field order and grabster AV 400?

[chris333]

Nature of the problem

Can't get rid of shake/lines on e.g. running shots when capturing. The source material is fine - problem only shows up on capture. From reading other posts, it seems I should try changing field order, but I can't see how to do this. The Terratec comes up automatically as source and there is no option to change field order that I can see. Same problem in Movie Factory 3 as in VideoStudion 7 - both bundled with the Grabster. Capture works fine apart from the shake.

Properties of your source files (format, file size, where did you get it?)
Sony Handycam Vision video Hi8 camcorder (i.e. analogue tapes)

What devices are involved and their mode of connection?

Sony camcorder as above, connected to Terratec Grabster AV 400. Composite video and mono audio connections between the two.

Project Settings
Seem to be auto-set, including e.g. 720x576 resolution

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

PAL or NTSC
PAL

Thanks

Chris

[Ron P.]

Hi Chris, and welcome to the forums..

First determine what field order your AV400 utilizes. Since it is analogue video, it should be Upper Field First. Then in Video Studio 7, go to Preferences or Press F6, then on the First Tab the bottom option Default Field Order. Set it to match your video clips, which is probably UFF. Then go to File>Project Properties, or press Alt + Enter, the click on the Edit button, go to the General Tab and set the Frame Type to UFF.

Now when you import your video to edit the field order should be the same. Maintain this throughout your workflow.

Ron P.

[chris333]

Thanks for the quick reply and the welcome. I tried all the tabs having pressed F6 and none of them had anything on field order. I saw something on Terratec's products saying the Grabster Av400 has automatic field order detection, so could it be that it removes the possibility of choosing for you? If so and the field order is correct, then could it be that field order is not the problem after all?

Incidentally, the above relates to settings within the VideoStudio7 software. I couldn't work out how to find out what the field order settings were for the Grabster itself; it being a hardware device, where would you look for these?

Thanks

Chris

[Ron P.]

Chris,

I haven't used VS7, but I think it is real close to VS8, which I do have. You should be able to change the field order in that version.

Launch VS7 and place a video clip on the timeline. Right-click on the clip, and select Properties. Post what it says...

Here are a couple of screenshots from VS8, of the Preferences and Project Properties dialogue boxes..





Ron P.

[chris333]

Ok, I can follow your first screen shots fine and change to AVI from MPEG in the first, project properties window, and to various options in the second Project Options window, General Tab (i.e. changing the field order to Field Order A, B or Frame-based). However none of these made any difference. I am still unable to see a field order box on the second screen shot (preferences) - my final box at the bottom is for working folder.

You suggested posting what it says under properties for one of my clips on the timeline:
Format: 24 bits (720x576)
Compression: PAL DVD, Field B,Variable bit rate (Max. 7000 kbps)
comp ration: 48%
Frame rate: 25.000 fps
Total frames: 1299 Frames

Thanks

Chris