S/VHS to digital.

[Rollason]

I have a lot of S/VHS tapes that I want to digitise to input to computer. I have a computer card that is supposed to do this but has proved unsatisfactory. I still have the camcorder on which the video was taken which has 2 audio sockets and one S/VHS outlet socket. I am looking for a piece of standalone kit, if possible, that will digitise and output the signal from the camcorder through a digital output socket to input direct, via cable, into the computer.
As I say, I have a card that should change input to digital but it doesn't seem to do the job. This is a Creative Soundblast Audigy W/SB 1394 card. Maybe another card might prove more effective and could be a possibility.
Has anybody personal experience of equipt. that will do this job that they would be happy to recommend, or even something that they are finished with that they would be prepared to sell?
The important thing is, of course, that it will do the job and is obtainable in the UK.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Many thanks, Roy

[Ken Berry]

It really depends on your budget. But have a look at the Adstech DVD Xpress DX2 at http://www.adstech.com/products/USBAV-7 ... BAV-709-EF I am sure it is available in the UK, though I have not idea about the likely price there. In the US, it is under $100.

Its advantage is that it has a hardware chip embedded in it which does the conversion from analogue to digital DVD-compliant mpeg-2 on-board. That in turn means there is no burden placed on computer resources as such for the conversion -- which is where the process often fails with external devices which don't have such a hardware chip.

The downside of this particular device is that it does not work with Video Studio *for capture* only. However, it comes with quite a good capture program of its own, called CapWiz. You use that to capture, and then simply open the captured files in VS for editing and authoring.

Note that analogue video, when converted to digital, will only at best give medium quality. So in capturing, there is no point in using a quality setting which gives a high quality mpeg-2. It's a silk purse from sow's ear sort of thing. But if you use a setting which gives a bitrate of around 6000, that is about as good as it's going to get. Some people, indeed, suggest it is a waste doing anything with analogue-source material much over 4000 kbps. But I prefer to err on the side of caution in this.

[Rollason]

Many thanks, Ken.. I'll have a look at that.

[Devil]

I strongly recommend the Canopus ADVC-110 or higher. As you have SVHS which is somewhat better than ordinary VHS, the extra quality of converting the DV, compared with direct conversion to MPEG-2, will be an advantage, especially as you will probably wish to edit your videos. The ADVC series works fine with VS capture.

Also, you may wish to read http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=29031 which is applicable also to SVHS

[skier-hughes]

I'd also recommend the canopus range, superb products.
They will take your s-video and audio inputs and convert to dv.avi and input to your pc via firewire, which is on the creative card and you should be able to use VS, or you could use windows own free movie maker for capture.

I'm interested in why you think your sound card can capture s-video?

The creative card's firewire came with poor firewire drivers, but these were updated shortly after release to one that works well, so ensure you have all updates for your card before you try to capture video via the firewire port.

[Rollason]

Thanks everybody. I guessed there would be expert knowledge in the forum. I'll look at all you've suggested and take it from there.
Cheers, Roy.

[Rollason]

Hi Skier-Hughes,
Sorry, you have me nonplussed. You query why I think my sound card can capture S/VHS. I don't expect a sound card to do that and maybe misled you on that point.
I have a Sound Blaster Audigy SB0090 video card installed in an AMD Athlon XP 2400 Mesh computer and it refuses to accept S/VHS input. Sound or video.
I have another video camera, a Panasonic NV MX 500 digital, and the card will take input from that, which is what I have been working with.
I've tried inputting the output from the S/VHS camcorder into the digital camcorder, which it is supposed to do, but, for some reason, it will not accept the sound although it accepts the picture OK. Hence the reason I'm looking for a piece of kit that will take S/VHS and digitise it so that I can input sound and video direct into the computer for editing.
This sounds a bit long winded. Sorry about that but I hope I've clarified things a bit more.
Regards, Roy.

[Ken Berry]

I've tried inputting the output from the S/VHS camcorder into the digital camcorder, which it is supposed to do, but, for some reason, it will not accept the sound although it accepts the picture OK.

What kind of cable were you using for that?

[Devil]

I'm looking for a piece of kit that will take S/VHS and digitise it so that I can input sound and video direct into the computer for editing.

The Canopus ADVC series, which I recommended earlier, will do just that, to perfection. You will then be able to edit in DV format, which is quasi-lossless within reason. If desired, you can then export the DV signal to a DV tape. Of course, you must have IEEE-1394 I/O.

[Rollason]

Hi Ken,
You ask what cable I am using.
I am using S/VHS four pin and left and right audio leads into the Soundblaster video card from the S/VHS camcorder ie. the Panasonic NV S88 which is an S/VHS camcorder. Without success.
With the Panasonic NV MX500, which is a digital camcorder, I use the DV output lead from the camcorder which goes direct into the Soundblaster card via a firewire IEEE 1394 socket. This works fine for digital input.
It's the S/VHS which I'm having difficulty with as I'm unable to input sound or vision into the video card. I hope this gives some clarification.
Regards, Roy.

[skier-hughes]

Hi Skier-Hughes,
Sorry, you have me nonplussed. You query why I think my sound card can capture S/VHS. I don't expect a sound card to do that and maybe misled you on that point.
I have a Sound Blaster Audigy SB0090 video card installed in an AMD Athlon XP 2400 Mesh computer and it refuses to accept S/VHS input. Sound or video.

Can you point point out a link to this item,a s I was unaware of any creative video cards and have not been able to find anything on the web about it.

I have another video camera, a Panasonic NV MX 500 digital, and the card will take input from that, which is what I have been working with.

As I said in my post, creative cards have firewire inputs which can be used for digital catpure. So this makes sense.

I've tried inputting the output from the S/VHS camcorder into the digital camcorder, which it is supposed to do, but, for some reason, it will not accept the sound although it accepts the picture OK.
odd, there isn't anything in the menu to change from normal mode to analogue in is there? Though as you get picture you'd have thought that this wouldn't need doing. Does the s-vhs cam have a composite video out? If you use that with your same audio leads do you get sound?

Hence the reason I'm looking for a piece of kit that will take S/VHS and digitise it so that I can input sound and video direct into the computer for editing.
This sounds a bit long winded. Sorry about that but I hope I've clarified things a bit more.
Regards, Roy.

[tyamada]

Rollason:

I've look at specifications for your Sound Blaster Card, it doesn't have a S-Video input.
You could try a pass thru form the NV S88 to the NV MX500.
Connect your NV S88 S-Video cable and audio cables to the inputs on the NV MX500, then connect the 1394 cable from the NV MX500 to your Sound Blaster Card. Then try to capture. You will have to experiment with the settings on the NV MX500 to be able to capture.

[Ron P.]

I might add the reminder that VS11+ and now VS Pro X2 has a problem with A-D conversion, even with pass-through. It seems that with ProX2 we're right back to the first issue we had with VS11+. I've tried and was unsuccessful in my attempt to capture VCR tapes, connecting it to my Digital-8 camcorder...

[Black Lab]

I might add the reminder that VS11+ and now VS Pro X2 has a problem with A-D conversion, even with pass-through. It seems that with ProX2 we're right back to the first issue we had with VS11+. I've tried and was unsuccessful in my attempt to capture VCR tapes, connecting it to my Digital-8 camcorder...

Yes, I just ran into that problem yesterday. Had to use v10 to capture.

[tyamada]

Rollason:

I just looked at your system profile. Your ATI Video card has the S-Video connector, is that what you are trying to connect to?

I had a All In Wonder ATI Video card and use to use it to capture video in Video Studio.

You should connect your NV S88 directly to the S-Video connector and audio connectors to your video card. If your video card drivers are installed properly you can use the ATI software or Video Studio to capture.

You should have a break out box that came with your video card, it has to be connected before you can connect the audio/video cables.
This link may be of help.
http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/v ... _965211__2