Capturing Hi8

[Roger268]

Hi, I'm a Newby, so apologies in advance if this is a Naff posting:
I'm trying to capture my old Hi8 tapes through VS X2. My son managed it first time no probs, but when I tried I ended up with a 'UVS' file with no audio track and I don't know why. (Can't ask my son, I only see him every couple of months). An example of my sons capture was 'video_0309-1219(S-Video).mpg. An example of my capture is 'uvs100309-001.avi.
My capture works, but as I say - no sound track. Can anyone please explain how I can capture the soundtrack? I've played and tweaked, but all I can capture are these 'UVS' files. Roger268

[Black Lab]

my sons capture was 'video_0309-1219(S-Video).mpg. An example of my capture is 'uvs100309-001.avi.

The obvious difference between the two is your son captured the clip as an MPEG2 file while you captured as and AVI file. If you capture as MPEG2 do you get the audio?

Why the AVI file did not work I do not know. Right click on each type of clip and copy its properties here so we can see the difference.

[Roger268]

Hi Jeff,

Many thanks for attempting to help me out.

I am able to capture as a *.mpg file, but the result is the same - no audio on played back version. For what it is worth, the audio seems to be good when it is being captured, but not apparent on playback.

Properties: on uvs.....avi file Audio is pcm.
on my sons capture = MPEG audio Layer 2
on the clip I have just attempted: - MPEG audi layer 2.

Roger

[Black Lab]

Ok. Let's start from the beginning then. Please read the following thread and supply the requested info, paying particular attention to the method you are using to transfer and all the connections needed to do so.
http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?t=8959

[Roger268]

Hi Jeff,
I've done everything suggested on the link you offered. Also since I last spoke to you I've been in contact with COREL on their direct chat line - they morew or less gave up after asking me to uninstall/reinstall VS X2. If I had not seen it done, I would be saying it was not possible to capture Hi8 video and audio using VS X2. I'm sure the answer will turn out to be a simple setting in the 'Capture' part of VS X2 (or elsewhere) I just cannot see it. Roger

[Black Lab]

I've done everything suggested on the link you offered.

You did? You're not supposed to keep the answers to yourself. Please record the info here so we know what we are dealing with so we can try to help.

[Roger268]

Hi Jeff,
Please accept my apologies for not answering the question(s) properly:
1). User Manual, read and re - read.
2). Corel Knowledge Base, nothing relevant found.

Op Sys: Win XP Pro with SP3

Motherboard. Not known. (I don't really want to take the computer apart unless it is absolutely necessary)
Graphic Card/Sound Card. Ditto
Processor: AMD Athlon Dual Core 64X2, 2.3 Ghz with 2GB RAM
Hard Disk: 150 GB (C Drive), but I also have x3 external HDD which are used mainly for storage/dual backup of files. V.few files are kept on 'C' Dve unless actually in use.
Memory: 2GB RAM

In addition, the TV card is a Winfast 2000 XP Expert, with WDM Tuner and Video Capture capability.

Problem refresh: My son managed to capture Hi8 video including audio. An example of one the files he captured is: 'video_0309-1219(S-video).mpg'
When I tried to carry out the same exercise a day or two later (and I did not alter any of the settings) an example of the file I captured was 'uvs100309-001.avi' . The video was perfect in both cases, but in my case there was no audio. I tried various settings including *.mpg. No joy at all and there really are v.few settings that can be altered in the Capture stage. Where am I going wrong?

[Black Lab]

Roger, forgive my bluntness, but you have told us practially nothing about the clips or where they came from, even though I said to "paying particular attention to the method you are using to transfer and all the connections needed to do so. "

My son managed to capture Hi8 video

How? A Hi8 cam? What model? Is it connected to the pc for transfer? How?

Not a cam? Are you using a analog-digital capture device? What kind? How is it connected?

[Ken Berry]

And how exactly are you capturing? Is it a USB to USB connection from the Winfast TV card; or some other type of cable; or another capture device entirely?

From memory, the Winfast series come with their own capture software. And judging by the name of the file your son captured, he used that software and not Video Studio. We generally recommend that, with capture devices, you use the software made for them to capture, and then simply open the captured files in VS for editing. It is highly likely that the Winfast software will capture video and audio; whereas VS is not necessarily tweaked to work properly with the device.

[Roger268]

Thank you for your input Ken, and yes I think the Winfast card is a video/audio capture card. At least that is what showed up when I checked on PC properties. However I repeat that nothing was altered from when my son captured the video, and when I captured video a day or two later.
(I have invited him to view all this, hopefully he will input shsortly. My son's name is Andrew).

Jeff, don't worry about your bluntness; I have a thick skin, and I just want to get to the bottom of all this. In truth - I'm struggling to answer some of your questions, but grateful for your patience and persistance.

The clips are being captured from the raw footage on original Hi8 tapes, which are being fed via from camcorder (Canon UC-X55) via composite cable, directly into the Winfast card.

Roger

[Ken Berry]

I suspect your son will confirm he captured using the Winfast software, whereas you are using VS...

[LGO]

Okay, really stupid question here, but might as well toss it out so it can be eliminated as a problem . . .

Roger, you say you have the camcorder attached to the Winfast card via composite cable (no S-video connection?). That's fine for capturing the video, but how are you connecting the audio from the camcorder to the computer? Through the Winfast card? Into the computer's sound card directly? No audio cables at all? <----- Sorry, that last one is the stupid question.

Got my first PC in 1985. Took over a year for me to remember to check and see if it was plugged in when I was having boot problems!!!

[Roger268]

Don't worry - the audio cables (Red & White) are connected, and I've checked to ensure all cables are properly connected.
Following may or may not point the way towards a solution - Settings on Capture screen:
Duration - N.A. until actually capturing video
(ii) Source: Winfast TV2000XP Expert WDM Video Device
[iii] Format: MPEG, AVI, VCD, SVCD, DVD. I have been selecting MPEG or AVI.

Options: - Capture Options - Video - Capture to Library Box ticked, capture audio box ticked, but 'Greyed Out'
Capture video icon flashing with a red light inviting capture.

Info (L-R)
uvs100324-001.mpg Winfast TV2000XP Expert WDM
352x258, MPEG, variable bit MPEG Audio Layrer 2 48000
S-Video 83413MB

[Roger268]

Good Morning Ken,
Please see my response to Jeff's latest. I believe I am actually using the Winfast Video Capture card, but using VS X2 for the actual capture.

[Ken Berry]

Yes, of course you are using the Winfast as the capture card. But my point is that the capture card comes with its own software, which you are obviously NOT using, and you should be... NOT Video Studio for capture... only editing what you capture using the other software...