Capture properties settings keep resetting : Trial issue ?

[El Furax]

Hi folks,

I'm currently testing the analog capture module of VS9. I'm using a Leadtek WinTV2000 Expert as source (the original software bundle with this card was VS 7 SE, so I guess VS9 should be fine).
I've connected my old 8mm SOny camcorder, which gives composite video.

The issue is that I can't manage to correctly set the capture settings !

In the preview window, the video stream appears but is all blueish and jagged.
Then I try to change the capture properties, e.g. I switch to PAL, and tadaa, the video looks fine in the preview window (behind the modal window of the capture settings)... until I click OK to close the settings window, at which point it reverts to the blueish stuff !
Of course, If I reopen the capture settings, PAL stream isn't select, looks like the setting doesn't persist no matter how many times I retry.


Question

1) Is this a trial edition limitation ?
2) If not, then what gives?
3) Side question : What are those PAL_G, PAL_H, PAL_M... settings ? Can't find a webpage telling the difference.

Cheers !

[jchunter]

El,
No, it is not a limitation of the trial version.
Try setting up the Project Properties (and Preferences) before opening the Capture window. Video Studio seems to use at least some of these as defaults for the Capture property settings. But always double check. Be sure to set detailed properties - do not just select a template (e.g., "PAL DVD") and expect it to be correct for your situation. Read the top sticky post and follow the directions there to avoid other bugs and new user traps.

Pay no attention to how the capture screen looks because it is designed for speed - not accuracy. The Edit mode preview screen should appear scaled properly but sometimes may pause or seem to hiccup. The Project Video file should give you an almost perfect presentation on the PC monitor but the only absolute measure of success is with a final DVD played on your TV screen.

I work with NTSC and so have no experience with PAL but other users will be able to help you.
John

[Ken Berry]

PAL-G is the standard for UHF TV frequencies in a variety of countries, including my own (Australia) and in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (and elsewhere). PAL-H is similar, but for a very small number of countries in Europe. And PAL-M is the system used for both VHF and UHF in Brazil. For a breakdown of TV systems country by country, see http://lea.hamradio.si/~s51kq/STANDARDS.HTM

[El Furax]

Ken : thanks for the info, much appreciated

John : Thanks for your suggestions. Let me clarify:

I'm on the "capture" screen, I'm not even trying to record the video, just trying to update the settings so the realtime preview looks good. (I'm not speaking of the "smartrenderer" feature since there's no clip or project to work with)

Moreover, I've tried to record it to file even though it was all blueish, and guess what, the video file, when played, shows a blueish video, exactly like on the preview.

I've checked the sticky post, no luck, doesn't speak of "non persistent" setting anywhere.

I've tried to set PAL everywhere. Actually, the only one that seems to make a difference is the one that doesn't persist : in Options\VideoProperties => opens small window => select "Video Capture Filter", hit "properties", go to "Video Decoder" Tab.

(sorry all is translated from french version, exact names may differ)

There you have a "video standard" drop down list, where you can select all sorts of standards. Well, mine systematically reverts to SECAM once I click "ok". If I select PAL in this list, the preview becomes weird for a few seconds (looks like it adjusts itselfs or try to synch with the stream) then becomes perfect (ie what I'd see on the camcorder display or on the TV).

Until, as written earlier, I click OK... More precisely, it's not the "OK" of the last window (called "properties") which "loses" the setting, it's the "OK" button of the small window with the single drop down list called "Video Properties".

So video studio IS able to get my video right...

Since SECAM is a french standard, I will maybe try to download the english version of video studio.... who knows...

[El Furax]

Guess what ?
Works perfectly with US version !!

[El Furax]

It's really strange, the menus available in capture mode are quite different between the french and the US version.

In fact, the US version lacks many of them, but, at least, it works .

[Ken Berry]

For what it's worth, I have a Winfast DV2000 card, very similar to yours. And I have to say I use the inbuilt capture program that installs with it for capture from this card. You get far better ability to fine tune the capture quality, and the results are excellent. The only 'anomaly' that I have detected is that, on mine at least, it captures analogue mpeg-2 as Lower Field First, whereas most analogue captures with other devices (including another one that I have) are Upper Field First. But it seems to work. It also allows me to assign my own names to the captured files, and Video Studio 8 and now 9 accept the clips and names without problems.