How To Convert Analog to Digital pt 5 - ClearClick Video to Digital Converter 3.0 Review and Test

@WaybackRewind In Part 5 of my analog to digital conversion series I Review and Test the ClearClick Video to Digital Converter 3.0. The Pros, internal battery, records to Micro SD Card with one touch, very simple with almost no configuration needed. Cons, no real options on how to record, playback is problematic with a very glitchy output on built-in monitor and HDMI Output. Screen is 16:9 aspect but machine only supports 4:3 so everything is stretched on monitor. There are no adjustments for aspect ratio. Overall it feels kind of like a toy. Not something a professional would want to use or anyone else that wants a device that works properly. #video #Sony #digital #television #vhstapes #dv

[jamesmcgill]

This was tremendously helpful. thank you so much for such an in-depth look at this product. I was ready to pull the trigger and buy one, but I will continue in my quest to find a better product now.

[JoeElvis]

Really honest, and fun, defusing hype in other reviews

[evinger]

Thank you for this great presentation. I was concerned about the 'Signal Loss Detection' feature on the menu. You answered that question for me. I do film and video production professionally (for the past 40 years) and don't have time to make sure that the unit is going to stay 'recording' when it hits or detects a bad place or signal loss in the tape. Our computer editing systems use to have this feature of digitizing or recording footage from old tapes but the editing system (software) companies have upgraded to newer versions that have taken away this feature and have left me stuck and forced to purchase yet again one more piece of equipment. I was going to purchase the Elgato but the quality I am seeing is not even close to this newer version of the ClearClick 3.0. Anyway, I am buying this tomorrow. Thank you!

[ALEFILES]

I want to convert my old VHS tapes from a VHS player. The plugs I must connect are the Audio / Video cable instead of the S-video cable?
What is the maximum capacity of the SD card this device supports?
If I choose the USB connection, can I connect an external HD drive (1 Tb)?
Thanks a lot!
Greetings from Argentina!

[oreview]

I really wanted to love this device. It had everything i wanted, and beyond VHS captures, I thought I could use it as a live capture from a camcorder for retro feeling recordings. But that glitching was present on the final recording, not just the device playback. I went frame by frame in Premiere, and it seems to grab a frame from about a half second prior before resuming. I could play with different USB drives or s video, but I think I will return mine too.

[GeoffBarone]

I just got the ClearClick V3.0 and started messing with it. I tested with SVideo and for some reason the MP4 file has weird vertical, almost lattice texture to it overlaying the video. You can really see it on bright colors.

I ended up switching back to AV but otherwise am pretty happy with the results.

I’ve had the first 5 years of my kids lives on mini DV tapes, of stuff they’ve never even seen.

[securityg]

Mr. WAYBACK REWIND, as I mentioned several times on BRANDON'S CAMERA COLLECTION page, I just purchased the CLEARCLICK HD 4K ULTIMATE BOX EDITION; (I should preface this by saying that I use mine to shoot videos from my camcorders and I don't use it as a VCR) - several things - The HD 4K version does not have a S-Video port. It just has an A/V/ port, HDMI port and a Micro SD slot. It automatically converts video into MP4 files and I've found that in the settings it gives you options for either 4:3 OR 16:9 format and it's best to keep it as an 'AUTOMATIC DETECTION' setting because if you chose the 4:3 format, it will render green bars on each side of your video. It also give you an option of choosing a Codec of either H265 or H264 and I found it best to stay in the Codec of H265 for better quality. It also has an internal battery installed and it comes with a USB charger for that battery. By reading some of your comments below, you are correct about the cables required because I have a Hitachi digital8 camcorder and a SONY DIGITAL8 camcorder and the A/V, RCA cables needed are totally different for each camcorder and I had no idea until I attempted to hook them up respectively, so, if you decide to do a review on the CLEARCLICK HD 4K ULTIMATE BOX EDITION I would be interested on your take on it. - J.D. Watkins, artistic director of PHOENIX PRODUCTIONS.

[WaybackRewind]

I Ended up Returning the ClearClick. I couldn't accept the jittery screen.

[seasonstudios]

Have really enjoyed your series. I tend to agree with your Pros and Cons but mostly your Cons. You said everything about the 3.0 that is the same as the 2.0. Last year I took a chance and bought the "Diamond One Touch Video Capture" version which is the exact same a the Clear Click 2.0. I assume that the same company made both versions because without the names painted on the devices, you are looking at exactly the same thing. I bought it to record my grandson's sports events through my mini DV tape camera. The whole set up worked great until I went to work on the files on my editor. I set my camera for 16:9 widescreen (as I most always do when filming) and set the recorder to "auto" size. Now, I'm not quite sure what "auto size" means because the files came out looking fairly nice but not any differently than the other setting and there was no fixing the file size in post. They weren't 16:9 and the files couldn't even be stretched properly to suit my needs. Then I though I'd "HDMI out" the captured files to another capture device to see if the software could do some corrections but it didn't really work and when you HDMI out, you have the play and progress image line at the bottom of the screen and that also gets captured. There's no way to turn it off. The captured files are really clear for a souped up H264 Mp4 but the full image you get on the little screen doesn't match when it goes on the big screen. This device is okay for someone who wants an easy way to capture VHS family videos but beware of the funny file sizes.
On another note, just thought I'd mention (for stilts and giggles) that I hooked up my miniDV camera to my old EasyCap dongle and software and it recorded 16:9 just fine and the files were workable. Not very portable though. lol.

[iyarten]

It’s very useful to see your review, however.. the music in the background is annoying..

[evinger]

I use this exact ClearClick 3.0 Digital Converter and have been since last April. I do an extremely high volume of all kinds of videotapes from simply VHS up to commercial BetacamSp for my clients. . I don't see any of these problems that you are seeing. It could be your source camera that you are coming from. I will actually be purchasing 3 or 4 more of the ClearClick 3.0 converters just because of their quality. I also own the Elgato computer transfer device which I had been dealing with all kinds of problems there. Anyway, just my 2 cents.

[johngraziano]

nice video, informative . can you tell me what unit you would recommend that wont have glitches? i have lots of 8mm family videos and a sony 8mm player, and i want to put all my home videos on a thumb drive and give it to my kids

[dominiquew.]

From what I read, the 3.0 allows editing which the 2.0 does not. I need it for my home movies before they are gone. They are on vhs tapes.

[DESVEN]

My s video cable doesn’t stay in the clear click. I have been using the device with my vx2100 with the av cables but i now wanna use my other camcorder with s video but the s video cable will not stay in the clear click. Am I using the wrong cable or is there anything i can do to bypass the s video port and use the yellow instead ( I already tried a s video to yellow av )

[Alexmlelms]

So like i hope i dont sound crazy but i bought the clearclick 2.0 like 2 years ago and i dont use it cause when i move in the recorded video the clearclick seems to add the absolutely nauseating choppy flickering on it

[rawcodecmedia]

Does this output a frame rate of 30fps? Or does it even say?? I have another FPV recorder I use to record from my canon GL1 but it has issues. But that one does output 60fps so I have the option of slow motion. Just curious about this before I grab one of these

[engyilopan]

Wondering what would be a more professional option? Not trying to get the clear click

[MegaVachik]

Hi. Thanks for great video! what kind of the transfer video you recommend instead?

[technicbee]

Hi did you return it with a replacement and is theglitching only on playback on device and on tv not on actual micro sd card thx.

[RavDeSilva]

may i ask if the sound and video stay in sync on long videos?