Green/pink flashes when capturing

[Ron Beam]

I have a large collection of live widescreen 16:9 broadcasts archived to analogue VCR tape, which I was hoping to transfer to DVD. However, when I try to capture a recording in VideoStudio 9, I keep getting flashes of bright green/pink, which are carried over into the captured file. These flashes are in fact single frames separated by a few seconds, where the image is made up of only green and pink.

If I replay the VCR tape in VS9 the picture is fine, and there are no flashes – these only begin when I start the actual capture.

I have been getting round this by capturing the video using the software that comes with my Videomate capture card (ComproDTV 2.5). This however is a bit of a hassle because ComproDTV fails to recognise the widescreen flag, so I then have to run another prog: 'DVDPatcher' (freeware), to change it from squashed 4:3 to 16:9. DVDPatcher cannot be set to run batch operations, and in addition, the parameters have to be reset for each run. It would be far easier if I could simply capture the material as 16:9 in VS9.

Very grateful for any advice re this. I should add that I have just reinstalled VS9 as a result of an unrelated problem, and always run capture with all my start-up progs disabled.

Many thanks

Ron



Location: UK. (new) Dell Dimension 8400. CPU: P4 3.2GHz, Memory: 1GB, HD: 240 GB 2MB Cache, (220GB unused), One partition. Windows XP (SP2). PCI card = Videomate DVB-T200 (digital terrestrial tuner + analogue capture). Latest updates/drivers for XP, capture card, graphics card, and VS9.

Format: PAL (25 fps), MPEG files 24 Bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps, Field Order: Lower, (DVD-PAL), 16:9, Video data rate: Constant 6400 kbps, Audio data rate: 224 kbps, MPEG audio (stereo, 48 KHz)

[THoff]

Those flashes are likely caused by a signal loss or bad (corrupt) video data. The software that comes with the card may handle the dropout differently and simply display the last valid frame, making the dropouts harder to spot.

[Ron Beam]

Interesting, but ****** !. Thanks very much for the info THoff!


Ron

[Silumenya]

I have a large collection of live widescreen 16:9 broadcasts archived to analogue VCR tape, which I was hoping to transfer to DVD. However, when I try to capture a recording in VideoStudio 9, I keep getting flashes of bright green/pink, which are carried over into the captured file. These flashes are in fact single frames separated by a few seconds, where the image is made up of only green and pink.

If I replay the VCR tape in VS9 the picture is fine, and there are no flashes – these only begin when I start the actual capture.


Very grateful for any advice re this. I should add that I have just reinstalled VS9 as a result of an unrelated problem, and always run capture with all my start-up progs disabled.

Many thanks

Ron



Location: UK. (new) Dell Dimension 8400. CPU: P4 3.2GHz, Memory: 1GB, HD: 240 GB 2MB Cache, (220GB unused), One partition. Windows XP (SP2). PCI card = Videomate DVB-T200 (digital terrestrial tuner + analogue capture). Latest updates/drivers for XP, capture card, graphics card, and VS9.

Format: PAL (25 fps), MPEG files 24 Bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps, Field Order: Lower, (DVD-PAL), 16:9, Video data rate: Constant 6400 kbps, Audio data rate: 224 kbps, MPEG audio (stereo, 48 KHz)

Ron,

Maybe when you are converting from analogue VCR tape to DV format there is a delay when conversion takes place. If you are converting from VCR tape direct to MPEG format there is a problem because the computer is handling large amounts of data - loading the system. Then you are doing the conversion at the same time (rendering and compression) and the system can't handle that. The Green/pink flashes are periods where you are losing FRAME data.

I would convert from ANALOGUE VCR to AVI first while capturing, then convert AVI to MPEG once you are ready to put data on to DVD. It is also possible to adjust the SAMPLING RATE which may help when your tapes are extremely bad (reasonably old tapes).

I've had similar problems.

Silumenya

[maddrummer3301]

Ron,
You stated as using Lower Field.
When capturing analog footage ulead usually addresses the
devices as "Upper Field First" (Field B).

That shouldn't make any difference but worth a try.
If I let VS auto-detect the leading field it always selects the wrong field.
I have to manyally set the program to "Upper Field First" when
capturing analog footage.

MD

[Ron Beam]

Thanks to Silumenya and maddrummer3301 for your suggestions. Appreciated, but unfortunately neither fixed the problem. I had hoped there might have been some quick fix such as a registry edit, or plugin, so I guess it’s back to the workaround I mentioned in my first post. Hey Ho, but thanks again!

Ron