Quick Setup Guide
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Desktop/Laptop/Server Platform
- CPU: Ryzen 5000/7000 | Apple Arm M series | Intel i7 6th gen or newer
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GPU 980ti or newer (For faster Teletext decoding & CUDA accelerated FLAC compression)
- Operating System: Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 or newer), Microsoft Windows 10 2009 (or Newer), Apple MacOS (MacOS 11 "Big Sur" or Newer)
- Storage Capture: 2-8TB SSD or RAID Recommended
- Storage Working: 8-20TB+ Recommended (WD/Seagate/HGST etc)
- CPU: Intel 3rd gen / Ryzen 1000 Series
- Graphics Card: Integrated Graphics
- Operating System: Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 or newer), Microsoft Windows 10 2009 (or Newer), Apple MacOS (MacOS 11 "Big Sur" or Newer)
- Storage 500GB-2TB 7200 RPM HDD
Office PC with a Intel i7 or i5 from 2008-Current day should be powerful enough to capture, but decoding should not be expected to be faster then 2-3fps.
Tip
Used high end hardware from a couple years ago is always better then very old low end or modern low to middle end hardware.
For non-Linux and just people who are new to CLI or Command Line Interfaces users we recommend Linux Mint Cinnamon over Ubuntu if your entirely unfamiliar with Linux with a simple setup guide.
The most flexible and cost effective capture and decode setup will be with Linux, but initial capture can always be done though a in-expensive USB boot using the Linux Live Boot workflow with CX Cards.
MacOS/Windows are entirely workflow supported for decoding and exporting to video files.
There is 2 ways to use the decode software suite, self-contained or built locally.
Tip
If making cold store archives you will want to bundle the source code and self-contained binary's together.
- CX Card (Ideal for Video8/Hi8, but best to go for clockgen mod for VHS etc)
- Clockgen Mod (Combines a clock genarator with an standard audio ADC allowing for synchronised multichannel capture on the cheap)
For USB 3.0 but more expensive is 2 options
- DdD - DomesDay Duplicator
- MISRC - Multi Input Simultaneous Raw RF Capture
A "directory" is simply a folder in the system, avoid spaces on files and folders otherwise you will have to "wrap/the/folder/path" like so for the applications to find the files this is done automatically on drag and drop for most Command Prompts or Terminals.
cd To enter into an directory.
cd .. To go back an directory.
./ Runs a script or application in a local directory. (Linux/Unix)
CTRL + C Kills the current process in a terminal.
This is universal for Windows / MacOS / Liunx - The tools are CLI easyer to maintain then a GUI, easy to use remotely and very little changes to worry about once learned please read the builds doc for your respective OS your going to operate decode on.
Tip
You can write out and or modify example commands and note them down in a txt or md file then simply copy, edit, paste when needed.
Tip
Its recommend using the standardised naming guide so you and others know what your files are without guess work.
RF Capture--> FLAC Compress --> Archive
RF Capture --> Decode --> Inspect --> Export
Fabricate --> Flash DE0 & FX3 boards --> Install USB Driver --> Open App & Capture
Note
Has sample drop issues on Windows for 99% reliability use MacOS or Linux install for initial captures.
If you have an DomesDayDuplicator you don't need to care about Linux past live install and having an exFat formatted HDD drive to move the data cross operating systems.
Decode workflow is 3-4 commands commands for the most part, for a plug and play setup today using a DdD + RTLSDR is fairly standard, but CX Cards with the Clockgen mod is more affordable and automatable.
GUI is simple for the DdD it tells you how long it runs just to make sure it's in 10-bit packed mode making an .lds raw file you then compress it to a .ldf 16-bit FLAC file.
Capture runtime limiting and capture time with storage space available is shown in the GUI application.
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)
Caution
10 Mhz 10-bit Packed Unsigned (4:1) is .cds not supported by toolchain do not use this option.
(replace with the name you wish to use with your media capture)
Run ld-compress capture-name.lds in Linux/MacOS with your .lds file in the vhs-decode scripts directory or anyware if installed on path.
For Windows there is compression scrips with .bat files drag en drop to compress DdD or CX Card files.
Note
Requires a hardware installation of Linux on a desktop or laptop with external PCIe 1x slot or bandwidth available.
Shutdown System --> Unplug --> Physically Install into PCIe slots --> Plug back in --> Power on. --> Install Driver --> Restart --> Use Driver.
CXADC Wiki for overview information path.
Driver install and use of CXADX is 100% covered in the readme for it.
Find VMUX --> Test Capture --> Decode Test Capture
./leveladj sets the gain level best to start the tape a few seconds in to set the gain then rewind and begin full capture, this can be ignored if amplifiers are employed in the capture chain as you can set gain to 0 and pretty much ignore it.
There is a GUI Alpha App that can make life easier.
Rule of thumb always sample higher then required if using a stock card 28msps 8-bit mode is the go to.
Caution
Do not use 35mhz 8-bit as it's just up-sampling data and wasting space.
In technicality, you can down sample to 6-bits before any real world information loss occurs, but the ideal clock and sampling rate for CX Cards is 40mhz or 40msps 8-bit to make the most of the 10-bit ADC chip for initial captures, however for space-saving down sampling to 20msps 8-bit is a treading standard but has risks of causing issues for out of spec captures and SoX on windows can generate invalid data.
With VCRs assuming no major issues you have 2 main controls physical tape guides and digital tracking IC control, now tracking is normally manipulable via a knob on a pro deck and channel up/down on consumer to prosumer deck front panels, 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 TV or video monitor 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 will work fine for most peoples needs.
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's and cables to signal points such as head switching, for SCART only decks this is an opportunity to add CVBS in/out etc.
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 mechanically secure bulkhead, or to a jig boards for camcorders.
Important
The centre 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.
RED = Pos/+/Signal/Live & BLACK = Neg/-/Ground/Return
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
A.Out - Linear Baseband
Important
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!
Note
With a 10uf capacitor in-line de-coupling the test point, you should be able to capture RF and conventional normal baseband i.e CVBS or S-Video output at the same time with virtually no affect on RF or standard video output.
Having a conventional capture and viewing for reference is very useful to understand the state of a tape and possible errors like tracking, audio sync and damaged segments.
- CRT or Digital TV with S-Video/CVBS/SCART
- DMR-ES10 / ES15 or equivalent signal passthrough stabiliser. (if no remote press eject then external link up/down on DMR units)
- EasyCrap/BlackMagic SDI or GV2-USB (or even CVBS to HDMI to HDMI to USB)
You can have a complete reference capture setup for around 50USD or less globally if you look around properly.
Allocate 500GB to 2TB of storage 100MB/s Write Speed Safe Minimum.
For affordable local storage:
Western Digital (WD) 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.
Media Archive Guide & LTO Tape Guide
Currently, we only have M-Disk & DataLifePlus, DM Archive as a solid archive format widely alliable using the standard Blu-Ray format
25GB SL, 50GB DL, 100GB TL & 128GB Sony
These discs are not affected by humidity/thermal shifts/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 up-to "1000" years when the polycarbonate plastics start de-bond.
Once written all modern DVD/BluRay readers/writers & players support the UDF data format, which can be read on PC/Mac/Linux/Android and even IOS with some select Blu-Ray readers that have file system translation modes.
Amazon US / Amazon UK has a constant supply.
Backblase Personal Backup Plan *7USD/m
For testing or interesting signals & issues you encounter feel free to store them on the Telegram Group.
Please be sure to read and use the Submission Guidelines Naming System this ensures sanity of knowing what files are what format.
Note! open the image in another tab or download it to view full scale in case of viewing issues.
Next Page Hardware Installation Guide
Previous Page Home
- FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
- Diagram Breakdowns
- Visual-Comparisons
- VCR Reports / RF Tap Examples
- Download & Contribute Data
- Speed Testing
- Visual VBI Data Guide
- Closed Captioning
- Teletext
- WSS Wide - Screen Signalling
- VITC Timecode
- VITS Signals
- XDS Data (PBS)
- Video ID IEC 61880
- 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