importing from VHS sound in "mono"

[petrea]

I went into panic when transfering a VHS tape and had no sound. I am transfering in with my dv camcorder. Is there a way to get the mono audio file?
Thanks
Petrea

[Ron P.]

Petra,

You should not have a problem with hearing the audio if you are using your DV camcorder as a pass-through analogue to digital converter. You should be capturing to DV-AVI format, Type 1.

How is your VCR connected to your camcorder? It probably has a mini-plug that plugs into your camcorder. The other end may have at least 2 composite RCA jacks, that plug into the output jacks of your VCR. If you are not getting any audio, simply plug the audio jack for your cable into the other audio out-put jack of your VCR. Or if you only have 2 composite ends on your cable, try switching them. (I don't think that is the problem if you are getting video).

I noticed that you have posted 48 times, however you still have not completed your system information in your profile, please do so.

I read some of the previous threads, on your questions. Just follow the recommendations/advise that is given. Also try reading the Recommended Procedures found here -->Recommended Procedures

In this thread http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... highlight=
Reading this post of yours:

hanks for your help. I do need to remove a lot of ads. The "stopping" problem occurs when it downloads the buffer. While ulead stops recording the during this period - the vhs continues to run.
I have gone back to "two-stepping" it - inputting on film and then downloading it from the film to the computer. Using this procedure when the "download of the buffer" occurs it does stop the film and then picks up automatically when ulead is done. I was hoping to avoid this step - but it will work.
I did reduce the bit from 8000 to 4000, upper frame first and left all other std DVD terms in place. I am now testing but think quality is ok and this does reduce the file sizes.
Thanks again
Petrea

Referring to the bold text above, I think you are capturing to DV-AVI Type 2. If your computer has to buffer, then it is not powerful enough to capture to that format. When it buffers then you will experience problems, maybe not immediately but somewhere during the process, it will reveal itself.

Regards...
Ron P.

[GeorgeW]

I'm not following the logic here... I would think the bold text in the quote would mean they are capturing from dv to mpeg -- and the computer has to stop the dv transfer while it flushes the buffer (i.e. while it encodes the video that is in the buffer to mpeg)

Regards,
George

[Ron P.]

Yes, I agree, I have had the same happen while trying to capture to DV-AVI type 2, (this was before I done some tweaking and added a second harddrive.). So I stopped capturing type2.

Since you posted this, I decided to do a quick check, and with everything running internet, etc.. I captured 5 min of video, each with DV-AVI type 2, DV-AVI type 1, MPEG 1, and MPEG 2. My computer didn't cough, no glitches, no dropped frames. Maybe I need to start capturing with everything running, It makes no sense to me..

But yes I agree with you George, I was just going off my past experience and that Petrea didn't post what his capture properties are, so an assumption on my part...

Ron P.

[petrea]

I would like to post information requested first - . Have furnished previously on questions. Please let me know where to post.

I have set the capture to avi - seams to revert to DV tried type 1 and type 2 still no sound

Thanks
Petrea

[petrea]

I am sorry - found the update form
I filled out some of the information but need a little help to understand some of the acronyms. Have a custom built computer and will get any additional information you require.

Specific to this problem
Have a Canon DV camcorder.
Direct connect to player with firewire feed to computer. I have used this set up with no problem until I ran into the "mono" sound on this particular tape.
Originally set up for dvd & mpeg.
Now have tried to reset to avi - gives me a choice of type one or type two. I tried both settings - still no sound
Hope this is sufficient. Again appologize for missing the profile set up. I did use search but couldn't find a match for this specific problem.

Thanks for your patience
Petrea

[Ron P.]

Petrea,

To eliminate the possiblity of a bad cable, do you have the same problem with another tape? Try capturing a short video clip using another tape and see if it fails to capture the audio.

Since it has worked before however I assume they all had Stereo audio, it must be a problem with how you are connecting your cables to the VCR, or that cable may be damaged. With mono, the audio will only output to one of the audio out jacks on your VCR. That's why I suggested switching the cables around. I know last week I was hooking up my VCR to my Camcorder, like you, and I inadvertently plugged one of the cables into the wrong jack. However I got a terrible buzzing noise.

Ron P.

[sjj1805]

assuming (thats a word that means making an a ss out of you and me!!) that you have connected the leads correctly as previously mentioned by vidoman.

Please check the Windows Volume control panel.
It defaults to "Adjust Volume Control For Playback."
Select "Properties" and then select "Adjust Volume Control for Recording"
You will now see several slider controls for various input devices such as
line input
microphone
etc.

You may have the wrong one selected, dependant upon how your cables connect to the computer the correct one might be line input.

Regards
Steve J

[petrea]

1st regarding cables: The camera came with a connect - three colors for vcr out leading to one camera connect. They are yellow, white & red.
With prior use - (stereo) everything came thru - including audio - I did select "capture audio" also.
I will now check the windows media to see if that will help.
I am now wondering if it is a camera problem as I can't get sound just thru the camera (excluding getting it to the computer) Could this be my problem?
I thought I could bypass (not recording) just using as "pass-thru" but maybe that won't worK feed from vcr and then firewire to computer - have done this before also successfully.
Thanks
Petrea

[Ron P.]

Do you have a tape in your camcorder? The pass-through on my Sony will not work if there is a tape inserted. If there is try removing the tape to see if that works.

Have you checked the settings on your camcorder to see if there might be something that isn't set that needs to be?

It might be a problem with your camcorder. The pass-through function may have become faulty. However I would think that you would not get video if it has.


@Steve,
How true...
Ron P.

[petrea]

Thanks so much for all your help. I am now pretty sure the problem lies in the vcr - I called the manufacturor and there is apparantly no way to play mono on the newer set. I can't even make it play to the TV set and have the audio. I am doing this for a customer and all I can figure out is that his vcr has a control to select mono.

So sad to say I will have to have someone else do it. It is very short and needs no edit (under 6 min) so not as bad as it could be worse.

Thanks much again for your assistance. And in the future will try to use the right format from the help section to clarify the situation.

Petrea