Very nice, this same exact device just arrived from AliExpress (I live in Japan). Curious about how you wired the cable between the output and the monitor!
@Jetsudo2 сағат бұрын
So can you put in an old tape and back it up onto an sd card using this external recorder (using playback?). Could you then also record from a VHS player, some old tapes. My capture card unsyncs my audio from my footage and I simply want a straight convesion. >__> Great video btw!
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
Thank you! I’m glad you liked the video. Yes, it’s definitely possible with the right adapter cable. It’s not too complicated to make, but you do need to know a bit about soldering. In fact, I’m currently working on a tutorial showing how to do it. The video quality is really good, but the audio isn’t great. It doesn’t desynchronize, but the quality is pretty low-kind of like an old radio. So while it could work perfectly for video, I wouldn’t recommend it if you want to preserve the original audio. I’d suggest using this device more for recording directly from the camera to a micro SD if you don’t mind the audio. For example, I use it for making music videos, where the captured audio is just a guide, and I replace it with a song during editing.
@lonzojones44284 сағат бұрын
I would love to see what u could do with my old Canon Vm-E2N from 1987!! Great job !! I really like this.
@MaxVegaKun3 сағат бұрын
Thank you so much! To be honest, I didn’t know the Canon VM-E2N, but I did some research, and it’s a really good-looking camera! I’m glad you enjoyed the video your support means a lot!
@lonzojones44284 сағат бұрын
great new tech saves old school equipment!! Love it!!
@MaxVegaKun3 сағат бұрын
Thank you so much! I’m really glad you loved it. I don’t consider myself a technician yet, haha, just a hobbyist. But if all goes well and I can arrange my work schedule, I’ll start studying electronics in February next year. I’m excited to keep working with these lovely cameras and beautiful devices from the past!
@TheEarworms5 сағат бұрын
Max ! Great video, I am interested in the jvc proprietary cable adapter! I have a jvc gr-c1 that needs some love.
@MaxVegaKun3 сағат бұрын
Thanks so much! Wow, you have that legendary JVC GR-C1? I love that camera! I had the chance to use one at a friend’s house a couple of years ago, and it’s a beautiful piece of tech. As for the cable, it’s actually not too complicated. I’m currently working on a video review of a Zenith VHS camera that uses the same type of connector. I didn’t want to modify it because it’s in pristine condition, so in that video, I’ll show how to make the cable and how to rebuild the batteries, which are the same ones used in the GR-C1. Stay tuned!
@dlprod116 сағат бұрын
The Zenith Camcorder you are showing at the 11 minute mark, is it an S-VHS camcorder? JVC made the exact same model but it was S-VHS and I've been searching for it for years. It was a JVC GF-S550.
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
Great observation! You’re absolutely right-visually, it’s identical to the Zenith VM7150. However, nowhere on the camera does it specify that it’s S-VHS, unlike the JVC model. I looked through the manual to see if there was any reference to S-VHS compatibility, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything. From the recordings I’ve made with this camera, it’s clear that it’s standard VHS quality, which I found a bit strange because I have a Zenith VM6200 and a JVC GR-C7, and those are indeed identical both in functions and appearance. This makes me think the Zenith VM7150 is the more budget-friendly version of the JVC GF-S550
@Lorenzzoman9 сағат бұрын
would it be better quality than a firewire capture card? also does it support 60 fps recording?
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
To be honest, I don’t have a FireWire capture card to test the exact same video recording, but I’ve seen recordings from a friend who uses an old laptop with that port. In my view, the quality is very similar between the two. There are differences, but I wouldn’t say one is better than the other-it’s more about variations in color and saturation. Regarding the frame rate, the mini DVR unfortunately only supports up to 30 fps. Personally, I don’t notice a significant difference between 30 and 60 fps, unless you’re doing slow-motion work, where 60 fps might have an edge. But outside of that, 30 fps works just fine for me. It really depends on how you plan to use the footage. Just keep in mind, this is the opinion of a hobbyist, not an expert! 😊
@tvtechnicaldirector6 минут бұрын
@@MaxVegaKunToo bad it doesn’t do 60fps. Thats a dealbreaker for me.
@webinatic21612 сағат бұрын
I had to order it from alixpress if because I'm not from USA.
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
That’s great! At least here in the States, I’ve never had any problems with AliExpress deliveries. It’s cheaper, and even though it takes about a week to arrive, it’s not too long. I hope it works out well for you! Thanks for sharing! 😊
@shanesdiy13 сағат бұрын
Excellent guide. I appreciated the comparison to the capture cards, I wouldn't have thought they would have been so much different! This information will be very helpful to get some use out of a couple of my old cameras.
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
Thanks a lot! I’m really glad the guide was useful for you. It’s interesting to see how much the capture method can impact the final result. I hope this helps you bring those old cameras back to life and get some great footage out of them!
@deastman213 сағат бұрын
This is very helpful. I’m going to be starting a music video soon which needs to have an authentic old camcorder look, and I think this will work very well for my needs.
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
That sounds like an exciting project! I’m glad you found this helpful, and I’m sure using an old camcorder will give your music video that authentic look you’re aiming for. Best of luck with the shoot, I’d love to see how it turns out!
@deastman22 сағат бұрын
@@MaxVegaKunThanks! Yeah, I had planned to film it with a modern camera and bounce the finished edit to VHS tape for a vintage look, but it’s much better to start with a period-accurate camera. Hopefully I still have a working one around here somewhere…
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
That sounds like an awesome plan. There’s something about the original equipment that really captures the essence of that era. Hopefully, you’ve got a working one around!
@birne267613 сағат бұрын
Thank you for the great video! I would love to see a video on how to make all of the adaptor cables. Or do you maybe have a document in which you can see how you need to mod the cables? Something like a wiring or circuit diagram?
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
Thank you so much for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I’m already working on a video about how to create the adapter cables, that’s definitely on my list. I don’t have a specific document or diagram at the moment, but it’s a great idea. I’ll see if I can put something together to help with the wiring and modifications. Stay tuned!
@Skrumdng13 сағат бұрын
Hey, could be cool to do that on an sony trinicon hvc camera
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
Oh, absolutely! I have a friend who owns a Sony HVC-2200, and he’s interested in modding it. If he decides to go for it, I might be able to make a video about that in the future. Thanks for the suggestion!
@MaxVegaKun13 сағат бұрын
Hey! Just wanted to clarify that I’m not getting paid to promote this devise; I just think it’s a great option. I also know it might not be perfect for every use, but I’m sharing my experience because it’s worked really well for what I need. Hope the video helps! I probably forgot to mention some details, so feel free to ask any questions!
@troysvisualartsКүн бұрын
Excellent video, I love your old camera mod videos, thay totally rock! I have one of these type of cameras, a Sharp XC-54, will consider modding my camera for super portable use! Here's a video from my Sharp XC-54 I made, I used a portapack VHS to record the picture kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iMiHjLFmsLDaoJ8.html
@troysvisualartsКүн бұрын
Thank you so much for making these old camera mod videos, you totally rock!!! I'm from Australia and I am an avid user of vintage video cameras as a hobby and have a lot of them dating from the 60s-90s and plenty of 80s ones particularly National/Panasonic! I've used portapack VHS recorders with them but none work now and for a long time been wanting to make my cameras super portable and record to a small digital recording device, your videos was just what I needed to watch to achive this! When I don't use a portapack VHS I generally run my cameras via a breakout box made by National/Panasonic which I run to a DVD recorder, when I'm on remote I have this set up powered from my car battery via AC inverter, very cumbersome setup, will be glad to see the back of that! I am reluctant to cut the camera cables but will pick a sacrificial camera and have a crack at this mod. I think I will rather just open the camera and unsolder the cable wires at their points so I can later resolder the cable if I have to. Anyhow love your videos keep them coming! Lastly here's a video compile I made back in 2012 of most of my working cameras in operation and the kind of pictures that come from them kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rrOVoLSqvsDImXk.html .
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
Thank you so much for your kind words! Wow, I’m really honored! And of course, I know your channel-I absolutely love your collection of cameras. Before I started modding my own, I watched your videos to compare models. What you do is truly amazing! I totally understand the struggle with those old setups. It’s great that you’re considering making your cameras more portable with a digital recording device. Opening up the camera and unsoldering the cables sounds like a smart approach if you want to keep everything reversible. I’m really glad my videos could help inspire your next steps. Keep up the great work, and if all goes well with my work schedule, I hope to start studying electronics soon, so I’ll definitely keep the mods coming! Thanks again!
@KRAFTWERK2K6Күн бұрын
imagine a modern digital HD camcorder with THIS formfactor but with 4:3 sensor and 4:3 HD aspect ratio. I'd love to see that.
@MaxVegaKun2 сағат бұрын
Wow, that sounds amazing! In fact, I've been looking for a way to do something similar with an old Bolex cinema camera. I've seen some interesting projects out there, and I'm planning to try something like that soon.
@BadgerFart2 күн бұрын
I don’t really know much about electronics but may I ask how you created the analog to digital signal to the mini dvr? Also amazing project. Just managed to power up a Sony trinicom with this method
@intheshitter3 күн бұрын
This is great 😁Nice work! I never knew those mini DVR things even existed 👍If I ever come across an old camera im definitely going to do this too
@smurfsmurf43373 күн бұрын
You said you ran some tests to identify the serial pins. What tests were you speaking of ie knowing video vs audio
@MaxVegaKun3 күн бұрын
Yes indeed! I’ve received that question quite often, so I’ll try to explain it a bit better :) The process really depends on the model. So far, I’ve managed to do it with six different cameras, but here’s how I approach it-just keep in mind, I’m not an expert, just an electronics hobbyist, so there’s probably a better way out there that I’m not aware of, haha. The first thing I do is search online to see if I can find the pinout for the cable or connector used by the camera. For example, you can Google something like '10 pin video cable diagram' or 'pinout.' There are some sites where they keep this information, and from there, you can see exactly which cables you need. You will need 4 cables: a) Power (usually 12V), b) Ground, c) Video signal, and d) Audio signal (usually mono). However, in my experience, this information almost never works because it’s often different for each model. I assume this is due to the large variety of models and the limited number of cameras I’ve worked with, but sometimes they're very close and it helps me to save some time. So, this is where my multimeter comes in handy in continuity mode. First, and most simply, I look for the ground wire. I place one end of the multimeter on the connector pin I want to test and the other end on any solder point inside the motherboard that has a metal plate or screw (which usually leads to ground). When there’s continuity, the multimeter beeps-there you have your ground. For power, these cameras almost always have a fuse, so I place one end of the multimeter on one of the solder points of the fuse and continue testing the connector wires until I find continuity-now you’ve got power and ground sorted. For finding the audio and video signals, to be honest, it’s trial and error for me. Once I can power the camera using a battery or appropriate power supply (after finding the ground and power points), I turn on the camera and start testing the remaining connector wires using a video capture device connected to my PC. I test each wire with an RCA cable (composite video or pin jack) without soldering-just temporarily connecting them. These RCA connectors have two wires: one goes to ground (the same point we found earlier), and the other is used to test the remaining connector wires until I get a video signal on the PC. I do the same for audio. This is the best-case scenario when the camera is actually functioning, but there have been several times when the camera was simply broken. We have to remember these cameras are around 40 years old, so sometimes they just don’t work. Recently, I managed to revive one when I noticed that two capacitors were desoldered and swollen. Luckily, I had capacitors of the same value, so I tried replacing them, and it worked! On another occasion, the fuse was blown, and I replaced it. These are simple repairs, but sometimes the issues can be much more complicated, and with my limited knowledge, it would be impossible for me to fix them. I love electronics so much that I’ll be starting formal studies in February next year, so I’m hoping to take on more complex projects and be able to help out better in the future! 😊 That’s my simple trial-and-error method. As I mentioned, I’m not a professional, so there’s likely a better way to do it, but at least this has worked for me! I hope this doesn’t confuse you more and that it helps!
@smurfsmurf43376 сағат бұрын
@@MaxVegaKun Thanks for the response brother., Very insightful and motivating. I bought a JVC GXNU70 and I'm going to start tinkering around with this. Appreciate your dedication to your hobby and fans
@malmaoo3 күн бұрын
I like this camera and great idea i have camcorders from the 90s a warm picture quality hope to mod my ones soon
@MaxVegaKun3 күн бұрын
Thank you! I’m glad you like the camera and the idea. Camcorders from that era have such a unique picture feeling, it’s just special! I hope you get to mod yours soon! It’s a rewarding experience, for sure 😊
@toomworld4 күн бұрын
I love old camcorders. I've been shooting them since my first one in 87, a PXL2000! I still shoot with them. I made a a full length movie with these old cameras. It's called "We Must Remain the Wildhearted Outsiders" I shot everything on tape, but now I am excited about the idea of shooting to video capture. This channel is great, keep these old video mods coming!
@MaxVegaKun3 күн бұрын
That sounds like an incredible project! Making a full-length movie with those vintage cameras must have been an amazing experience. The idea of capturing video directly now opens up so many new possibilities. I’d love to watch your film, can it be found on KZfaq? I’m really glad you’re enjoying the channel, and I’ll keep the mods coming! 😊
@toomworld2 күн бұрын
@@MaxVegaKun Hi! No, it's not on youtube. There should be a trailer for it here, but the main trailers are on vimeo. I shot it on mini DV, Hi-8, Betamax, and VHS. I just got a set up so that I can work with the betamax camera directly into a digital capture. I'm setting it all up to be portable too. I love this old camera, because it has a tube and has amazing ghosting and trails. it's really something that can't be duplicated.
@lonzojones44284 күн бұрын
Blows my mind how you do this!! great job as usual.
@MaxVegaKun3 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear that-I'm really glad you're enjoying the work. Your support keeps me going! 😊
@lonzojones44284 күн бұрын
very cool!! great job as usual. What music video will u do with this one??
@MaxVegaKun3 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I haven’t shot a music video with this one yet, but next week we’re starting on a project for a friend’s music video. It’ll be his first experience with retro cameras, and we’re really excited about it!
@NearObsolete5 күн бұрын
Screw that, id rather keep the vcr attached.
@MaxVegaKun5 күн бұрын
Hahah as you wish my friend is just an option :)
@johnpaullennon11997 күн бұрын
You should pick another type out and install a modded flat lens or no lens sony 4k action camera body into it that uses the og lens assy. How cool would that be? 😊
@llamacide739 күн бұрын
"How do I know if it works correctly? I have no idea..." lol!
@MaxVegaKun9 күн бұрын
Hi there! The first thing I check is whether the camera is actually turned on. This depends a lot on the camera model, but generally, there’s some kind of LED indicator that shows if there’s power, or if it has a viewfinder, sometimes a light will turn on to confirm it’s working. To test if it’s outputting video, I do it through trial and error-there’s probably a better method, but my knowledge isn’t that advanced yet, haha. So before connecting the cables to the 4-pole connector, I first connect RCA cables (the yellow, white, and red ones for analog video) to a capture device on my PC. Using OBS Studio, I can see if the camera is outputting video and audio correctly. I hope this gives you some direction and doesn’t confuse you more. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! 😊
@shadowhacker2710 күн бұрын
This is insane!!!!!!!! Here in Japan I see tens of thousands of classic cameras that never made it over the ocean and for projects this is a very neat idea.
@MaxVegaKun9 күн бұрын
That’s amazing! It must be incredible to have access to so many classic cameras in Japan. There’s definitely something special about bringing these old gems back to life, there’s so much potential with all those cameras, I'm glad you liked this projects!
@ChrisWMF10 күн бұрын
Do the PXL-2000 next, please.
@MaxVegaKun9 күн бұрын
I’d love to! The PXL-2000 is such a beautiful classic camera. To be honest, I’ve always wanted one, but since it’s a pretty famous model, it’s quite expensive-at least for me, haha. I’ve been searching on eBay, but since the channel is still small, I couldn’t justify the investment just yet. However, if I find one at a good price in the future, I’d definitely go for it. The mod for that camera is actually pretty straightforward since it already has an RCA video output, but I’ve got some other ideas in mind for that amazing piece of tech! Thank you so much for your comment and for stopping by!
@fenixlolnope36111 күн бұрын
NOFX sticker on your camera makes me wish I could like this video more than once :3
@MaxVegaKun9 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! I grew up with NOFX they're one of my all-time favorites, I’m glad you noticed the sticker!
@TboneLoyal11 күн бұрын
Great job. If you could. Make the pin outs and a diagram of the build on a worksheet of some kind please. And link to it. I would love to see an up close view of how you did it. I’m an electronics repair and tinkerer. Love to reuse old things. I’m hunting down old cameras now as I see a way to upgrade them for today’s use.
@MaxVegaKun11 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed the project. I’d love to provide a detailed diagram with pinouts and the build process, but to be honest, all the information I have is what’s in the video, and since I did the mod a few weeks ago, I don’t remember all the details, haha. To create a diagram, I’d have to redo the mod, but with two full-time jobs and new videos in the works, it would be tough for me to go through the process again right now. However, I’ll share a bit about how I approach these mods, which might be even more useful since it can apply to almost any retro camera: The process really depends on the model. So far, I’ve managed to do it with six different cameras, but here’s how I approach it-just keep in mind, I’m not an expert, just an electronics hobbyist, so there’s probably a better way out there that I’m not aware of, haha. The first thing I do is search online to see if I can find the pinout for the cable or connector used by the camera. For example, you can Google something like '10 pin video cable diagram' or 'pinout.' There are some sites where they keep this information, and from there, you can see exactly which cables you need. You will need 4 cables: a) Power (usually 12V), b) Ground, c) Video signal, and d) Audio signal (usually mono). However, in my experience, this information almost never works because it’s often different for each model. I assume this is due to the large variety of models and the limited number of cameras I’ve worked with, but sometimes they're very close and it helps me to save some time. So, this is where my multimeter comes in handy in continuity mode. First, and most simply, I look for the ground wire. I place one end of the multimeter on the connector pin I want to test and the other end on any solder point inside the motherboard that has a metal plate or screw (which usually leads to ground). When there’s continuity, the multimeter beeps-there you have your ground. For power, these cameras almost always have a fuse, so I place one end of the multimeter on one of the solder points of the fuse and continue testing the connector wires until I find continuity-now you’ve got power and ground sorted. For finding the audio and video signals, to be honest, it’s trial and error for me. Once I can power the camera using a battery or appropriate power supply (after finding the ground and power points), I turn on the camera and start testing the remaining connector wires using a video capture device connected to my PC. I test each wire with an RCA cable (composite video or pin jack) without soldering-just temporarily connecting them. These RCA connectors have two wires: one goes to ground (the same point we found earlier), and the other is used to test the remaining connector wires until I get a video signal on the PC. I do the same for audio. This is the best-case scenario when the camera is actually functioning, but there have been several times when the camera was simply broken. We have to remember these cameras are around 40 years old, so sometimes they just don’t work. Recently, I managed to revive one when I noticed that two capacitors were desoldered and swollen. Luckily, I had capacitors of the same value, so I tried replacing them, and it worked! On another occasion, the fuse was blown, and I replaced it. These are simple repairs, but sometimes the issues can be much more complicated, and with my limited knowledge, it would be impossible for me to fix them. I love electronics so much that I’ll be starting formal studies in February next year, so I’m hoping to take on more complex projects and be able to help out better in the future! 😊 That’s my simple trial-and-error method. As I mentioned, I’m not a professional, so there’s likely a better way to do it, but at least this has worked for me! I hope this doesn’t confuse you more and that it helps!
@SianaGearz11 күн бұрын
Oh. Cute mod. Speak however you want, never mind the feeble minded.
@MaxVegaKun11 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your support and kind words. It means a lot to me that you enjoyed the mod. Thanks again!
@kiosk765812 күн бұрын
I have a quesrion to the part of (3:30) how do you know wich wire is audio, video and power?
@MaxVegaKun11 күн бұрын
Great question! For this particular model, the following link was very helpful to me: bigheadamusements.com/wordpress/?p=3115 But the process really depends on the model. So far, I’ve managed to do it with six different cameras, but here’s how I approach it-just keep in mind, I’m not an expert, just an electronics hobbyist, so there’s probably a better way out there that I’m not aware of, haha. The first thing I do is search online to see if I can find the pinout for the cable or connector used by the camera. For example, you can Google something like '10 pin video cable diagram' or 'pinout.' There are some sites where they keep this information, and from there, you can see exactly which cables you need. You will need 4 cables: a) Power (usually 12V), b) Ground, c) Video signal, and d) Audio signal (usually mono). However, in my experience, this information almost never works because it’s often different for each model. I assume this is due to the large variety of models and the limited number of cameras I’ve worked with, but sometimes they're very close and it helps me to save some time. So, this is where my multimeter comes in handy in continuity mode. First, and most simply, I look for the ground wire. I place one end of the multimeter on the connector pin I want to test and the other end on any solder point inside the motherboard that has a metal plate or screw (which usually leads to ground). When there’s continuity, the multimeter beeps-there you have your ground. For power, these cameras almost always have a fuse, so I place one end of the multimeter on one of the solder points of the fuse and continue testing the connector wires until I find continuity-now you’ve got power and ground sorted. For finding the audio and video signals, to be honest, it’s trial and error for me. Once I can power the camera using a battery or appropriate power supply (after finding the ground and power points), I turn on the camera and start testing the remaining connector wires using a video capture device connected to my PC. I test each wire with an RCA cable (composite video or pin jack) without soldering-just temporarily connecting them. These RCA connectors have two wires: one goes to ground (the same point we found earlier), and the other is used to test the remaining connector wires until I get a video signal on the PC. I do the same for audio. This is the best-case scenario when the camera is actually functioning, but there have been several times when the camera was simply broken. We have to remember these cameras are around 40 years old, so sometimes they just don’t work. Recently, I managed to revive one when I noticed that two capacitors were desoldered and swollen. Luckily, I had capacitors of the same value, so I tried replacing them, and it worked! On another occasion, the fuse was blown, and I replaced it. These are simple repairs, but sometimes the issues can be much more complicated, and with my limited knowledge, it would be impossible for me to fix them. I love electronics so much that I’ll be starting formal studies in February next year, so I’m hoping to take on more complex projects and be able to help out better in the future! 😊 That’s my simple trial-and-error method. As I mentioned, I’m not a professional, so there’s likely a better way to do it, but at least this has worked for me! I hope this doesn’t confuse you more and that it helps!
@mxdst14k2912 күн бұрын
Back then you can find all the parts at radio shack I made my wii senor bar with 2 cheap infer leds
@MaxVegaKun11 күн бұрын
That’s awesome! Radio Shack was the go-to place for all kinds of DIY projects back in the day. It’s great that you were able to make your own Wii sensor bar with just a couple of infrared LEDs. Those were the days of real hands-on creativity!
@maladamedialabs421412 күн бұрын
I like the way you speak - softly and gently. It's very nice. Your modifications are amazing. Keep up the good work!
@MaxVegaKun11 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really glad you enjoy the mods. Your support means a lot to me, and I’ll definitely keep working! 😊
@Bleats_Sinodai12 күн бұрын
If you want better quality when recording analog video, you can use an AV to HDMI converter, into an USB capture card, into your phone, and use USB Camera Pro to record.
@MaxVegaKun11 күн бұрын
Thanks for the tip! I’ve been experimenting with different setups, and I’ll definitely look into using an AV to HDMI converter with a USB capture card. I’ve tried USB Camera Pro before, and it’s a solid app for recording. I appreciate the suggestion!
@ArtwoXYZ13 күн бұрын
I watched all your videos on this subject and I see that you always use pretty much the same kind of equipment. Have you ever thought about using video converters (those used to digitize VHS for example), which would replace the mini DVR and the screen? I have a JVC GX-N7U, and I was thinking of testing a video capture card for iPhone or Android too. Maybe even a professional video recorder. In fact, I'm afraid we'll lose a lot of quality using a simple Mini DVR like this, don't you think?
@MaxVegaKun13 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for watching all my videos and for your thoughtful question! Yes, I’ve been using this mini DVR for several reasons: 1) It’s very portable and has a rechargeable battery, so I can have a versatile setup, 2) It has a video output, allowing me to connect a monitor if I want, and 3) It’s quite affordable compared to specialized devices for capturing VHS or professional video scalers. In my opinion, the quality is pretty good if you set the DVR to HD, as the video bitrate is 28 Mbps. To be honest, I’ve never used any specialized devices or professional scalers because my budget doesn’t allow it, haha. What I have done is watch a lot of reviews of those types of gadgets, and to be honest, I don’t see much of a quality difference between the mini DVR and those much more expensive devices. I believe these types of cameras have a built-in quality limit, even with more "modern" mini DV tape cameras, where the maximum resolution is 640x480 at a bitrate of 25 Mbps. I think it really depends on what you want to use the footage for. For most people, I think the DVR would be more than sufficient. However, I have tried different video capture devices on PC and Android with the USB video app, and the quality is pretty bad, which is why, for my purposes, I’m happy with the mini DVR. It has its downsides, for example, the video comes out in 16:9 format, and the audio is terrible, but this is where I say it depends on what you need the footage for. For me, it’s not a problem because I use these cameras to make music videos, so I don’t need the audio, and converting the video back to 4:3 format is very easy in video editing software. Plus, you need to make a custom cable to work correctly with the standard 3.5mm video plug. It’s simple, but you need to know a little soldering. In fact, I’m currently working on a video where I compare the video capture devices I have with the mini DVR and discuss what I see as their pros and cons. However, this is just my opinion and based on my experience-I’m not a professional, it’s just a hobby I enjoy a lot. I really appreciate your comment, and if you have any suggestions, they’re more than welcome!
@ArtwoXYZ12 күн бұрын
@@MaxVegaKun Thank you for your response! A comparison video would be great, I can't wait to see it. The other alternative (but only available on the second hand market) would be the ImmersionRC PowerPlay, this thing doesn't seem bad at all.
@smurfsmurf43373 күн бұрын
@@ArtwoXYZ I bought a GXN70 myself. I would need to cut the 13 pin cable but don't have the balls to do so. have you started?
@OriginalMotorCar13 күн бұрын
Would love to see a full review on the mini dvr!
@MaxVegaKun13 күн бұрын
Thank you for your interest! I’m actually working on a full review of the mini DVR right now, where I’ll go over its features, pros and cons, and how it compares to other video capture methods that I have used. Stay tuned-it’s coming soon! 😊
@footycheck13 күн бұрын
I would buy that camera?
@MaxVegaKun13 күн бұрын
Thanks for your enthusiasm! It’s great to hear that you’d be interested in buying a camera like this. I’m actually considering the option of selling them once I reach the KZfaq requirements to offer merchandise through the platform :)
@AimShootDevelop13 күн бұрын
Love the videos & always look forward to them! 😎
@MaxVegaKun13 күн бұрын
Thanks a ton! It makes me really happy to know you’re enjoying the videos. I appreciate your support more than you know!
@shanesdiy13 күн бұрын
Love the vintage camera mods. I can't bring myself to get rid of any old stuff and like you enjoying giving new life to old equipment. I have an old Hi8 camera that is begging for a mod like this. Keep up the great work!
@MaxVegaKun13 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! There’s something so rewarding about giving new life to vintage equipment. That Hi8 camera sounds like a perfect candidate for a mod! I’d love to see what you come up with. Thanks for the support!
@shanesdiy13 күн бұрын
@@MaxVegaKun I'll have to make a video of the process for my channel if I do it. I'll be sure to give you a shout out as my inspiration! I just went out to the storage room and found an old VHS camera as well that I've been keeping around for about 30 years and it was used when I got it.
@MaxVegaKun11 күн бұрын
That sounds awesome! I’d love to see the video if you decide to go through with it. And thank you so much for the shout out-it means a lot! That old VHS camera sounds like a real treasure, especially after all these years. I’m excited to see what you do with it! 😊
@beepboop-oo8jk13 күн бұрын
Dude awesome mod and amazing job giving new life to the cameras. Also don't listen to the haters we all talk different and say things weird, my Spanish always comes out when I speak English.
@MaxVegaKun13 күн бұрын
Thanks so much! I really appreciate the support and encouragement! I’m the opposite, sometimes a bit of English slips out when I try to speak... English, haha. I still struggle with holding long conversations, and actually, making this channel 100% in English was a way to force myself to practice. Thanks again! 😊
@dannys483114 күн бұрын
How do you test it which wires are which? I have a DCR VX2100
@MaxVegaKun14 күн бұрын
Great question! The process really depends on the model. So far, I’ve managed to do it with six different cameras, but here’s how I approach it-just keep in mind, I’m not an expert, just an electronics hobbyist, so there’s probably a better way out there that I’m not aware of, haha. The first thing I do is search online to see if I can find the pinout for the cable or connector used by the camera. For example, you can Google something like '10 pin video cable diagram' or 'pinout.' There are some sites where they keep this information, and from there, you can see exactly which cables you need. You will need 4 cables: a) Power (usually 12V), b) Ground, c) Video signal, and d) Audio signal (usually mono). However, in my experience, this information almost never works because it’s often different for each model. I assume this is due to the large variety of models and the limited number of cameras I’ve worked with, but sometimes they're very close and it helps me to save some time. So, this is where my multimeter comes in handy in continuity mode. First, and most simply, I look for the ground wire. I place one end of the multimeter on the connector pin I want to test and the other end on any solder point inside the motherboard that has a metal plate or screw (which usually leads to ground). When there’s continuity, the multimeter beeps-there you have your ground. For power, these cameras almost always have a fuse, so I place one end of the multimeter on one of the solder points of the fuse and continue testing the connector wires until I find continuity-now you’ve got power and ground sorted. For finding the audio and video signals, to be honest, it’s trial and error for me. Once I can power the camera using a battery or appropriate power supply (after finding the ground and power points), I turn on the camera and start testing the remaining connector wires using a video capture device connected to my PC. I test each wire with an RCA cable (composite video or pin jack) without soldering-just temporarily connecting them. These RCA connectors have two wires: one goes to ground (the same point we found earlier), and the other is used to test the remaining connector wires until I get a video signal on the PC. I do the same for audio. This is the best-case scenario when the camera is actually functioning, but there have been several times when the camera was simply broken. We have to remember these cameras are around 40 years old, so sometimes they just don’t work. Recently, I managed to revive one when I noticed that two capacitors were desoldered and swollen. Luckily, I had capacitors of the same value, so I tried replacing them, and it worked! On another occasion, the fuse was blown, and I replaced it. These are simple repairs, but sometimes the issues can be much more complicated, and with my limited knowledge, it would be impossible for me to fix them. I love electronics so much that I’ll be starting formal studies in February next year, so I’m hoping to take on more complex projects and be able to help out better in the future! 😊 That’s my simple trial-and-error method. As I mentioned, I’m not a professional, so there’s likely a better way to do it, but at least this has worked for me! I hope this doesn’t confuse you more and that it helps!
@henrypoole14 күн бұрын
Awesome! I love seeing tube cameras!
@MaxVegaKun14 күн бұрын
Thank you! Tube cameras have such a unique charm, don’t they? It’s always exciting to bring these old-school beauties back to life. I’m glad you enjoyed seeing it!
@uriallon14 күн бұрын
Share the music videos you film with these cameras 👍🏻
@MaxVegaKun14 күн бұрын
Of course! I’d love to share them. Here’s the link to three covers I’ve filmed using these types of cameras: 1) Blink 182 Dance With Me: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qrybhZqE1arMomg.html 2) Goo Goo Dolls Iris: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n8iFl6Wdvr_RaX0.html 3) Less Than Jake The Science of selling yourself short: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z6p9nbyF3dWcc2g.html I’m currently working on filming music videos for a full album of original music, which I’ll be sharing soon. Stay tuned! 😊 And thank you so much for your interest!