Capturing from VHS

[scarecroe]

I've been reading this forum for the past few days hoping to find a solution to a VHS capturing problem I've been having for two years now. I thought I'd found the answer in a thread dealing with cleaning up VHS, and even went so far as to purchase a device that was linked to from here...

http://www.checkhere22.com/stabilizer_tech.html

...but it didn't work.

Firstly, I really don't know what to call the problem I'm having. What appears to be happening is the image is being pulled out of frame. Take a look at an example...

http://scarecroe.home.comcast.net/ssNews_beanstalk.rm

Although, sometimes I can fix this by manually moving the tape higher or lower inside my unit. But not all the time.

This problem sometimes occurs with commercial tapes and sometimes with home made tapes. While other commercial and home made tapes capture fine. The age of the tape also doesn't matter as it has happened with both older and newer, but also not always.

I'm using ATI's All In Wonder Radeon card, but I've also tried in a semi-professional studio with the same results. LIkewise with VCRs, I've tried a number of different ones.

Right now, the only solution I have with these tapes (about 30% of everything I come by), is to copy it to Mini-DV and then captuer from the Mini-DV. (problem being that I don't have access to this unit anymore and I can't afford one)

If anyone can tell me a) what this is called, b) why it's happening and c) how I can get around it... I would be eternally greatful.

Again, here's that example...

http://scarecroe.home.comcast.net/ssNews_beanstalk.rm

Thanks, Scott

[thecoalman]

See this: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=246129

And this: http://www.nepadigital.com/mv

[scarecroe]

Thanks for the links.

In fact, the first one that links back to this forum is the very thread where I read about the stabilizer I bought. "myfogin" said s/he picked one up to fix that very problem I seemed to be having. So for 30 bucks, I figured I couldn't lose. Except, it arrived in the mail today and does nothing for me.

The second link you provided did a better job of explaining to me why a Macrovision-like problem occurs on home movies. I'm glad I understand that better now.

So now I guess I have to figure out which device is going to do the job. I don't want to keep sinking money into hardware that doesn't work, either. In the end, I'd rather save up the $350 for a Mini-DV camcorder and convert my stuff to that first in prep for a capture. At least I know that works.

If anyone can recommend something that works better than this Digital Video Stabilizer, I'd be happy to hear about success stories.

Thanks again!

[thecoalman]

.

If anyone can recommend something that works better than this Digital Video Stabilizer, I'd be happy to hear about success stories.

Thanks again!

Sure a TBC, if you have a lot of VHS or HI-8 video you want to back up it's the way to go for issues like that. There not cheap though, start out at about $250-$275.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1115672#1115672

Although the AIW's seem to be the worst this issue can affect many different devices including Cams being used as pass-thrus. This is especially true for commercial tapes.

[scarecroe]

If I'm going to spend $250 on a TBC (which, thanks to you guys, I now know about), I may as well save another 200 for a MiniDV camera which I need anyway and will do the job. Hm, I'm gonna have to weigh that out.

So, I've learned that my tapes suffer from a faux Macrovision problem as interpreted by the capture card, and not really a Macrovision issue which is probably why that Digital Video Stabilizer doesn't work.

How about the Sima GoDVD CT-2? Would that do a better job than the 30 dollar Digital Video Stabilizer I bought?

[heman28]

Hello the Sima Go dvd will do a heck of a lot better job then that hunk of junk 30.00 video stabalizer thing. The Sima Go dvd allows you to go from vhs to vhs or dvd to dvd and also allows you to adjust some control features like tint and such but not color. I have read good reviews about it and also I have the Sima SCC2 wich allows me all ways of copying tapes or dvd's and does wonders and I think it has the same chip set that the Sime Go dvd has but the Sima SCC2 allows you to also control brightness,tint,color,and sharpness as well. I would spend a little of money on that but the best thing is a Time base corrector wich I also use but not all the time just in certain situations but my Sima box has worked in all situations. Hope you find what you need and are happy with it

[phhoth]

Hi,

If you are using a new version of a WDM driver, then this is your problem. go to this site and download the WDM 1.08 driver

[thecoalman]

Hi,

If you are using a new version of a WDM driver, then this is your problem. go to this site and download the WDM 1.08 driver

I know that driver works for VIVO cards but I'm not so sure about AIW, regardless it suffers from quality.

Edit: Timeout that's for the Nvidia based VIVO cards

[thecoalman]

If I'm going to spend $250 on a TBC (which, thanks to you guys, I now know about), I may as well save another 200 for a MiniDV camera which I need anyway and will do the job. Hm, I'm gonna have to weigh that out.

Be aware that it is not only the ATI card that suffers from this, I haven't seen many posts regarding using DV cams as pass thru's but it's possible. Also note that the TBC does more tha just take care of the MV.

How about the Sima GoDVD CT-2? Would that do a better job than the 30 dollar Digital Video Stabilizer I bought?

Probably be, I had the same issue with a Nvidia based card and the GoDVD corrected the problem. I never had a chance to test it with the ATI.

[Amish Electrician]

Have you try the macrovison remove tools for the ATI you can find them http://www.digitalfaq.com/capture/atimpeg/atimpeg.htm

[thecoalman]

Have you try the macrovison remove tools for the ATI you can find them http://www.digitalfaq.com/capture/atimpeg/atimpeg.htm

Having been through this I can tell you those hacks only work with older cards using certain combinations of drivers and MMC. They don't work with the new cards.

[scarecroe]

I haven't seen many posts regarding using DV cams as pass thru's but it's possible.

I should say this is mostly a guess on my part. I had access to a unit (at a local access TV studio) that would transfer from VHS to MiniDV directly and it worked like a charm. I guess I've been assuming that an analog to digital input on a MiniDV cam would do the same job.

Am I wrong in assuming this? Do you think there might have been something going on in the VHS to MiniDV unit that might not be in a camera?

I'm all about spending the money for something that works, but it's been hard figuring out what will do the job definintely. I only wish there were a way to test out a TBC before I shell out $300 for it. Argh, I'm torn!

[thecoalman]

Am I wrong in assuming this? Do you think there might have been something going on in the VHS to MiniDV unit that might not be in a camera?

I'm just trying to point out to you that it's possible. On the home movie tape that I tested that wouldn't work on the ATI worked flawlessly on a ADVC 110 which is like putting it through a cam. Each device is going to differ. Also as I pointed out a TBC does more that just fix the MV issue.

It's also not the all-in-one solution for every problem. https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=252957