Capturing seems to Compress

[imphky06]

I am trying to capture video from a VHS tape via a VCR connected to my Dazzle 80 capture device. I've tried using Ulead 6 capture and MGI Video wave capture and both times I run into same problem. As I capture the video plays normally and captures for the amount of time I like. The problem comes when I go to play back the captured video. If I capture say 20 sec of tape my play back is about 3 sec on the capture. The entire span of 20 sec is there in the capture but it is sped up tremendously and plays back in about 3 sec. Any thoughts, ideas?

[rijir2001]

How are you playing back the file? If you are using Windows Media Player I had a very similiar problem. I switched to VLC Player and problem solved. The issue maybe the player and not the file.

[imphky06]

I've tried replaying it with Ulead Video Editor, Winamp, DIVX, MGI Video Wave and Windows Media Player all with same results

[Scorpion King]

It sound like a framerate problem, but I don't know.

I have Ulead 6 and have used it alot in the past. MGI Video Wave I also have but trashed it many moons ago. It was junk back then.

Setting up Ulead 6 is fairly easy but not as easy as the newest version 10. In v6 you click on the capture tab, then click on Options. From the top the settings would be something like this:

Capture Options: Capture to library
Video Format: YUY2, 720x480
Input Source: SVideo (me), Audio Device: Soundblaster (me)
Capture Properties: If you already have video and audio preview then click MPEG Settings - then Properties
Mpeg Settings/Properties: Special Settings - User defined 1
MPEG-2
29.97 (for the USA)
Performance - 15 (if you don't drop any frames during capture, less if you do)
Audio: Stereo, 256, 48000
Video Bitrate: Variable Bitrate, 9800 for about 90 minutes or so. Constant 9800 for 1 hr dvd
Advanced: Output frame type: mine requires field order B. If I set Ulead 6 to B then it gives me field order A, exactly what I want. You may need to experiement here. ok.

These settings should give you near 1:1 quality with your source.

Back at the main capture window click the wrench/hammer icon then select Preferences. Set preferences as to hdd to capture to (working folder), and Preview hdd location.

Again click the wrench/hammer icon and select project properties. Setup these so they match the capture properties exactly. Also make certin you select NTSC DVD (for the USA) in Media Type. If you get these setup exactly the same the program can/will stream copy the video files out without attempting to reencode them. If the project properties does not match your video files you are working on they will be reencoded to the project properties. That is not always a very good idea. I always get the settings right so the program does not reencode. You can tell this by watching the preview screen when saving out a video project. If the video is playing in slow motion in the preview window when the program is working to save the file out then it is being reencoded. If the screen is not moving, but the progress indicater is, then the program is simply stream coping the video out. That is good.

Ulead 6 can do a pretty good job capturing mpeg2 video as long as you use a fairly high bitrate. I don't like it for lower bitrate captures or for avi capture since I was never able to get it to use Huffyuv codec for avi. Anymore I never capture or encode with ulead products but I now have version 10 and find myself impressed with this program. I think you would like it better also, but V6 is a fine program for what it is.

Just remember that the captured video clips are in the working folder that you set in preferences. You do not need to save them out of Ulead 6 to get to them. You would only need to save them out of ulead if you created a video project (like adding transitions, editing in/out points, etc).

Hope this helps.
Good luck.