Capture from VCR

HelenM · Post by **HelenM** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:45 am

My problem is that when I capture video from my VCR using a capture card, all seems to work perfectly until I try to drag the files into storybook view. Then a window pops up telling me 'The content of these files is unreadable'. I am using VideoStudio 10 which came with the capture card I bought and that is attached to a JVC Hi Fi VCR. As I am in Australia I am using PAL. I am very new at this so don't know what more information anyone needs to perhaps help me with this frustrating problem.
I must say I have used all the same equipment with other trial software and have had no trouble at all.

HelenM

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:50 am

Can you right click on one of the captured files within the library pane of VS and copy down all its properties here please. At least that way we will be able to work out what format you have captured in and thus, what might be going wrong...

HelenM · Post by **HelenM** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:20 am

As requested I right clicked on the file and below are the properties shown.

File name: UleadVideo Studio SE\10.0\uvs 070925-004.AVI

File format: Microsoft AVI files - open DML

File size: 42,315,875 KB

Frame rate: 24,851 frames/sec

Duration: 2507.706 seconds

Data rate: 1860.07 kbps

Video

Compression: AVI Decompressor

Attributes: 16 bits, 720 x 480

Total frames: 62,319 frame (s)

Audio

Compression: PCM

Attributes: 48,000 kHz, 16 Bit Stereo

Total samples: 120,369,600 samples

Hope this helps with a solution.

Helen

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:10 pm

I don't know anything about Open DML (MJPEG?), but Video Studio does sometimes have trouble with the more-compressed formats. (1800 kbps is more compressed than the "typical" MPEG-2 DVD.)

If your capture card will allow a less-compressed format, you should have better luck with a different less-compressed format. AVI/DV (13GB per hour) is the most trouble-free format. DVD-compatible MPEG-2 is fine if you don't need to edit it. (MPEGs can can sometimes cause problems when you edit them.)

I must say I have used all the same equipment with other trial software and have had no trouble at all.

Depending on your video formats and the type of projects you are doing, you may be better off with different software, or a combination of software. I use one program to capture, a 2nd program to edit, and a 3rd program to author & burn the DVD. ...Another couple of programs for artwork & labels, another program for audio editing, etc.

Frame rate: 24,851 frames/sec

PAL video should be 25 FPS.

Attributes: 16 bits, 720 x 480

PAL video should be 720x576.

These settings may be OK, if you intend to play the video on a computer, but if you are making a DVD, it would be better to capture at 25FPS and 720x576.

I am using VideoStudio 10 which came with the capture card...

FYI - You usually get a limited-feature "SE" version when it comes bundled with hardware. But, this has nothing to do with your particular problem.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:26 pm

Did the capture card come with it's own capture software? If so, it is advisable to use that to capture, then you can bring that captured file into VS for editing.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:50 pm

I would have to agree with Doug that your settings for the files appear quite strange. I would also suggest that you try changing your capture settings to 'DVD' if there is such a setting, or else PAL mpeg-2 with frame size of 720x576 and frame rate of 25fps. Use the software which came with the capture card if possible. Capture just a little video using it, then see if VS can read it.

HelenM · Post by **HelenM** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:24 am

Hi, I find this forum confusing as I can't reply to each comment individually, so forgive me if I go wrong. I also have a downloaded trial version of VS, which appears to be the same in capture mode as the version that came with the capture card.

SVDDoug: thanks for you info, I've checked all the options in VS and changed the PAL attributes to 720X576, and suddenly the frame rate is 25FPS.

Black Lab: the only software the capture card came with was Video Studio and that's what I'm using for the capture.

Ken: As above the only software that came with the card was VS. I used AVI to capture, and have have able to set the Pal to 720 x 576, and 25FPS, when I change to DVD everything stays the same except the frame rate is grayed out and not accessible. I will do as suggested and just capture a little with the differenct settings.

I really am very green with this and appreciate all the help I can get. I'll let you know how it goes.

By the way....how do you do that 'quote' thing Doug?

Helen[/quote]

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:44 am

Hi, I find this forum confusing as I can't reply to each comment individually,

It's fairly standard with this type of bulletin board. All the new stuff goes at the bottom. You don't have to come back and re-read between the posts. (The opposite of a blog.)

By the way....how do you do that 'quote' thing Doug?

Below the Subject line there is a series of buttons. Click the Quote button, copy/paste the quote, then click the Quote button again.

You will get someting that looks like this:

[ quote ] ....how do you do that 'quote' thing Doug?[ /quote ]

Except, I put in extra spaces to throw-off the program so you could see it. Or, you can type the

thing manually. (That one shows-up because there is no matching [slash-quote].

The other buttons work the same way... Click the bold button type something, click the bold button again, and continue typing. Once you learn the commands, it's easier just to type them in. And again, most bulletin boards use the same "BB Code". Click Here for a better explaination of BB Code.

There is also a button to quote the entire post and reply at the same time. (That gets pretty annoying if somebody quotes a long post like this one!). That will use a different format that shows the original poster's name, and it looks like this [ quote="DVDdoug" ] (without the extra spaces).

HelenM · Post by **HelenM** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:55 am

Thanks again Doug, I've tried the capture with the new settings and the audio was OK, but still saying files are unreadable. I had set the rate at 1800, with 25FPS, but when I looked at the properties of the file it again showed the frame rate as 24,903, and the data rate at 17,809.06. So back to the drawing board......I still used the AVI setting so will go back and try DVD!
Helen