Sporadic Analog AVI Capture

Jabone · Post by **Jabone** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:59 am

Hey all, new here... new to VS in general, but have done editing before. I have a new Nvidia 7800 card, new AMD X2 proc.. everything new and works fine. Christmas project is to dump older VHS-C to disk and build DVDs.

I am capturing straight AVI. I can capture about three tapes worth, then the capture goes very sloooow. It's weird because I've read on here and turned on dropped frames, doesn't show to be an issue. I can cap in XP's lovely software just fine.

The AVI playback says it is missing a codec. But nothing changes between tapes. I simply stop the cap, change tapes, start the capture and keep going.

Here is the fun part.. if I uninstall and reinstall VS9 SE... it will work for a few more tapes. SiSandra says machine is screaming, HD is new with no data on it. Does not appear to be a hardware issue (famous last words). I tying to figure out why all the sudden it thinks it is missing a CODEC. MP is not very helpull in saying what exactly is missing.

FYI - I searched and read all through these forums. Found lots related to dumping from DV... and that is not me.

cheers,

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:34 am

I'm a little confused... isn't VHS-C analog? How can analog tape "goes very sloooow"? Doesn't it always play-back at regular speed?

Analog capture is tricky. When all else fails, use the software that came with your capture device. (That's what I do.) Your Nvidia card has an analog video input?

My theory is that capture device drivers are not as standardized as more-common peripherals like printers. Maybe Ulead does not know how to correctly communicate with the Nvidia driver.

LGO · Post by **LGO** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 2:39 am

Break your capture into smaller clips during the capture process. For example, don't capture more than 10 to 15 minutes without stopping and starting a new clip.

I can't tell you why that works for me, but the longest I've been able to capture analog (s-video connection) is about 40 minutes, and that was a fluke. Since then, I try to make several small clips during capture and it works fine. Heck, after three captures I exit VS and then go back in. No problems whatsover.

BTW, I use the huffyuv lossless codec for capturing. Works like a champ.

Good luck,

LGO

Jabone · Post by **Jabone** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 3:03 am

The actual tape speed is not slow I can watch it being captured - which is why I am confused about not dropping frames.

I can cap to MPEG just fine. It's the AVI. For whatever reason the playback in either VS or media player is slow. In media player it complains about a missing codec (it's not specific on which one). But why, between tapes, VS would switch is beyond me. Besides, how could it capture and encode with a particular codec, but not be able to play it back. This is on the same machine.

Also, it does not matter if - after this problem starts - if I do 30 seconds or 30 minutes.

Jabone · Post by **Jabone** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 3:28 am

I think I have it solved.

I hope the full version does a better job of saving settings than this and that I'm doing something wrong

The audio capture preferece will not stay. If I leave it at default (48kHz 16bit stereo)I get the slow play back. If I drop it down to, where it was, 24kHz, 16 bit MONO - it works just fine. GRRRRRRR.

If I use the editor to capture, it does not matter if I tell it radio/tv or set my own sound selection it will not stick.

Has anyone had problems with preferences sticking?

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:55 am

Jabone

It may be your tapes causing this. It must be 2 years ago now when I converted my collection of VHS tapes to DVD. I found that the majority of tapes would capture OK but some tapes were just plain awkward. Especially older more worn out tapes and any taped in long play mode.

I used to fast forward and rewind them a few times plus put a tape head cleaner in the VHS player. Some required tracking adjustments. Some tapes no matter what I did just wouldn't copy properly and had crap pictures or suffered the dreaded out of synch issues.

If its stuff you've recorded off the TV you would be better simply waiting for it to be re-broadcast and get it into your Hard Drive by way of a TV Card. If its Home Videos the only other thing you can try is to split it up into smaller segments.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 4:14 pm

I would hazard a guess that it's just yet another Media Player problem! Try another player, like Media Player Classic, part of the freeware Real Alternative ad-free player software.

Jabone · Post by **Jabone** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:08 pm

Thanks everyone but it did turn out to be Vs not saving the settings. If I use the editor, and capture then review a file - when I go back to the capture tab, all the AVI settings (res, etc.) capture folder, remain.

The audio selection does not. I have to again select it every time I leave the capture tab/screen.

Since I am capturing mono, and it defaults to stereo the only thing i can think of is it throws the timecode off. Because, again, it's not dropping frames.

So, knowing that as a bug/issue/feature, now I'm OK. I've captured eight tapes in a row, no issues. And will be downloading the upgrade version.

thanks!!!!

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Sporadic Analog AVI Capture

Sporadic Analog AVI Capture

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