This guide goes over what workflow or what set up configuration you need to pick per format as in media format i.g VHS, Betamax, LaserDisc etc.

This gives you a single source reference guide to know what device to pick for what applicational use.

Now to be noted here at the start, post-production and the decode side of things, is pretty unified across formats however formats like LaserDisc can have extra information like digital EFM audio streams.

Please read the Acronyms Guide & Hardware Installation Guide to get a grasp of terminology and see visual breakdowns of setting up RF taps and amplifiers for getting your signals ready for RF capturing.

• LaserDisc
• Video8
• Hi8
• Betamax NTSC (HiFi)

Formats such as Betamax (HiFi NTSC models) / Video8 / Hi8 / LaserDisc are true single channel formats everything is on a single FM signal with different carriers.

This means 1 single ADC channel of capture is required for all FM HiFi audio and video signals, but you may also want to capture audio with a reference capture (via legacy hardware) or in-sync to ensure your not dependent on just the output of hifi-decode for tapes with linear tracks as a fallback (duplicate of hifi track content) for example.

Some Hi8 tapes can have PCM audio, this like it's RCTC data is only directly extractable with Digital8 (DV25 Stream) FireWire transfers currently see the Sony 8mm Formats page for more information..

These have a single modulated FM channel which is video, but they only have Linear (baseband) audio, which is captured from the VCR as baseband or better known as line-level, unbalenced RCA output for consumer/prosumer and balanced XLR for broadcast grade decks.

• VHS (Linear Audio Only - Mostly Pre 1990s)
• Betamax (Linear Audio Only)
• N1500
• N1700
• Video2000
• EIAJ
• SMPTE A/B/C
• 2" Quad (Quaduplex)
• U-Matic

Formats such as older EIAJ, Betamax/VHS, 1970s to 1990s non-hifi camcorders and decks will only have Linear mono or Linear stereo if higher end.

Pro formats U-Matic / Betacam and 2" Quad to SMPTE 1" Type A/B/C only had Linear stereo/mono audio tracks for sound and timecode, however later formats like BetaCam SP implemented HiFi FM channels but was rarely used due to editing with Linear audio being more practical but upto 4ch recording was possible.

This also apply's to direct CVBS or Composite RAW captures from camaras, you will normally have a Mono or Stereo channels for microphone feeds.

• VHS (HiFi)
• Betamax (HiFi)

These are formats such as VHS & Beta HiFi which have 2 physically separate paths (thus 2x RF Tap points) for Audio HiFi FM and Video FM signals, alongside the potential for 1-2 channels of Linear audio.

This requires multiple channels with the same capture clock source and timing trigger for start and stop to have accurate post synchronisation.

• Betacam
• Betacam SP
• W-VHS

These are formats such as (but not limited to) BetaCam, BetaCam SP, W-VHS these physically record a dedicated channel for Y or Luma and C or Chroma signals, and have 2 dedicated test points so require 2 dedicated ADC channels for just video capture

In the case of BetaCam SP with AFM or FM stereo audio tapes, a 3rd ADC is required alongside 2 standard audio grade ADC channels for the baseband linear audio. (such as the PCM1802 on the Clockgen or MISRC v2.5)

Device	Image	Interface	Impedance	Type of Capture Ability
DomesDayDuplicator (DdD)		USB 3.0	50Ohm	Single Channel - LaserDisc Focused
CX Card		PCIe 1x	75Ohm	Single Channel - Tape Focused
CX Card + Clockgen Mod		1~2x PCIe 1x	75Ohm	Multi Channel + Audio & Headswitch
RTLSDR		USB 2.0	50Ohm	Single Channel - HiFi FM Only
MISRC V1.5/V1.5a		USB 3.0	50/75Ohm	Duel Channel
MISRC V2.5		USB 3.0	50/75Ohm	Duel Channel with 4ch Audio

Operating System	DdD Support	CX Card Support	RTLSDR Support	MISRC Support (Hasdoh)
Microsoft Windows	Yes (10/11)	Yes (10/11)	Yes (10/11)	Yes (10/11)
Apple MacOS	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Apple MacOS ARM	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Linux	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Linux Arm	?*	Yes*	Yes	Yes

Media RF Type	DdD Support	CX Card Support	RTLSDR Support	MISRC Support	Hasdoh Support
Video FM RF	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
HiFi FM RF	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
CVBS RF	No	Yes*	No	Yes	Yes
S-Video RF	No	Yes* (clockgen)	No	Yes	Yes