how I made my cheap TV card give a better picture

[jimdagys]

I have a cheap ($22) TV card and I found a way to get a better picture. I captured these 2 shots and made no adjustments between the shots. The first shot is made by putting the rf cable directly into the TV card in the computer. The second shot is made by first putting the rf cable into a TV, and then using the video/audio line out from the TV and connecting to the TV card. It is easy to see the the second picture is better (especially look at the cctv9 logo in upper left). By the way, the white balance problem (see white shirt) is a problem from from the cable company.

[jagabo]

I don't see any significant white balance problem. What you really need is to adjust the black and white levels.

[jimdagys]

Yes, I see that your picture is much better. Can you tell me what kind of software I can use to make
adjustments to black and white levels? Could you post a screen shot of the black and white level controls and /or give some more detail how to make the adjustments? I don't have any such adjustments on my computer.

[jimdagys]

I wanted to clarify my last question. What kind of software exists to make adjustments to the black and white levels in the whole video (not just adjusting screen shots like above)and have a new saved video that shows the improvements?

[edDV]

Most editing packages have levels controls in various combinations including Y, Cb, Cr or Hue Saturation and Value (HSV) or RGB. In most cases for broadcast sources, only Y needs adjustment for black (brightness) and white (contrast).

For HDTV sets with S-Video and audio outputs, it is true that you can benefit from the TV set's 2D or 3D comb filter for Y/C separation. This usually is a better Y/C separation than you get with typical tuner cards. There are some issues using this output.

When ATSC/DVB, QAM or external analog component inputs are selected at the TV, the analog S-Video output often remains with the NTSC or PAL tuner giving a different result than the picture on the TV screen. When this happens you get a benefit of dual tuner operation with analog tuner pass through while the digital tuner or component analog input is shown on the TV.

Sometimes the audio output remains with the analog tuner, more often it follows the on-screen selection. Each TV needs to be tested for behavior of the S-Video and audio outputs as different types of video are selected. Some TV sets give confusing results. Sometimes the audio is delayed vs. analog video at this output depending the source being displayed.

[The_Doman]

The same improvements you often will get by using the composite/S-Video output from a VCR tuner.
Exactly because of that reason I am using this kind of setup (PAL JVC S-VHS) with my TV/Capture cards for years now.
Even a broken VCR can be used when the tuner still works ok.

Can you tell me what kind of software I can use to make
adjustments to black and white levels? Could you post a screen shot of the black and white level controls and /or give some more detail how to make the adjustments? I don't have any such adjustments on my computer.

Ofcourse the best solution would be to have the correct brightness/contrast recording settings while you do your captures.
How to do this all depends on the software /drivers you use.

[jagabo]

As edDV pointed out, most video editing packages have levels, HSV, brightness and contrast filters. And as The_Doman pointed out, you're better off capturing with the right black and white levels rather than fixing it afterwards. Many capture cards/devices have proc amp controls for brightness, contrast, hue, and saturation.

Contrast controls the black level and brightness controls the white level. Although the two are usually not completely independent.

[Soopafresh]

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