capture problems

goose · Post by **goose** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:42 pm

I'm very new at this so please be gentle.

I am trying to turn old VHS tapes into DVD.

I hook up my DV to the VCR and computer.

I run the tape and can see it play in the monitor of the DV and on the preview screen on the computer.

I press the capture button and I capture about 1 second of video and the rest is black screen.

Anyone know what's the problem?

tonyl33 · Post by **tonyl33** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 12:00 am

This is the first time I ever seen such a setup to capture video. You are trying to hook an analogue device to a digital device & hope to achieve something. This is not the way to do it. When capturing from VHS tapes, you need a capture device or capture card installed in your PC connected to your VCR & the audio jack to the Sound card line-in. Your source should be either 'Composite' or 'S Video' Composite is the yellow video cable from your VCR to the Capture card/device. DV capturing is only meant for DV or Mini DV tapes via firewire on your PC.

stevekng · Post by **stevekng** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 12:10 pm

You need a TV tuner card. Go to newegg.com or tigerdirect.com. I have been converting VHS to DVD using Leadtek's Winfast TV2000xp Deluxe TV tuner card for two years and it works great in tandem with Ulead Movie Factory 2.5. They cost about $100.00.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 1:59 pm

does your dv camcorder have an analog-to-dv conversion feature (with pass through). what is the make/model of your camcorder? also, is the camcorder hooked up to your computer via firewire?

please list all the connections and hardware involved in the process (and your computer specs as well).

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 2:47 pm

Tony,
Steve,

Many DV Camcorders have an analog to digital A/D converter built into
the camcorder to also convert an external analog signal onto the DV tape.
This enables a person to transfer their VHS/SVHS tapes to DV format.

There is another feature with the dv camcorders that can input analog signals.
This is called "PassThrough" mode.

So, the analog signal gets converted to type DV (same as on a DV tape).
A very nice feature to have in a camcorder.

Many JVC, Sony, Canon camcorders have the analog in / pass-through feature.

When you capture using a software program you set everything up the
same as capturing from a DV camcorder.
All the video data is transferred to the computer using a firewire 1394
connection

Hope this helps,
MD

tonyl33 · Post by **tonyl33** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 7:45 pm

I heard about this pass-through thing but never explored this. I prefer direct connection. I use DV for MiniDV tapes, Video8/Hi8 thru a Hi8 videocam, VHS tapes thru a VCR direct to my Pinnacle AV/DV capture card. VHS tapes gave the most problems even though I have direct connections because of the condition of the tapes - mostly old & mouldy.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 10:03 pm

Using a camcorder is one method, they also make dedicated devices.

Take a look at this website.
Analog to DV converters etc.

Main Home page
http://www.canopus.com/

An anaglog to digital & digital to analog converter:
http://www.canopus.us/US/products/ADVC1 ... dvc110.asp

MD

tonyl33 · Post by **tonyl33** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:15 pm

I am not trying to be funny but in my country, a VCR machine together with a reasonably priced capture card do not cost more than a quarter of a DV videocam. Why use such an expensive toy for such a lowly job. Don't make economic sense but I agree such a method will still work when you can afford it.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 3:45 am

>Why use such an expensive toy for such a lowly job.

The main reason is to transfer the analog (VHS) source to DV tape
or the DV tape/file format. Once the VHS tapes are archived to DV format
you need not record them again. They are now in digital format.

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:07 am

And the DV format is so much easier to edit and less likely to cause problems, but beware, file sizes do increase tremendously

tonyl33 · Post by **tonyl33** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:40 pm

I still don't get it probably I'm a bit dumb. I captured the VHS tape to Mpeg2 thru the VCR via capture card & it's digital too & I can still edit in Pinnacle Studio 8. I think it's similar to scanning a photo. People tends to believe that scanning with a much higher resolution produce a sharper image than with a lower resolution. To me there's no difference but the file size increased with the higher resolution.