Recorded video/audio skips/jumps

bwillmott · Post by **bwillmott** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:59 pm

I am using a Dazzle DVC90 with Videostudio 9 SE DVD to copy VHS tapes onto DVDs. I capture the video onto the computer, and then use another program to edit the video and burn the DVD. This process has been working for me for a couple weeks, but in the past week I have been having issues while recording the video. The tape plays fine until I start capturing. Then the video begins to skip/jump and I get a clicking noise in the audio track.
I am using a Toshiba laptop running Windows XP Home with 1 GB RAM, 1.8 Celeron, 30 GB HD and 80 GB external HD. TO my knowledge, none of my settings have changed recently, and I am not doing anything differently in the capturing process than I did when it worked for me.
I have uninstalled/reinstalled the program, used 3 different VCRs and 3 sets of A/V cables, different USB ports.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:15 pm

If you were capturing from a DV source, I would think it is because you are using Type 2 DV Encoder, instead of Type 1 (check in Options icon of Capture page).

But if you are capturing VHS tapes, then unless you are using an expensive capture device which converts analogue to digital on the fly, or else a DV digital camera as a pass through device, there might be other reasons.

Please tell us exactly how you are capturing, in what format and with exactly what properties.

bwillmott · Post by **bwillmott** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:29 pm

I am using a normal VCR with red/white/yellow A/V outputs. The A/V cords plug into the Dazzle DVC90, which plugs into my computer via a USB port.
Using Ulead VIdeostudio 9 SE DVD, I select capture to open the capture screen.
I can view the video on the computer as it plays on the VCR, and while I am just watching the video it runs as it is supposed to. When I start to capture the video starts the problems. ONce I stop capturing, the video continues to have the same issues until I shut the program down and restart it.
I have tried recording the video into AVI, DVD, WMV, MPEG, VCD, and SVCD. All have the same problems. I have changed every setting I can think of, and I have not been able to get this thing working!!

THe main problem is that it was working last week, and then I tried to use it over the weekend and I have had this problem ever since!!

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:17 pm

Sorry -- that was definitely a "Duh!" moment... I hadn't really focused on your first mention of the Dazzle device. Someone else might correct me, but that is a Pinnacle device, and it further implies that it is really only to be used with the Pinnacle software which it should have come with. It is proprietary hardware, as far as I am aware, and only meant to work with the same proprietary software.

However, once you capture using the Pinnacle software, you should be able to open the captured video (in whatever format) within VS9 for editing.

bwillmott · Post by **bwillmott** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:46 pm

Here's the catch. The Dazzle is by Pinnacle, but it came with the Ulead software in the box. The was no other software included.
The Dazzle worked perfectly with the software until last week. I have 4 DVD's that I converted from VHS that work great. It's that the software all of a sudden picked up a bug for no apparent reason. Stupid computer.
I am currently trying to update all of the software I am using and it that fails I will be off to the store to get some new software!

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:04 pm

Are you dropping frames, by any chance?

bwillmott · Post by **bwillmott** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:59 pm

Yeah, I think that is what the skipping/jumping I am talking about is. I am new to this video editing thing and I am not up on the terminology so much.
There is also a clicking/static noise in the background that happens along with the frame dropping.
I just updated drivers/ software but it didn't help.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:09 pm

A way to know for sure is to turn on the Drop Frame Counter (File>Preferences>Capture Tab>Show Drop Frame Information).

Dropped frames can be caused by a number of things, but probably the most common is if you have something else running on your computer (such as anti-virus) while you are capturing. There are many things that run in the background that we don't realize, and use up pc resources. If you are dropping frames you may want to create an Editing Profile

bwillmott · Post by **bwillmott** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:20 pm

I will try setting up a profile and see what happens.
I did check the dropped frames thing and it dropped like 25 frames in 30 seconds or something. I don't know if that is a lot or not, but it sure makes the video look like junk.

I am still trying to figure out what happened to my computer. Literally, it was working one day and stopped the next. No changes, no download, no nothing. ARRRRGH!!!

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:04 pm

I did check the dropped frames thing and it dropped like 25 frames in 30 seconds or something. I don't know if that is a lot or not, but it sure makes the video look like junk.

One is too many

I am still trying to figure out what happened to my computer. Literally, it was working one day and stopped the next. No changes, no download, no nothing. ARRRRGH!!!

Could have been a Windows auto update, anti-virus, Java update, etc. All those kinds of sneaky things are lurking in the background unless you use the Editing Profile.

I must also add that something in the background may not have caused the problem, but let's start with the Editing Profile and see what happens. If you still have problems give a shout.

bwillmott · Post by **bwillmott** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:24 pm

I did the editing profile last night and I still had the same problem. I think my computer got tired of recording tapes and this is it's way of telling me to stop...
I am going to try to pick up some pinnacle software and see if that resolves the issue.