Yet another problem with analogue capture

alanball · Post by **alanball** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:27 am

Hi all, sorry that this is a bit long, we seem to be having a run on capturing analouge.

I am trying to capture some old analogue tapes and put them on DVD. The original tapes were recorded in the early 1990’s on a Sony Handycam Video 8 CCD-TR606E and I have been converting though my Canon MV603iE DVD camcorder. I find that when converted this way I get 1 frame that turns to purple and 4 frames that turn black and white every few minutes.

I tested the capture (by firewire type AVI) using VS9 and Windows Movie maker with the same results, and created a DVD and got the same. I also noticed that the same thing was happening on the Canon camera screen.

I have a reasonable high spec machine, and always stick to the setups suggested by this forum (which I read every day and is excellent) and have never had problems with VS9.

I suspect that the problem is due to the tapes being recorded on long play as I had a problem trying to capture tapes through the Canon camcorder from a VCR and the tape had been recoded on long play, the picture just came out rubbish while standard play recordings are fine when captured.

I can play the analogue tapes with no problem trough the TV and the picture is fine, and no problem recoding onto a tape in the VCR, and that plays fine on the TV, so it looks as though the tapes and Sony cam are OK.

I was wondering if anyone had encounted a similar problem and also if anyone has used the Belkin FSU228 USB 2. DVD converter with any success as I thought this may be a not to expensive alternative to capture my analogue tapes if I have no success with the DVDcam.

If anyone has any suggestions or can suggest a not too expensive capture device that they have had success with when capturing Analogue to AVI, your comments would be most welcome.

Regards

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:46 am

Try connecting your vcr thru your Canon and see what you get, If you get the same results your pass thru isn't working properly.

If it works with your vcr then just record your sony tapes to the vcr and back thru Canon to your computer.

alanball · Post by **alanball** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:56 pm

Hi tyamada,

thanks for your reply, as I said in my post, I have recorded VHS through the Canon with no problem as long as the tape was recored on standard play. Yes I can do a copy to VHS but I have a lot of tapes to do which doubles the capture time and there will be a loss of quality due to copying twice.

Thanks

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:46 pm

Another thing you should try is change the cables from your Sony to your Canon and see what you get, it might be a bad cable.

alanball · Post by **alanball** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:21 pm

Thanks tyamada, I have checked out the cables and they are fine.

Can anyone in New Zealand or Australia suggest an anlogue to digital capture card or converter that's not too expensive, that they have had success with.

Many thanks

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:49 pm

You might want to do a search for Plextor, Belkin and Hauppauge capture devices. I'm sure you can get one of the listed companies capture devices where you are.

alanball · Post by **alanball** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:00 pm

Thanks again tyamada,

I have been looking at the Belkin F5U228, but not sure of the quality as it captures the sound via the sound card and video via USB. I was hoping some one may have used it and made comments. I also wanted to capture in AVI and a lot of the cards I have looked at appear to be mainly MPEG, but I will do a futher search on those suppliers.

Thanks again for your input

Regards

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:10 pm

If you would do a search for Belkin there a plenty of posts relating to the device you are intrested in.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:47 am

Before I had a Digitial Camcorder I used to connect my old HI8 camcorder to my TV card.

Positive points:
Installation of a TV card turns your computer into a Television with teletext.
You can now also record live TV transmissions onto the Hard Drive just as if it was an old fashioned VHS recorder. (Bear in mind the usual copyright issues.)
You can also connect your exisiting VHS player to the TV card and transfer all your old VHS to DVD.

Negative Points:
Most TV cards record in MPEG. If you later want to edit the captured video such as taking out adverts you have to be careful of audio/video synch issues.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:08 am

Hi,
If it helps, I do that same as Steve using a PCI analog capture card to convert VHS to mpeg.
My device that works for me is the "ATI All-In-Wonder" pci version.
It has composite & s-video + audio/stereo inputs.
You can use the card with Nero, Ulead products, Roxio & windvd recorder.
I prefer to use the ATI software that comes with the card. After I capture the footage I'll use ulead to create the dvd's etc.

A dvd recorder is also a good choice. You can always import the videos from the dvd's you've created and edit them and create custom dvd's. VS9 or MF4/5 will do that.

Out of curiousity I would contact Canon and find out what's going on. There may be a setting you have to turn OFF in the older camera, or a setting in the Canon camera. Sounds like a time-code thing and the canon can't sync with the analog signal.

A workaround that may work is use the VHS tape deck as a monitor. If you input into the VHS tape from the old camera and at the sametime use the VHS tapes output jacks into the Canon unit maybe the circuitry in the VHS tape will correct it.

My opinion is the signal you are putting into the Canon camcorder may be to HIGH an analog voltage level. This affects the AGC circuitry and the Canon Camcorder thinks you are trying to dub copy-righted material. VHS copy-righting affects the AGC circuitry of the receiving unit. You can even comfirm that by trying to record onto the canon unit from the VCR with a true copy-righted/protected original VHS tape. I think the Canon unit will produce the same results.

Hope this helps,

MD

alanball · Post by **alanball** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:23 pm

Hi sjj1805 and maddrummer3301, thanks for you comments, you have some great suggetsions maddrummer3301, I will follow those through.

I will look at the "ATI All-In-Wonder" cards but from what I remember they are quit expensive and I would have to get my wife in a real good mood or I would be in the dog house for spending so much money!!

We could do with a DVD recorder so that may be an option but dont they record in MPEG?

I assum both of you have experience in editing in MPEG and I know that the general opinion is not to edit in MPEG but AVI, but it's looking more and more as though I will have to make do with MPEG capture unless I can sort this out.

Can you tell me if you can get away with just straight transitions in MPEG, say from black to picture, or picture to pickture, particularly as it would be VHS quality?

Thanks again guy's

Regards

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:29 pm

You need to read the 6th post down here:
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=11923

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:15 am

Hi,
I'm not saying to purchase the Graphics All-In-Wonder video card which then you would have to replace your existing video card. They are expensive.

There are a few pci add-on cards made by ATI
TV-Wonder-Pro is the least expensive of the cards that can capture s-video.

BestBuy sells for $70.00 retail. Goes on sale alot for $49.00
You also need to make sure your system is up to spec's for mpeg capture.

I saw 3 dvd recorders today for $79.00.
The nice thing about the dvd recorder's is your wife will see immediate results compared
to the HOURS you will spend on the computer AWAY from her

.....................................................................................................
Herman!, What did you buy Now

-- Does it do Laundry

No dear.....

Take it back NOW!

alanball · Post by **alanball** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:25 pm

Thanks Steve J for those links, I do remember seeing them before but must take more time to re-read and take it all in, such a lot of good information.

Thanks again for you comments maddrummer3301, I checked the price out here in NZ yesterday, the All-in-wonder sells for around $NZ385 and the cheapest DVD recorders are about $NZ560.

I did'nt realise you could get a PCI add on capture card. I had a look at the ATI range but a lot of the info is beyond my 66yr old brain!! but wil look again and try to make sense of it all.

What you said about the recorder is true, there's usually away to get around my better half.

By the way I did a surch on the Belkiin F5U228 and it appears a lot of people had problems with loosing the colour and could only capture Black & white frames.

The stickey's at the top of the Forum are a real help, it would be good if the Forume had a list of capture cards and units with comments on what the user thinks of them.

I still have to try out the capture via a VCR through my Canon and also contact Canon, so I will post my results in case they are of help to other people.

Thanks again guy's

PS, I put all the info in about my computer setup into my personal area but it dosen't show up on screen, any suggestions why?

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:04 pm

Your information appears when I click on the 'Profile' button which appears under your posted message.