Black & White...no color?

keyfactors · Post by **keyfactors** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:57 pm

I'm using VideoStudio 9.0...hooked up to my VCR (PAL) to laptop (Toshiba) via USB (VideoXpress box) but it's converting all my videos to black and white. Any ideas?

I'm visiting family in Argentina and brought this unit down for them to convert their VHS tapes to DVD...and so far no luck :/.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:27 pm

Often the B/W comes when trying to capture one television system with equipment meant for another. But it's usually NTSC > PAL or vice versa.

You don't from where in the world you come from, but I am assuming it is a standard PAL country. As you may know, Argentina uses a variant system called PAL-N with the standard 625 line system, but with (very nearly) the NTSC colour subcarrier frequency (3.58 MHz). It is nevertheless said to be interoperable with other PAL systems, except its next door neighbour Brazil's PAL-M (which uses 525 lines).

However, the different colour system used in PAL-N might still have been just enough to cause the B/W problem you are suffering...

The only other thing I can think of with B/W is that if you are using an S-video connection to capture video recorded on a VHS video recorder which is not equipped with S-video, that too can sometimes cause colour to be lost. If so, try using an RCA connection.

keyfactors · Post by **keyfactors** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:48 pm

Hi Ken,

Yes, Argentina uses PAL-N, which the VCR I'm using defaults to. I'm not using the S-Video, only the RGB cords which came with the VideoXpress box that I purchased, which is then hooked to my laptop via the USB.

What can I do to correct this problem? I've tried installing the software as both NTSC & PAL...both are giving me b/w...

Thing is that when capturing the video to my laptop from the VCR (PAL-N), my laptop doesn't (as far as I know) default to either PAL or NTSC...so I don't see what is causing the b/w conversion...

keyfactors · Post by **keyfactors** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:13 am

I actually had some luck...downloaded the USB2.0 Analog Video Ez-Player, and opened that first. I pressed play on the VCR and the b/w image showed in the player...however I was able to right-click it and it gave me a list of options, one of which was "PAL-N". That one didn't work (still gave me b/w so I chose "PAL-N Combo" and that worked (showed the video in color).

Then it was (and still is) trial-and-error getting it to play in color in VideoStudio 9.0 so I can actually record the correct image. Seems like I sort of need to "trick" the program into it...by 1st playing it in the downloaded viewer (and right-clicking to "PAL-N Combo" each time so it plays in color). Then closing that viewer and opening the VideoStudio. This usually makes it play in color in VideoStudio and lets me record in color...which I'm doing now.

It does give me an error whenever I close the Ez-Player...but I just ignore it. Hopefully it'll burn onto a DVD and play...

keyfactors · Post by **keyfactors** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:12 pm

Color now works...but no sound. Only sound when recorded in b/w. Starting to think the ULead item I bought is a piece of crap...

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:54 am

Are you sure the videos are not NTSC? Although you say Aregentina uses PAL N, the tapes unless recorded on that machine may not be?