$800 is too steep for me for a composite only device, I just got two Snell & Wilcox boxes from the 90's that do exactly the same thing and have Y-C (S-Video) input as a plus for 1/10th of that price. If they come up with a Y/C version for around $250 I may consider it. I've also been using the BrighEye 75 for over 5 years which is exactly the same thing. I look forward to their VCR RF module, This composite device is just an old technology revived.

the Snell & Wilcox does the same thing??

as I can remember, I was very disappointed when I was able to test it.

also their scaler back then , the Interpolator Gold , was not worth it's money.


we will see how this unit will perform.

As far as I can tell, this device is tuned for security cameras which means it is only 2D 3-line or 4-line. I am curious to know if I am wrong in my assumption.

from their manual:

SM03 accepts analogue NTSC-M, PAL or SECAM encoded video which it decodes to a component
serial digital interface (SDI) output. Decoding is performed using a proprietary 3D comb filter to
maintain the best detail with the lowest artifacts.

link to the manual:

https://www.singmai.com/Documents/SM03% ... %200.1.pdf

I don't know how you used it but those are SDI devices, Analog in, SDI digital out, They don't work as analog in analog out. 3D comb filter is not a new technology, JVC had it on their VCR's back in the early 90's, Some PCI capture cards has good 3D comb filtering if we are talking about capturing. For me personally I don't capture LD's most of those movies are on Blu-ray already, VHS and home videos capturing is my main concern which a 3D comb filter is not needed because I use Y/C output which is already separated.

I hope they come up with an affordable Y/C device so I can compare it with my S&W and BrightEye devices, I'm already getting pretty good captures, customers are happy, I'm not too sure if a new device will make a difference since most of those ADC chips are designed in the 90's so there is nothing new here.

Specs:

Motion adaptive, minimum delay 3D comb filter (frame, field, line, notch selected on a pixel by pixel basis).

All of my Scalers have SDI Inputs.

you may remember a time when DVD Players were modified to SDI outputs.

this is the most pure output you can get for SD.

even Lumagen had optional SDI inputs on their older scalers.

yes, the technology is old, but this device uses FPGA and software to make the 3D comb better and

make the decision what type of filtering to use even better than the old filters.

I urge you to read the manual (link above) , there is a very good explanation of how this device works.

just imagine what can be accomplished with this.

Again I don't use composite, I capture only Y/C tape based formats, so I don't need comb filtering.
As of S&W you used the SDI input not the output, If you are scaling in the digital domain that's completely a different application and you are comparing apples to oranges as this SM03 does not have SDI input, only composite.

for being able to use a comb filter , you need a Composite input.

your devices with Y/C output already went to a comb filter, with makes comparisons useless
to other comb filters.

every composite recording based format needs to have a composite output to test comb filters.

most older tape based systems are composite.

so I'm not comparing apples with oraanges.

you didn't mention what system your tape baased system uses, but I bet it records in composite

I use S-VHS and Hi8 machines to capture regular VHS and 8mm format tapes, I'm only concerned about the capture quality of the Y/C part which as I said BE75 and S&W I use do great capturing using SDI output. I will test a Y/C version of the SM03 when it becomes available at a reasonable price and compare the quality of Y/C capturing with my existing gear. Ultimately I'm waiting for the RF version to modify one of my VCR's to capture directly from the video head.

You said you tried S&W but you only mentioned SDI input, I don't know how you compare it to the SM03 since it doesn't have SDI input.

The Snell and Wilcox CVR45 use a 5 line comb filter for PAL, they have no 3D comb filter from recollection (I used to work for Snell and Wilcox - designing video decoders).

It is true, if you have a YC output then a comb filter may not improve image quality. However, it depends on the original source. It is likely the original source has gone through many decode/encode paths and these are not likely to have been subcarrier locked, so a comb filter can remove these artifacts even from a YC source.

Our 3D comb filter offers advantages over 'conventional' 3D combs, particularly when the phase relationship required for the comb to work has been lost - for example in VHS recordings. Our comb has a way of restablishing that relationship allowing us to comb video that otherwise would only be low pass filtered.

Also, the SM03 is not just a decoder, but offers video noise reduction, a full frame synchroniser and adaptive contrast enhancement among its features.

We will consider adding YC inputs to a future model, but the existing component cost is much more than $250.

Maybe a Y-C version for VHS and 8mm players with DIY assembly can bring the price down to $300 range? For me personally my VCR has line TBC and DNR, the BE75 or S&W TBS800 I have both have full frame TBC, So I'm all covered there, I was hoping you guys implement USB 3.0 in your device so I don't have to use an extra SDI to USB interface.

looking forward to the next FW version.

just compared the Kramer VP-773A with the good old trusted HLD-X0 NEC comb filter chip and Singmai's Composite to SDI box and have to say the Singmai box, even with not finished FW blows both away.

hope Daniel can find some time to get it even better!

Glad to hear that. I'd rather buy from a company with an ear towards the LD community.

Thanks for the feedback nidi. I wonder; is it possible you could post any captures demonstrating the difference? Real world material and/or the good old Video Essentials Snell & Wilcox?

well, as the box outputs SDI, I have no way of recording SDI.

anyone can recommend something that can do that perfectly?

Do you have a display with SDI input?

I currently have no device with SDI input.

Thinking that we'd all need some kind of SDI-HDMI convertor at some point to be able to implement this.

If you are set up for capture I'd think most devices can capture from a non-hdcp hdmi source (though honestly with no capture experience just winging it there). Perhaps just disclosure about what was used to convert to HDMI? The recommended Blackmagic might be ideal as it could be the most common option of any adopters, however just a good representation with disclosure regarding the SDI-HDMI conversion should be very adequate and obviously far better than nothing.

The truth is nothing does anything perfectly.

from the early DVD days, I used SDI as an output, was/is so much better than what component was/is capable of.

started with the Crystalio 1 , went up to the Chtystaio II then the Radiance XS+

bought a Blackmagic Terranex SDI to HDMI converter, which I haven't used yet.

was hoping to use an external capture device , like the Blackmagic Design Video Assist 3G.

am hoping to find someone who could tell if it's worth it.