either S-Video or Composite Video. Like the Sign Video DA.

I've forgotten the price but it has obvious application beyond just converting the signal.

Julie Meitz · May 17th, 2004, 06:47 PM

thanx Mike, i'll look into the sign video da, not aware of this brand/type! :)

actually i already have a radio shack s-video distribution amplifier which i'm currently using since my tv does not have s-video input. but it bleeds red big time; basically the color and quality is off. i even bought a separate $19 s-video to video coupler (if that's what you call it), to make sure my dist. amp was not off, but both produced the exact same results. and what's funny is that the amp cost maybe $40 and they do the same thing...

found a site:
http://www.signvideo.com/das5_das15_s-video_distribution_amplifier.htm

only DAS-5 & DAS-15 (not DA8-DA16) have s-video included; price is not bad; $149 - 249! thanx!

peace-olah, juLiE

Mike Rehmus · May 17th, 2004, 07:34 PM

The radio shack DA has so much internal amplification that I use it to drive long S-Video cables. The copy I have amplifies the signal by about 150%.

Julie Meitz · May 17th, 2004, 08:47 PM

ahhhhh, ok, that explains a lot, thanx! :)

i'll keep that in mind when i fall into the same long-scenario.

peace-olah, juLiE

May 16th, 2004, 02:38 PM	#1
Julie Meitz New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 8	signal converter; s-video to video does anyone know of a real s-video to video converter for a reasonable price...or pricey price, whatever? and i'm not talking about your typical radio shack $19 converter...a unit that converts properly. thanx & peace-olah, juLiE

May 17th, 2004, 05:44 PM	#6
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	An inexpensive converter would be to get a distribution amplifier that will accept S-Video and output either S-Video or Composite Video. Like the Sign Video DA. I've forgotten the price but it has obvious application beyond just converting the signal. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

May 17th, 2004, 07:34 PM	#8
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The radio shack DA has so much internal amplification that I use it to drive long S-Video cables. The copy I have amplifies the signal by about 150%. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

May 16th, 2004, 04:19 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Is there really such a thing? You are always going to lose quality when going from S to RCA. Does an "active" converter do a better job than a passive cable? I don't know. I have a couple little adaptors with a male S video plug and female RCA jack, they were included with other stuff I've bought like my PowerBook. I also have two things that would fit the "pricey" option. First is a VCR that has both S and RCA inputs and outputs. The second is a DVD recorder with the same. There are various other media converters out there that would also fill the "pricey" bill. These are expensive and most are really geared towards converting between 1394 and the various analog flavors.

May 16th, 2004, 06:46 PM	#3
Julie Meitz New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 8	thanx a lot Boyd for the info, appreciate :) re: link, pricey is real pricey! sheez...and i'm not a starving artist, but... well, maybe i'll go the vcr route... and yes, "lose quality", yes'em, know, but... it seems to be a 'but' day ;) peace-olah, juLiE

May 17th, 2004, 10:33 AM	#4
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Most DV decks have an S-input, and so do many Betacam SP decks and even the old Hi-8 decks. If you want to convert to DV, then all you have to do is play the tape from the S deck to the DV deck. Most any dub house can do this for you. Or, as the above post said, just take the RCA output of the S deck.

May 17th, 2004, 12:04 PM	#5
Julie Meitz New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 8	thanx Bill, another good suggestion, will do! :) p.s. i actually did a test of my own similar to what you and Boyd recommended (due to a Steve McDonald posting of similar solution), which was based on 2 sony D8 camcorders and a firewire link (outputing from pc to tv) - the colors were on the money, but i use 1 of my camcorders for live feed while VJ-ing, so i can't use this method...i'll either look for a cheap hi-8 or get a dv or vcr deck w/s-video. peace-olah, juLiE

May 17th, 2004, 06:47 PM	#7
Julie Meitz New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 8	thanx Mike, i'll look into the sign video da, not aware of this brand/type! :) actually i already have a radio shack s-video distribution amplifier which i'm currently using since my tv does not have s-video input. but it bleeds red big time; basically the color and quality is off. i even bought a separate $19 s-video to video coupler (if that's what you call it), to make sure my dist. amp was not off, but both produced the exact same results. and what's funny is that the amp cost maybe $40 and they do the same thing... found a site: http://www.signvideo.com/das5_das15_s-video_distribution_amplifier.htm only DAS-5 & DAS-15 (not DA8-DA16) have s-video included; price is not bad; $149 - 249! thanx! peace-olah, juLiE

May 17th, 2004, 08:47 PM	#9
Julie Meitz New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 8	ahhhhh, ok, that explains a lot, thanx! :) i'll keep that in mind when i fall into the same long-scenario. peace-olah, juLiE