Intermittent poor audio quality

[laxdef69]

Nature of the problem: I get intermittent poor audio while using teh DVD Maker USB 2.0 to import VHS movies to archive them to DVD. With some of the movies, the audio is fine, on others it is very scratchy and fuzzy (for lack of technical terms). I have rewound and fast forwarded each tape several times, as well as used a commercial cleaner on the heads.

Properties of your source files (format, file size, where did you get it?) VHS tapes imported via the DVD Maker USB2.0 as MPEG, either home movies, or commercial movies that I own. I have a screen shot of the properties, but dont know how to upload it.

What devices are involved and their mode of connection? Panasonic VCR, and DVD Maker USB 2.0 The L & R Audio and Video are connected w/RCA type connections from the output of the VCR to the input on the device, and from there connected to the "line in" of the mounted Mobo AC 97 audio, and to a USB port for the video import.

Project Settings Video Input = Video Composite, TV System=NTSC, Audio=Realtek AC97 Audio, Input Source=Line In. Capture= DVD= MPEG Files 24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps, Upper Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3 The template reads: DVD NTSC(720x480), 7000kbps

Output format (file, DVD, VCD, SVCD) DVD

PAL or NTSC NTSC

Error Codes (if any) None

I hope this is enough information to get an answer, and thank you very much in advance!

[laxdef69]

hahahahahahahahahaahaaaaa!

I dled the update file from http://www.ulead.com/tech/dmf/dmf_ftp.htm...and tried to run it

it says "cant find 4.0 installed on your system"

Then I tried running it with 4.0 running...but it can't update "because "you have 4.0 running"

[sjj1805]

What version of Movie Factory 4 are you running
Boxed, Download, Full, SE, Trial, The one that ships with MSP8

NOTE: This update pack will NOT work with DVD MovieFactory SE or Suite versions

Steve J

[laxdef69]

What version of Movie Factory 4 are you running
Boxed, Download, Full, SE, Trial, The one that ships with MSP8

NOTE: This update pack will NOT work with DVD MovieFactory SE or Suite versions

Steve J

It is SE ...but that still doesn't explain why the audio for some of the movies comes in great, and some comes in "dirty"...

[sjj1805]

I would strongly suspect the tapes. When I moved all my old VHS stuff to DVD involving some 300 tapes I found some tapes transferred perfectly whilst some tapes ended up consigned to the dustbin.

I used exactly the same settings and capture methods, same software, same leads same VHS player etc. There was only one thing different - the actual VHS tape.

I'm no video guru but I have the impression that video stored on VHS tape is in fact compressed in some way - perhaps some boffin out there could confirm this even if only for peace of mind.

The older and more worn tapes were the most troublesome. Not always with the sound but sometimes with the tracking. This would no doubt be down to a combination of dirt, stretching, crumbling and perhaps even the magnetic effect of adjacent layers of tape bleeding into other layers.

If as you say some tapes transfer OK then your settings are no doubt correct. The only things you can try are Tape Head cleaners (I used to strip the player down and do it manually) adjustments to tracking and as you've mentioned fast forward and rewind a few times.

Steve J

[Ron P.]

In adding to Steve's post, in reference to problems with older tapes..

I too am unsure if there is compression taking place, however I don't think so. The varied length of video on a tape is controlled by the speed of the tape during the recording.

Tape storage, be it music cassette, video cassette, or data, is stored in a Linear fashion on a Magnetic tape. The tape will loose its magnetism over time. This results in what's known as "fall off". In video you see this as lines appearing, video distortion, or loss of tracking. In audio you get the "dirty" or scratchie sounds, as well as loss of parts of the audio.

I have 2 old BetaMax (Sony) video tapes of my children that suffer the "fall off". I have worked with these trying to recover as much as possible. However if the tape has lost it's magnetism in places then what was there is no longer there, it "fell off the tape"... Fortunately for me, there were only small portions that were unrecoverable...

Ron P.

[laxdef69]

I agree with everything you both have said, but the problem is that they play beautifully in the VCR...they just don't import with good sound, so I am having a hard time believing it is loss of magnetic properties.

I thought perhaps the device itself went bad, so I returned/replaced it...but sadly it made no difference.

I appreciate your thoughts so far...

[sjj1805]

What devices are involved and their mode of connection? Panasonic VCR, and DVD Maker USB 2.0 The L & R Audio and Video are connected w/RCA type connections from the output of the VCR to the input on the device, and from there connected to the "line in" of the mounted Mobo AC 97 audio, and to a USB

OK then if we are looking elsewhere, lets inspect these leads. Make sure their are no breakages. Sometimes a wire can be damaged inside its plastic outer covering after some inadvertant stretching or pulling of the cable, most of the time the cable performs ok but a slight knock will then cause a bad connection. If possible try replacement cables.

Steve J